Rock Identifier
Eudialyte in Matrix (Na15Ca6(Fe,Mn)3Zr3(Si,Nb) (Si25O73) (OH,Cl,H2O)3) — mineral
mineral

Eudialyte in Matrix

Na15Ca6(Fe,Mn)3Zr3(Si,Nb) (Si25O73) (OH,Cl,H2O)3

Hardness: 5 to 6 on Mohs scale. Color: Distinctive magenta red, pink, or reddish-brown crystals set in a white, gray, or black matrix. Luster: Vitreous (glassy). Crystal structure: Trigonal. Cleavage: Poor/Indistinct. Specific gravity: 2.74 - 3.10.

Hardness
5 to 6 on Mohs scale
Luster
Vitreous (glassy)
Identified More mineral

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Physical properties

Hardness: 5 to 6 on Mohs scale. Color: Distinctive magenta red, pink, or reddish-brown crystals set in a white, gray, or black matrix. Luster: Vitreous (glassy). Crystal structure: Trigonal. Cleavage: Poor/Indistinct. Specific gravity: 2.74 - 3.10.

Formation & geological history

Formed in late-stage crystallization of alkaline igneous rocks (nepheline syenites and pegmatites). Most specimens date from the Proterozoic to Paleozoic eras, found in peralkaline environments.

Uses & applications

Used primarily as a collector's mineral and a semi-precious gemstone often cut into cabochons. It is also a minor ore for Rare Earth Elements (REEs) and Zirconium.

Geological facts

Known by some as 'Dragon\'s Blood' due to its color. It is mildly radioactive due to the potential presence of trace uranium or thorium, and it is highly soluble in acids, earning it the name from the Greek 'eu dialytos' meaning 'well-dissolvable'.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its unique vivid pink-red spots within coarse-grained alkaline rocks. Often associated with minerals like Aegirine and Feldspar. Commonly found in the Kola Peninsula (Russia), Greenland, and Mont Saint-Hilaire (Canada).