When Was Nepheline Discovered?

Nepheline ore was discovered here in the 1890's, and mining has taken place here for 80 years, with the Nephton mine beginning in 1935 and Blue Mountain in 1955.

Where is nepheline found?

Nepheline only forms in silica-poor rocks. It is almost never associated with quartz. It may be found in some contact metamorphosed rocks otherwise it occurs in alkaline complexes in igneous rocks. Nepheline is mostly found in the rock Nepheline Syenite in nature.

What does nepheline look like?

Nepheline syenite is a holocrystalline plutonic rock that consists largely of nepheline and alkali feldspar. The rocks are mostly pale colored, grey or pink, and in general appearance they are not unlike granites, but dark green varieties are also known. Phonolite is the fine-grained extrusive equivalent.