MURMANITE
Specimen mur-1

Dims: 2-1/4" x 1-3/4" x 1"

Wt: 2.2 oz

Kola Peninsula, Russia

Little do I know about this silicate mineral. This classic Kola Peninsula specimen is composed of a small (about 1" diameter max.) micaceous stack of monoclinic sheets of Murmanite in a nepheline syenite matrix. The crystals have a lavender to purple color and an almost metallic, silky luster. The tidbit or two that I've read suggests that it contains a substantial amount of titanium and/or niobium; I would guess that these ingredients make for a rather uncommon mineral.

Dims: 1.16x1.16x0.94" (2.95x2.94x2.40cm)

Wt: 1.06oz (30.1g)

Khibiny, Kola Peninsula, USSR

Embedded in this microcrystalline black host rock are dozens of murmanite crystals. Many of these are nicely exposed on the surface. They have a unique off-pink color, a rather unique almost pearly luster, and a very interesting surface texture or growth pattern, at least when examined using a loupe (the crystals are quite small). Some of them appear complete, and have a rectangular cross section. On one surface, mostly edges are exposed, and some of these appear translucent. This is one of those "must have" species for a rare mineral collector.

Dims: 2.62x2.09x1.48" (6.64x5.32x3.76cm)

Wt: 6.92oz (195.8g)

Kola Peninsula, Russia

This is a specimen of murmanite. The crystals are large flat sheets and some are clearly rectangular in outline. Its color is a dull pink-brown-gray, and is difficult to describe partly because of the bright pearly luster of the specimen. There is either another mineral forming crystals, or we are seeing more sheets of murmanite on edge, where it looks more transparent and vitreous. Some areas are clearly pinker than others.