Rock Identifier
Eudialyte (Eudialyte (Na4(Ca,Ce)2(Fe2+,Mn,Y)ZrSi8O22(OH,Cl)2)) — mineral
mineral

Eudialyte

Eudialyte (Na4(Ca,Ce)2(Fe2+,Mn,Y)ZrSi8O22(OH,Cl)2)

Hardness: 5-5.5; Color: Magenta, red, pink, reddish-brown, or violet; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Trigonal; Cleavage: Poor/indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.7–3.0. Often found mixed with black aegirine and grey nebheline.

Hardness
5-5
Color
Magenta, red, pink, reddish-brown, or violet
Luster
Vitreous
Identified More mineral

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Physical properties

Hardness: 5-5.5; Color: Magenta, red, pink, reddish-brown, or violet; Luster: Vitreous; Crystal Structure: Trigonal; Cleavage: Poor/indistinct; Specific Gravity: 2.7–3.0. Often found mixed with black aegirine and grey nebheline.

Formation & geological history

Formed in alkaline igneous rocks like nepheline syenites and pegmatites. It crystallizes from late-stage magmatic fluids enriched in rare earth elements and zirconium.

Uses & applications

Used as a minor ore of zirconium and rare-earth metals; primarily used as a gemstone for collectors and in metaphysical jewelry carvings.

Geological facts

The name comes from the Greek words 'eu dialytos' meaning 'well-soluble,' referring to its easy solubility in acids. It is considered a complex silicate because it can contain over 40 different chemical elements.

Field identification & locations

Identified by its distinctive raspberry-red or magenta color spots mixed with dark/black minerals within a white or grey matrix. Commonly found in Greenland, Russia (Kola Peninsula), and Canada (Mont Saint-Hilaire).