WGNHS
Wisconsin Geological and Natural History Survey

Cryolite

White cryolite with brown sphalerite. Field of view is 7 cm across. From Ivigtut, Greenland. (Photo by W.S. Cordua.)

Formula: Na3AlF6 Monoclinic

Description:

Cryolite and prosopite from the Nine Mile pluton near Wausau in Marathon County, Wisconsin. Scanning electron microscope image. (Photo by Al Falster.)

Cryolite is a very rare mineral found in fluorine-enriched pegmatites.

MARATHON COUNTY: Cryolite was found as tiny microscopic rims on prosopite grains in a greisen zone in the Magurie Pit, part of the LaDick East quarry complex east of Wausau. (Buchholz et al. , 2005a)