General Information:
Chemical Formula:
(Mg,Ca)Nb4O11-n(H2O) where n ~ 10
Environment:
In hydrothermal alteration zones of carbonatites as encrustations with other later minerals on primary minerals. The Mg-dominant analogue of hochelagaite and franconite.
IMA Status:
Approved IMA (Dana # Added)
Locality:
The central part of the Vuoriyarvi massif on the north shore of Vuoriyarvi Lake, North Karelia, Kola peninsula, Russia.
Name Origin:
Named after Vladimir Ivanovich Ternovoi (1928-1980), economic geologist, a pioneer in studies of the Kovdor phlogopite depost.
Physical Properties:
Cleavage:
None
Color:
white.
Density:
2.95
Diaphaniety:
Translucent
Habits:
Radial - Crystals radiate from a center without producing stellar forms (e.g. stibnite), Spherical - Spherical, rounded aggregates.,
Hardness:
3 - Calcite
Luminescence:
Non-fluorescent.
Luster:
Adamantine - Silky
Streak:
white
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