Fact sheet
Sample MTD01 collected by Michael T. Doel
Rotation 1 - sorensenite Na4SnBe2Si6O16(OH)4
Rotation 2 - aenigmatite Na2(Fe2+5Ti)SiO20
Rotation 3 - sorensenite Na4SnBe2Si6O16(OH)4
Rotation 4 - ussingite Na2AlSi3O8(OH)
Rotation 5 - arfvedsonite [Na][Na2][Fe42+Fe3+]Si8O22(OH)2
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.