Ihiileen

Ihiileen is a rare and unique mineral that was first discovered in the late 19th century in the Khibina Massif, located in the Kola Peninsula of Russia. It is named after the Ihiilen River, which flows through the area where the mineral was found. Ihiileen is a complex silicate mineral with the chemical formula Na2Ca2(Si8O20)(OH,F)2. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system and typically forms prismatic crystals or granular masses.

The mineral is characterized by its distinctive green to yellowish-green color, which is due to the presence of chromium and vanadium within its structure. Ihiileen is often found in association with other rare minerals such as eudialyte and catapleiite. It has a Mohs hardness of approximately 5.5 to 6 and a specific gravity ranging from 2.9 to 3.1.

Ihiileen is of interest to mineralogists and collectors due to its rarity and unique physical properties. However, it is not commonly used in industrial applications due to its limited availability and the challenges associated with its extraction and processing. The mineral's occurrence is largely confined to the Khibina Massif, making it a significant geological and mineralogical site for scientific study and exploration.