Mariupolite
“Albite-nepheline rock from ancient shields”
Mariupolite is a rare, light-colored rock dominated by albite feldspar and nepheline, with aegirine as the primary dark mineral. It occurs in Precambrian alkaline complexes and represents a highly evolved, sodium-rich end member of the nepheline syenite family.
albite, nepheline, aegirine, zircon, astrophyllite, lamprophyllite
Mariupol (Ukraine — type locality), Kola Peninsula (Russia), Lovozero Massif (Russia), Ilímaussaq (Greenland)
5.5-6
Mariupolite's type locality near Mariupol, Ukraine sits atop one of the oldest alkaline complexes in Europe, dating back to the Precambrian — over 1.8 billion years old.
Test Your Knowledge
Which two light-colored minerals dominate the composition of mariupolite?
Photo Attribution
Title: Mariupolite (Oktyabrsky Alkaline Massif, Proterozoic, ~1.8 Ga; southeastern Ukraine).jpg
Author: James St. John
License: CC BY 2.0
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