Mineraalina

Mineraalina is a rare mineral species characterized as a calcium- and aluminum-rich phosphate–silicate. It was described in 2010 from hydrothermally altered carbonate rocks in northern Scandinavia by a multidisciplinary research team. The name Mineraalina derives from the Finnish word mineraali, meaning mineral, reflecting its mineralogical interest.

Chemical composition and structure: The mineral displays a complex solid-solution framework based on calcium and aluminum, incorporating a mixed silicate–phosphate lattice with small amounts of fluorine and hydroxide. The crystal system is monoclinic, and specimens commonly occur as short prismatic crystals up to about 2 millimeters in length. The structure supports substitutions among major cation sites, contributing to observed color and density variations.

Physical properties: Mineraalina has a Mohs hardness of 5.5–6 and a specific gravity around 3.3–3.5. It exhibits a vitreous luster and ranges in color from pale green to olive. Crystals are transparent to translucent, with weak cleavage that is not readily visible in the tiny crystals commonly found in the field.

Occurrence and formation: It is found in small veins within contact-metamorphosed carbonate rocks in the northern Scandinavian region, formed under low-grade hydrothermal conditions during regional metamorphism. Associated minerals include apatite, wollastonite, calcite, and serpentine, which help define its paragenesis.

Significance and use: At present, Mineraalina is chiefly of interest to mineralogists and collectors. There are no established industrial applications, and the deposit is not mined commercially. The mineral contributes to the study of silicate–phosphate solid solutions and metamorphic processes.