Nepheline-syenite
A rock classification type
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About Nepheline-syenite
As a Commodity:
A foid-syenite where nepheline is the most abundant foid.
A plutonic rock composed essentially of alkali feldspar and nepheline. It may contain an alkali ferromagnesian mineral, such as an amphibole (riebeckite, arfvedsonite, barkevikite) or a pyroxene (aegirine or aegirine-augite); the intrusive equivalent of phonolite. Sodalite, cancrinite, hauyne, and nosean, in addition to apatite, sphene, and opaque oxides, are common accessories. Rare minerals are also frequent accessories.
Synonyms: foyaite, eleolite syenite, midalkalite
Ref: AGI
A plutonic rock composed essentially of alkali feldspar and nepheline. It may contain an alkali ferromagnesian mineral, such as an amphibole (riebeckite, arfvedsonite, barkevikite) or a pyroxene (aegirine or aegirine-augite); the intrusive equivalent of phonolite. Sodalite, cancrinite, hauyne, and nosean, in addition to apatite, sphene, and opaque oxides, are common accessories. Rare minerals are also frequent accessories.
Synonyms: foyaite, eleolite syenite, midalkalite
Ref: AGI
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
48350
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:48350:0
Classification of Nepheline-syenite
Foid-syenite is in section 11 of the QAPF diagram.
Sub-divisions of Nepheline-syenite
- Nepheline-syenite
- Cancrinite nepheline-syenite
- Eudialyte-bearing nepheline-syenite
- Grennaite
- Juvite
- Kaxtorpite
- Lakarpite
- Lardalite
- Ledmorite
- Mariupolite
- Pegmatitic nepheline syenite
- Rischorrite
- Saibarite
- Alkali-feldspar nepheline-syenite
- Pseudoleucite syenite
- Malignite
- Apgaitic nepheline-syenite
- Foyaite
- Litchfieldite
- Assyntite
- Borolanite
- Ditroite
- Canadite
- Melanocratic nepheline-syenite
Mineralogy of Nepheline-syenite
Essential minerals - these are minerals that are required within the classification of this rock:
| Feldspar > Alkali Feldspar | A subgroup of the Feldspar Group, poor in calcium, and mostly rich in potassium. |
| Feldspathoid > Nepheline | Na3K(Al4Si4O16) |
Non-essential minerals - these minerals are common, sometimes major components, but are not always present:
| Amphibole > Hornblende | AnCa2(Z2+5-mZ3+m)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2 |
| Mica > Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
Age distribution
Recorded ages:
to Neogene : 2376 ± 36 Ma to 2.64 Ma - based on 37 recorded ages.
Synonyms of Nepheline-syenite
Other Language Names for Nepheline-syenite
German:Nephelinsyenit
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 5 photos of Nepheline-syenite associated with Villiaumite | NaF |
| 4 photos of Nepheline-syenite associated with Sodalite | Na4(Si3Al3)O12Cl |
| 2 photos of Nepheline-syenite associated with Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| 2 photos of Nepheline-syenite associated with Pyrite | FeS2 |
| 2 photos of Nepheline-syenite associated with Biotite | K(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2 |
| 1 photo of Nepheline-syenite associated with Ferri-kaersutite | NaCa2(Mg3Fe3+Ti)(Si6Al2O22)O2 |
| 1 photo of Nepheline-syenite associated with Mica Group | |
| 1 photo of Nepheline-syenite associated with Biotitite |
Internet Links for Nepheline-syenite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-48350.html
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Search Engines:
IlĂmaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland