Description and crystal structure of a new mineral – plimerite, ZnFe3+4(PO4)3(OH)5 – the Zn-analogue of rockbridgeite and frondelite, from Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia

2009 ◽  
Vol 73 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-148 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Elliott ◽  
U. Kolitsch ◽  
G. Giester ◽  
E. Libowitzky ◽  
C. McCammon ◽  
...  

Plimerite, ideally Zn (PO4)3(OH)5, is a new mineral from the Block 14 Opencut, Broken Hill, New SouthWales. It occurs as pale-green to dark-olive-green, almost black, acicular to prismatic and bladed crystals up to 0.5 mm long and as hemispherical aggregates of radiating acicular crystals up to 3 mm across. Crystals are elongated along [001] and the principal form observed is {100} with minor {010} and {001}. The mineral is associated with hinsdalite-plumbogummite, pyromorphite, libethenite, brochantite, malachite, tsumebite and strengite. Plimerite is translucent with a pale-greyish-green streak and a vitreous lustre. It shows an excellent cleavage parallel to {100} and {010} and distinct cleavage parallel to {001}. It is brittle, has an uneven fracture, a Mohs’ hardness of 3.5–4, D(meas.) = 3.67(5) g/cm3 and D(calc.) = 3.62 g/cm3 (for the empirical formula). Optically, it is biaxial negative with α = 1.756(5), β = 1.764(4), γ = 1.767(4) and 2V(calc.) of –63º; pleochroism is X pale-greenish-brown, Y pale-brown, Z pale-bluish-green; absorption Z > X > Y; optical orientation XYZ = cab. Plimerite is orthorhombic, space group Bbmm, unit-cell parameters: a = 13.865(3) Å, b = 16.798(3) Å, c = 5.151(10) Å, V = 1187.0(4) Å3 (single-crystal data) and Z = 4. Strongest lines in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern are [d (A˚ ), I, hkl]: 4.638, (50), (111); 3.388, (50), (041); 3.369, (55), (131); 3.168, (100), (132); 2.753, (60), (115); 2.575, (90), (200); 2.414, (75), (220); 2.400, (50), (221); 1.957, (40), (225). Electron microprobe analysis yielded (wt.%): PbO 0.36, CaO 0.17, ZnO 20.17, MnO 0.02, Fe2O3 29.82, FeO 2.98, Al2O3 4.48, P2O5 32.37, As2O5 0.09, H2O (calc) 6.84, total 97.30 (Fe3+/Fe2+ ratio determined by Mössbauer spectroscopy). The empirical formula calculated on the basis of 17 oxygens is Ca0.02Pb0.01Zn1.68Al0.60P3.09As0.01O17.00H5.15. The crystal structure was solved by direct methods and refined to an R1 index of 6.41% for 1332 observed reflections from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data (Mo-Kα radiation, CCD area detector). The structure of plimerite is isotypic with that of rockbridgeite and is based on face-sharing trimers of (Mϕ6) octahedra which link by sharing edges to form chains, that extend in the b-direction. Chains link to clusters comprising pairs of corner-sharing (Mϕ6) octahedra that link to PO4 tetrahedra forming sheets parallel to (001). The sheets link via octahedra and tetrahedra corners into a heteropolyhedral framework structure. The mineral name honours Professor Ian Plimer for his contributions to the study of the geology of ore deposits.

2018 ◽  
Vol 83 (02) ◽  
pp. 233-238
Author(s):  
Frank N. Keutsch ◽  
Dan Topa ◽  
Rie Takagi Fredrickson ◽  
Emil Makovicky ◽  
Werner H. Paar

AbstractAgmantinite, ideally Ag2MnSnS4, is a new mineral from the Uchucchacua polymetallic deposit, Oyon district, Catajambo, Lima Department, Peru. It occurs as orange–red crystals up to 100 μm across. Agmantinite is translucent with adamantine lustre and possesses a red streak. It is brittle. Neither fracture nor cleavage were observed. Based on the empirical formula the calculated density is 4.574 g/cm3. On the basis of chemically similar compounds the Mohs hardness is estimated at between 2 to 2½. In plane-polarised light agmantinite is white with red internal reflections. It is weakly bireflectant with no observable pleochroism with red internal reflections. Between crossed polars, agmantinite is weakly anisotropic with reddish brown to greenish grey rotation tints. The reflectances (RminandRmax) for the four standard wavelengths are: 19.7 and 22.0 (470 nm); 20.5 and 23.2 (546 nm); 21.7 and 2.49 (589 nm); and 20.6 and 23.6 (650 nm), respectively.Agmantinite is orthorhombic, space groupP21nm, with unit-cell parameters:a= 6.632(2),b= 6.922(2),c= 8.156(2) Å,V= 374.41(17) Å3,a:b:c0.958:1:1.178 andZ= 2. The crystal structure was refined toR= 0.0575 for 519 reflections withI >2σ(I). Agmantinite is the first known mineral of${M}_{\rm 2}^{\rm I} $MIIMIVS4type that is derived from wurtzite rather than sphalerite by ordered substitution of Zn, analogous to the substitution pattern for deriving stannite from sphalerite. The six strongest X-ray powder-diffraction lines derived from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data [din Å (intensity)] are: 3.51 (s), 3.32 (w), 3.11 (vs), 2.42 (w), 2.04 (m) and 1.88 (m). The empirical formula (based on 8 apfu) is (Ag1.94Cu0.03)Σ1.97(Mn0.98Zn0.05)Σ1.03Sn0.97S4.03.The crystal structure-derived formula is Ag2(Mn0.69Zn0.31)Σ1.00SnS4and the simplified formula is Ag2MnSnS4.The name is for the composition and the new mineral and mineral name have been approved by the International Mineralogical Association Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (IMA2014-083).


2014 ◽  
Vol 78 (1) ◽  
pp. 131-144 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Elliott ◽  
G. Giester ◽  
R. Rowe ◽  
A. Pring

AbstractPutnisite, SrCa4Cr83+ (CO7)8SO4(OH)16·25H2O, is a new mineral from the Polar Bear peninsula, Southern Lake Cowan, Western Australia, Australia. The mineral forms isolated pseudocubic crystals up to 0.5 mm in size in a matrix composed of quartz and a near amorphous Cr silicate. Putnisite is translucent, with a pink streak and vitreous lustre. It is brittle and shows one excellent and two good cleavages parallel to {100}, {010} and {001}. The fracture is uneven and the Mohs hardness 1½−2. The measured density is 2.20(3) g/cm3 and the calculated density based on the empirical formula is 2.23 g/cm3. Optically, putnisite is biaxial negative, with α = 1.552(3), β = 1.583(3) and γ = 1.599(3) (measured in white light). The optical orientation is uncertain and pleochroism is distinct: X pale bluish grey, Y pale purple, Z pale purple. Putnisite is orthorhombic, space group Pnma, with a = 15.351(3), b = 20.421(4) Å, c = 18.270(4) Å, V = 5727(2) Å3 (single-crystal data), and Z = 4. The strongest five lines in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern are [d(Å)(I)(hkl)]: 13.577 (100) (011), 7.659 (80) (200), 6.667 (43) (211), 5.084 (19) (222, 230), 3.689 (16) (411). Electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) gave (wt.%): Na2O 0.17, MgO 0.08, CaO 10.81, SrO 5.72, BaO 0.12, CuO 0.29, Cr2O3 31.13, SO3 3.95, SiO2 0.08, Cl− 0.28, CO2calc 17.94, H2Ocalc 30.30, O=Cl−0.06, total 100.81. The empirical formula, based on O + Cl = 69, is: Cr8.023+Ca3.78Sr1.08Na0.11Cu0.072+Mg0.04Ba0.02[(SO4)0.96(SiO4)0.03]0.99 (CO3)7.98(OH)16.19Cl0.15·24.84H2O. The crystal structure was determined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data (MoKα, CCD area detector and refined to R1 = 5.84% for 3181 reflections with F0 > 4σF. Cr(OH)4O2 octahedra link by edge-sharing to form an eight-membered ring. A 10-coordinated Sr2+ cation lies at the centre of each ring. The rings are decorated by CO3 triangles, each of which links by corner-sharing to two Cr(OH)4O2 octahedra. Rings are linked by Ca(H2O)4O4 polyhedra to form a sheet parallel to (100). Adjacent sheets are joined along [100] by corner-sharing SO4 tetrahedra. H2O molecules occupy channels that run along [100] and interstices between slabs. Moderate to weak hydrogen bonding provides additional linkage between slabs.


