3.1 x 1.3 x 0.9 cm. A beautiful small miniature specimen featuring rich blue crystalline grains of the new rare species meieranite in a matrix of greenish sugilite (?). This new mineral is named in honor of Dr. Eugene Meieran. The specimen is from the type locality. Reference: Yang, H., Gu, X., Downs, R.T., Evans, S.H., van Nieuwenhuizen, J.J., Lavinsky, R.M. and Xie, X. (2015) Meieranite, IMA 2015- 009. CNMNC Newsletter No. 25, June 2015, page 533; Mineralogical Magazine, 79, 529-535. From: Wessels Mine, Hotazel, Kalahari manganese field, Northern Cape, South Africa. — Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0
Meieranite
Meieranite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the silicate class, with the chemical formula Na₂Sr₃MgSi₆O₁₇.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group P2_1nb). It is a member of the Nordite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 5.5; specific gravity 3.41; White streak; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Mei, IMA status: approved, named in 2015.
Probably a result of a hydrothermal event during metamorphism under conditions of 270-420 flC at 0.2-1.0 kb.
It is found associated with Sugilite, aegirine, pectolite.
The mineral was named to honor Dr. Eugene Stuart Meieran (b. 1937), a member of the U.S. National Academy of Engineering, an avid mineral collector.