Burbankite
Mineral (Na,Ca)3(Sr,Ba,Ce)3(CO3)5
About it
Pale yellow to pink six-sided prisms in carbonatites and alkaline rocks such as those at Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec. Named for American plant breeder Luther Burbank; first found in Montana's Bearpaw Mountains.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Carbonate, burbankite group
- Formula
- (Na,Ca)3(Sr,Ba,Ce)3(CO3)5
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 3.5
- Specific gravity
- 3.5–3.8
- Streak
- white
- Lustre
- vitreous (glassy), greasy
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Colours
- pale yellow, orange, pink, grey, colourless
- Transparency
- transparent, translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- distinct prismatic
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.