Priderite, a new mineral from the leucite-lamproites of the west Kimberley area, Western Australia

Abstract

During an analysis by X-ray diffraction techniques of some fine-grained leucite-lamproites from the west Kimberley area of Western Australia the author became interested in the rntile in these rocks. Although rutile had been repeatedly observed under the microscope (1, 2), its presence could not be confirmed using X-ray diffraction methods. At the author's request, Professor R. T. Prider supplied a small amount of the mineral which had been identified as rutile. A study of this mineral showed it to be a new mineral similar to rutile in its optical properties.