Mineral Name | Nepheline |
First Discovered | 1801 |
Nickel-Strunz Classification | 09.FA.05 |
Dana Classification | 76.02.01.02 |
ICSD | 2937 |
Mineral Group | Silicates |
Elaeolite comes from the Greek word for oil 'ελαιον' due to its greasy lustre. The name was introduced by Karsten and Klaproth (1809) for a mineral from the the syenite-pegmatite-dykes at Friedrichswärn Norway, later shown to be identical with nepheline. However the name was used as a varietal of nepheline during the 19th century.
Elaeolite has only been found in one place in the world. The map below shows major documented concentration of elaeolite:
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