ELPIDITE SPECIMENS

Elpidite is a rare hydrated sodium zirconium silicate of alkaline rocks deficient in silica: albitized nepheline syenites, syenitic pegmatites, and fenites in particular. It's name comes from the Greek elpidos (to hope), in the hope of finding other interesting minerals at its place of discovery. It forms prismatic crystals, sometimes decimetric, and flabelliform or fibrous aggregates. Elpidite is colorless or variously colored pale green, green-yellow, brownish, sometimes brick red.