Editorial Feature

Arctite – Occurrence, Properties, and Distribution

Arctite is named after the Arctic region where it was discovered.

Properties of Arctite

The following are the key properties of arctite:

  • Cell Data
    • Space group: R3m
    • a = 7.094
    • c = 41.320
    • Z = 1

  • Crystal Data
    • Hexagonal
    • Point group: 3 2/m
    • As crystals to 3cm
    • X-ray powder pattern: 2.746 (100), 3.43 (32), 13.80 (25), 3.06 (25), 2.804 (25), 3.54 (21), 2.719 (21)

  • Chemical Composition
    Elements Content 1 Content 2
    P2O5 33.83 36.72
    SiO2 3.6 -
    ZrO2 3.25 -
    Fe2O3 0.20 -
    CaO 31.80 33.85
    BaO 12.00 13.22
    Na2O 9.72 13.36
    K2O 1.64 -
    F 5.25 4.92
    H2O 0.50 -
    -O=F2 2.20 2.07
    S 0.22 -
    Total 99.81 100.00

  • Optical Properties
    • Transparent
    • Color: colorless
    • Luster: vitreous
    • Optical Class: Uniaxial (-), maybe anomalously biaxial
    • ω = 1.578(2)
    • ε = 1.577(2)

  • Estimated Properties
    Electron density Bulk density (electron density) = 3.08 g/cm3
    note: Specific gravity of arctite = 3.12 g/cm3
    Photoelectric PEArctite = 4.91 barns/electron
    U = PEArctite x ρ electron density = 15.14 barns/cm3
    Fermion index Fermion index = 0.0006048124
    Boson index = 0.99939
    Radioactivity
    Arctite is not radioactive.

How to Identify Arctite

Arctite appears as a colorless, transparent mineral, with a vitreous luster. It exhibits a pearly luster on the perfect cleavages.

Global Distribution

Arctite is found in the valley of Vuonnemiok River on Mt. Koashva, Khibiny massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia.

Occurrence of Arctite and Useful Mineral Association

Arctite occurs in the late stage pneumatolytic mineral in pegmatites veinlets in a differentiated alkali massif.

It is associated with such minerals as natrosilite, vuonnemite, zirsinalite, lomonosovite, natisite, rasvumite, villiaumite, aegirine, thenardite, umbite, paraumbite, wadeite, and kostylevite.

References

Tell Us What You Think

Do you have a review, update or anything you would like to add to this article?

Leave your feedback
Your comment type
Submit

While we only use edited and approved content for Azthena answers, it may on occasions provide incorrect responses. Please confirm any data provided with the related suppliers or authors. We do not provide medical advice, if you search for medical information you must always consult a medical professional before acting on any information provided.

Your questions, but not your email details will be shared with OpenAI and retained for 30 days in accordance with their privacy principles.

Please do not ask questions that use sensitive or confidential information.

Read the full Terms & Conditions.