2013 ◽  
Vol 77 (8) ◽  
pp. 3055-3066 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. Plášil ◽  
J. Hloušek ◽  
R. Škoda ◽  
M. Novák ◽  
J. Sejkora ◽  
...  

AbstractVysokýite, U4+[(AsO2(OH)2]4(H2O)4 (IMA 2012–067), was found growing on an altered surface of massive native As in the Geschieber vein, Jáchymov ore district, Western Bohemia, Czech Republic. The new mineral was found in association with běhounekite, štěpite, kaatialaite, arsenolite, claudetite and gypsum. It forms extremely fibrous light-green crystals up to 8 mm long. Crystals have an alabaster lustre and a greenish-white to greyish streak. Vysokýite is brittle with uneven fracture and perfect cleavage along (100) and (001); the Mohs hardness is ∼2. A density of 3.393 g/cm3 was calculated using the empirical formula and unit-cell parameters obtained from a single-crystal diffraction experiment. Vysokýite is non-fluorescent under short or long wavelength UV radiation. It is colourless under the microscope, measured refractive indices are α' = 1.617(3), γ' = 1.654(3); the estimated optical orientation is α' ∼X, γ' ∼Z. The average of five spot wavelength dispersive spectroscopy (WDS) analyses is 29.44 UO2, 1.03 SiO2, 48.95 As2O5, 0.12 SO3, 15.88 H2O (calc.), total 95.42 wt.%. The empirical formula of vysokýite (based on 20 O a.p.f.u.) is U1.00[AsO2(OH)2]3.90(SiO4)0.16 (SO4)0.01·4H2O. The As–O–H and O–H vibrations dominate in the Raman spectrum. Vysokýite is triclinic, space group P, with a = 10.749(2), b = 5.044(3), c = 19.1778(7) Å, α = 89.872(15)°, β = 121.534(15)°, γ = 76.508(15)°, and V = 852.1(6) Å3, Z = 2 and Dcalc = 3.34 g·cm–3. The strongest diffraction peaks in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern are [dobs in Å (Irel.)(hkl)]: 8.872(100)(100), 8.067(50)(002), 6.399(7)(10), 4.773(6)(10), 3.411(10)(30), 3.197(18)(31). The crystal structure of vysokýite was solved from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data by the charge-flipping method and refined to R1 = 0.0595 based on 2718 unique observed reflection, and to wR2 = 0.1160 for all 4173 unique reflections. The structure of vysokýite consists of UO8 square antiprisms sharing all of their vertices with 8 As-tetrahedra to form infinite chains parallel to [010]. These chains are linked by hydrogen bonds involving terminal (OH) groups of the double-protonated As-tetrahedra and molecules of H2O located between the chains. The new mineral is named in honour of Arnošt Vysoký (1823–1872), the former chief of the Jáchymov mines and smelters, chemist and metallurgist.


2015 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 767-780 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel Atencio ◽  
Artur C. Bastos Neto ◽  
Vitor P. Pereira ◽  
José T. M. M. Ferron ◽  
M. Hoshino ◽  
...  

