Category Phyllosilicate Crystal system Tetragonal | Strunz classification 9.EB.20 Space group P4/mbm | |
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Formula
(repeating unit) KNa4Ca4(CO3)4Si8O18(F,OH)·(H2O) Crystal class Ditetragonal dipyramidal (4/mmm)
H–M symbol: (4/m 2/m 2/m) | ||
Carletonite is a rare silicate mineral with formula KNa4Ca4(CO3)4Si8O18(F,OH)·(H2O).
It is a phyllosilicate and a member of the apophyllite group. Its tetragonal crystals are a translucent blue, white, colorless or pink with a vitreous to dull lustre. It has a density of 2.45 and a hardness of 4-4.5.
It is named after Carleton University, in Ottawa, Ontario. It was first described in 1969 for an occurrence at Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec. The type locality at Mont Saint–Hilaire is the only reported occurrence. It occurs in hornfels and siliceous marble xenoliths within and adjacent to a nepheline syenite intrusion. It occurs in association with quartz, narsarsukite, calcite, fluorite, ancylite, molybdenite, leucosphenite, lorenzenite, galena, albite, pectolite, apophyllite, leifite, microcline and arfvedsonite.