| Ussingite is found in three localities
- Kola Peninsula, Russia, Mt. St Hilaire, Canada, and the Ilimaussaq
Complex, southern Greenland. It is usually found in a fine-grained
massive form, is somewhat brittle and the hardness H=6.0 to 7.0.
Transparent to translucent the color can range from pale pink, lilac-blue
to a dark violet red. The streak is white and luster is slightly
greasy to vitreous; pearly on cleavage planes.
Ussingite is a secondary mineral in pegmatites associated
with sodalite syenite. It is most often found associated with
microcline, natrolite, aegirine, sodalite, and albite. It is found
throughout the complex and varies in fluorescence from “not
at all” to bright orange, dim green, or bright green. The
greenish hues are the rarer varieties.
The specimen to the left
is from the Ilimaussaq Complex, and fluoresces a bright green.
Some pieces also exhibit the typical orange glow found in sodalite
from the area. Interestingly, Ussingite from Russia is reported
to FL a “sodalite orange” (see images below).
Additional examples of ussingite specimens may be seen in the
gallery below.
Ussingite may be used to cut beautiful cabochons
- it takes a polish well.
|
USSINGITE,
Kola, Russia
L 2,5 x H 3 cm
|
| UV
longs / long-wave |
| collection
et photographie © Patrick Arweiler |
|
|
