Feklichevite is a rare mineral of the eudialyte group with the formula Na11Ca9(Fe3+, Fe2+)2Zr3NbSi(Si3O9)2 (Si9O27)2. It is a trigonal-ditrigonal pyramidal mineral containing calcium, cerium, chlorine, fluorine, hafnium, hydrogen, iron, lanthanum, manganese, niobium, oxygen, silicon, sodium, strontium, titanium, and zirconium. The original formula was extended to show the presence of cyclic silicate groups and presence of silicon at the M4 site, according to the nomenclature of eudialyte group.
Other iron-bearing minerals of the group are eudialyte, ferrokentbrooksite, georgbarsanovite, khomyakovite, labyrinthite, oneillite and rastsvetaevite, but they rather contain ferrous iron Feklichevite name honors Russian mineralogist and crystallographer, V. G. Feklichev.
General Information
- Category: Cyclosilicate
- Formula: Na11Ca9(Fe3+,Fe2+)2Zr3NbSi(Si3O9)2(Si9O27)2
- Crystal system: Trigonal
- Crystal class: Ditrigonal pyramidal (3m)
Properties
When compared to other minerals of the group, feklichevite characterizes in the presence of ferric iron (thus similar to ikranite, mogovidite, and fengchengite) and dominance of calcium at the N4 site. Calcium is ordered in the structure and is also present at the M1 site.
- Color: Dark brown
- Crystal habit: isometric, thick-tabular; grains
- Tenacity: Brittle
- Mohs scale hardness: 5.5
- Luster: Vitreous
- Streak: Brownish
- Diaphaneity: Transparent or Translucent
- Density: 2.87 (approximated)
- Optical properties: Uniaxial (+)
Occurrence and association
Feklichevite was found in cancrinite syenite vein of pegmatoid type, that occurs in the Kovdor alkaline massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia. Feklichevite coexists with aegirine-diopside, cancrinite, potassic feldspar, pectolite, titanite, hematite, and руrrhоtitе.
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