liukeneen

Liukeneen is a rare and distinctive mineral that was first discovered in the late 19th century in the Kola Peninsula of Russia. It is named after its discoverer, the Finnish mineralogist, Liukeneen, who identified the mineral in 1891. Liukeneen is a complex silicate mineral with the chemical formula Na2Ca2(Si6O16)2. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system and typically forms prismatic crystals that can reach up to 2 centimeters in length. The mineral is usually colorless or white, but it can also exhibit shades of yellow, green, or brown due to impurities. Liukeneen is relatively soft, with a Mohs hardness of 5 to 5.5, and has a specific gravity of approximately 2.9. It is found in association with other silicate minerals, such as nepheline and sodalite, in alkaline igneous rocks and pegmatites. Due to its rarity and unique properties, liukeneen is of interest to mineral collectors and researchers studying the formation of complex silicate minerals.