Fact sheet
Sample MTD02 collected by Michael T. Doel
Described as having tugtupite (pink mineral) and chkalovite
Rotation 1 - polylithionite KLi2Al(Si4O10)(F,OH)2
Rotation 2 - chkalovite? Na2BeSi2O6
Rotation 3 - ussingite Na2AlSi3O8(OH)
Rotation 4 - tugtupite Na4BeAlSi4O12Cl
The Ilimaussaq alkaline complex is the type locality for agpaitic nepheline syenites and represents an enormous concentration of rare elements, notably Li, Be, Nb, Zr, REE, Y, Th and U. Around 220 mineral species have been identified. We can't identify all the minerals present in these samples. Email us at virtual-microscope@open.ac.uk if you can help.
Note we have recently expanded the collection to include other syenite complexes worldwide.
See also Alex Strekeisen's great website for more information on syenite complexes.