Kaersutite - NaCa₂(Mg₃Ti⁴⁺Al)(Si₆Al₂)O₂₂O₂

Kaersutite is a member of the hornblende series together with oxyhornblende and katophorite. It was first described in 1884 and is named for Qaersut (formerly Kaersut), Umanq district in northern Greenland, near Skaergaard. Kaersutite is relatively rare but may be found in alkaline rocks such as trachyte, trachyandesite, syenite, monzonite and lugarite (rare alkaline sub-volcanic rock). It also appears in metasomatized mantle xenoliths.

Optical Properties:

• Form: Long prismatic crystals showing strong pleochroism.
• Relief: High.
• Color: Brown, similar to biotite.
• Interference colors: Similar to hornblende

Bibliography

• Cox et al. (1979): The Interpretation of Igneous Rocks, George Allen and Unwin, London.
• Howie, R. A., Zussman, J., & Deer, W. (1992). An introduction to the rock-forming minerals (p. 696). Longman.
• Le Maitre, R. W., Streckeisen, A., Zanettin, B., Le Bas, M. J., Bonin, B., Bateman, P., & Lameyre, J. (2002). Igneous rocks. A classification and glossary of terms, 2. Cambridge University Press.
• Middlemost, E. A. (1986). Magmas and magmatic rocks: an introduction to igneous petrology.
• Shelley, D. (1993). Igneous and metamorphic rocks under the microscope: classification, textures, microstructures and mineral preferred-orientations.
• Vernon, R. H. & Clarke, G. L. (2008): Principles of Metamorphic Petrology. Cambridge University Press.

Photo
Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)
Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)
Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. XPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)
Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. XPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)
Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. XPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)
Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. XPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)
Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)
Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)	Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 2x (Field of view = 7mm)
Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 10x (Field of view = 2mm)	Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 10x (Field of view = 2mm)	Kaersutite crystals in a Lugarite. Lugar Sill, Ayrshire, Scotland. PPL image, 10x (Field of view = 2mm)