LEIFITE
Specimen lei-3

Dims: 1.1 x 1.0 x 0.7" (2.8 x 2.5 x 1.8 cm)

Wt: 15.9 g w/ base

Mount Saint Hilaire, Quebec, Canada

This specimen consists almost entirely of Leifite by weight. It occurrs in the form of intergrown sprays of radiating, trigonal prisms with a hexagonal cross-section. Though all of the sprays present are broken and incomplete, there are still many intact crystals present (see the second image). Their maximum length is about 0.6" (1.5 cm), and all have good form. Their edges are moderately well-defined and though their prism faces are heavily striated, their basal termination faces are very smooth and possess a bright, vitreous luster. All are cloudy and translucent, though the top few millimeters of each crystal shows noticeable transparence. Bits of a dark mineral accompany the Leifite- I cannot identify it. There is little or no host rock present, and the piece is hot-glued onto an acrylic base.

Dims: 1.9 x 1.5 x 0.9" (4.7 x 3.7 x 2.4 cm)

Wt: 0.9 oz. (26 g)

Mount Saint Hilaire, Quebec, Canada

This small hand specimen consists almost entirely of Leifite, in both acicular, radiating and apparently bladed, nearly tabular form. The specimen is in very good condition, showing little in the way of fresh damage, and crystals in the radiating cluster reach nearly 1.8" (4.6 cm) in length. Their hexagonal form is only easy to study in the crust atop the acicular spray, where the tabular and small bladed crystals rest. All are colorless to milky-white and show a pearly to silky luster, and are translucent to transparent. There is no host rock, though some rusty-brown to black material (perhaps goethite?) rests with the smaller crystals atop the spray.

Dims: 3.6 x 1.9 x 1.9" (9.2 x 4.7 x 4.7 cm)

Wt: 5.3 oz. (149 g)

Mount Saint Hilaire, Quebec, Canada

Several small, radiating Leifite sprays rest on the aegirine/feldspar base of this cabinet specimen. These sprays are generally in good condition and contain crystals that reach 0.4" (1.0 cm) in length. Their aggregation makes their hexagonal form difficult to study. All have a white color and a silky luster, and are dimly translucent at best. The base on which they rest is made up of muscovite, cleavelandite and aegirine, all of which show good crystal form in areas. Most noticeable on the piece is a single, large aegirine crystal that makes up most of the base. It has dimensions of 3.6 x 0.9 x 0.9" (9.2 x 2.3 x 2.2 cm), is in very good condition, and shows very good monoclinic form for its size.

Dims: 1.3 x 1.0 x 1.0" (3.4 x 2.6 x 2.5 cm)

Wt: 0.6 oz. (17 g)

Mount Saint Hilaire, Quebec, Canada

A single, radiating spray of tightly arranged acicular Leifites comprises this large thumbnail piece. These spiky crystals are generally in good condiiton, showing little damage, and reach lengths of nearly 1.5" (3.8 cm). All have reasonably good hexagonal form, though their acicular, radiaing habit makes this a bit difficult to discern. All have a milky-white color and show a silky luster, though a dark brown/black material gives some discoloration. There is no host rock, so the spray is affixed directly to the acrylic base.