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Vlasovite
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

Chemistry:  Na₂ZrSi₄O₁₁  []

Discovered in 1961;   IMA status: Valid (IMA approved).
Vlasovite is named in honor of the Russian mineralogist and geochemist Kuzma Alekseevich Vlasov (1905-1964), founder of the Institute of Mineralogy, Geochemistry, and Crystal Chemistry of Rare Elements, Moscow, Russia.

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Silicates

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/F.34-20

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.DM.25

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
D : Inosilicates
M : Inosilicates with 6-periodic single chains

Related to:

Grumantite - Penkvilksite Series

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Monoclinic - Prismatic

Crystal Habit:

As crystals, to 15 cm; more commonly as subrounded to irregularly shaped grains and aggregates of such grains.

Twinning:

Twin plane [010], uncommon.

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

[1011] Distinct/Good

Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven to Conchoidal

Tenacity:

Brittle

Hardness (Mohs):

6.0

Density:

2.92 - 2.97 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

Altered portions fluoresce brownish yellow under SW UV.

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Other:

May invert to triclinic symmetry below 29 ±C.

Optical Properties

Color:

Colorless, Pink, pale Yellow, pale Brown, Silvery

Transparency:

Transparent

Luster:

Greasy; highly Vitreous to Pearly on cleavage surfaces

Refractive Index:

1.605 - 1.628  Biaxial ( - )

Birefringence:

0.0210

Dispersion:

Distinct; r > v

Pleochroism:

Colorless

Occurances

Geological Setting:

A late phase in nepheline syenites, syenitic pegmatites, and along the contact zone of a differentiated alkalic massif (Lovozero massif, Russia); in miarolitic cavities in ejected blocks of peralkalic granite (Ascension Island).

Common Associations:

Aegirine, Aenigmatite, Albite, Apatite, Arfvedsonite, Eudialyte, Fayalite, Fluorite, Lorenzenite, Magnesio-Katophorite, Microcline, Pyrochlore,

Type Locality:

Vavnbed Mt, Lovozero Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast', Northern Region, Russia

Year Discovered:

1961

View mineral photos:

Vlasovite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Vlasovite is an extremely rare gem that was first discovered in 1961 at the Kola Peninsula, Russia and later found at the Kipawa alkaline complex next to Sheffield Lake, Temiscamingue County, Quebec, Canada. It is usually associated with Eudialyte. A very small amount of facet grade crystals were found at the Kipawa location in 1987. Gems are usually very small and slightly to moderately included.

The main sources of gemmy crystals are Mt. Vavnbed, Lovozero massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia (Type Locality); fine crystals from the Shefield Lake complex, Kipawa River, Villedieu Township, Quebec, Canada.
 

  
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