AbstractWaimirite-(Y) (IMA 2013-108), orthorhombic YF3, occurs associated with halloysite, in hydrothermal veins (up to 30 mm thick) cross-cutting the albite-enriched facies of the A-type Madeira granite (∼1820 Ma), at the Pitinga mine, Presidente Figueiredo Co., Amazonas State, Brazil. Minerals in the granite are 'K-feldspar', albite, quartz, riebeckite, 'biotite', muscovite, cryolite, zircon, polylithionite, cassiterite, pyrochlore-group minerals, 'columbite', thorite, native lead, hematite, galena, fluorite, xenotime-(Y), gagarinite-(Y), fluocerite-(Ce), genthelvite–helvite, topaz, 'illite', kaolinite and 'chlorite'. The mineral occurs as massive aggregates of platy crystals up to ∼1 μm in size. Forms are not determined, but synthetic YF3 displays pinacoids, prisms and bipyramids. Colour: pale pink. Streak: white. Lustre: non-metallic. Transparent to translucent. Density (calc.) = 5.586 g/cm3 using the empirical formula. Waimirite-(Y) is biaxial, mean n = 1.54–1.56. The chemical composition is (average of 24 wavelength dispersive spectroscopy mode electron microprobe analyses, O calculated for charge balance): F 29.27, Ca 0.83, Y 37.25, La 0.19, Ce 0.30, Pr 0.15, Nd 0.65, Sm 0.74, Gd 1.86, Tb 0.78, Dy 8.06, Ho 1.85, Er 6.38, Tm 1.00, Yb 5.52, Lu 0.65, O (2.05), total (97.53) wt.%. The empirical formula (based on 1 cation) is (Y0.69Dy0.08Er0.06Yb0.05Ca0.03Gd0.02Ho0.02Nd0.01Sm0.01Tb0.01Tm0.01Lu0.01)Σ1.00[F2.54〈0.25O0.21]Σ3.00. Orthorhombic, Pnma, a = 6.386(1), b = 6.877(1), c = 4.401(1) Å, V = 193.28(7) Å3, Z = 4 (powder data). Powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) data [d in Å (I) (hkl)]: 3.707 (26) (011), 3.623 (78) (101), 3.438 (99) (020), 3.205 (100) (111), 2.894 (59) (210), 1.937 (33) (131), 1.916 (24) (301), 1.862 (27) (230). The name is for the Waimiri-Atroari Indian people of Roraima and Amazonas. A second occurrence of waimirite-(Y) is described from the hydrothermally altered quartz-rich microgranite at Jabal Tawlah, Saudi Arabia. Electron microprobe analyses gave the empirical formula (Y0.79Dy0.08Er0.05Gd0.03Ho0.02Tb0.01Tm0.01Yb0.01)Σ1.00[F2.85O0.08〈0.07]Σ3.00. The crystal structure was determined with a single crystal from Saudi Arabia. Unit-cell parameters refined from single-crystal XRD data are a = 6.38270(12), b = 6.86727(12), c = 4.39168(8) Å, V = 192.495(6) Å3, Z = 4. The refinement converged to R1 = 0.0173 and wR2 = 0.0388 for 193 independent reflections. Waimirite-(Y) is isomorphous with synthetic SmF3, HoF3 and YbF3. The Y atom forms a 9-coordinated YF9 tricapped trigonal prism in the crystal structure. The substitution of Y for Dy, as well as for other lanthanoids, causes no notable deviations in the crystallographic values, such as unit-cell parameters and interatomic distances, from those of pure YF3.


1998 ◽  
Vol 54 (4) ◽  
pp. 358-364 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. G. Hatzisymeon ◽  
S. C. Kokkou ◽  
A. N. Anagnostopoulos ◽  
P. I. Rentzeperis

A series of thallium ternary chalcogenides with the composition Tl2x In2(1−x)Se2, x = 0.2, 0.3,...0.9, have been studied by X-ray powder and, for some of them, single-crystal diffraction. They are tetragonal, space group I4/mcm, Z = 4, and isostructural with the binary semiconductor TlSe. Their crystal structures have been solved by direct methods and refined by the Rietveld method to a precision which is satisfactorily comparable to single-crystal results. As x is changed from x = 0.2 to x = 0.9 the unit-cell parameters and volume decrease or increase following Kurnakov's law, which is valid for solid solutions. Refined positional parameters of Se, In—Se and Tl—Se bond lengths vary with x also according to the same law. The distribution of In and Tl cations in 4(a) and 4(b) sites depends on the stoichiometry x and the crystals are composed of [In3+Se2]_{\infty}^- chains along the c axis in which InSe4 tetrahedra share edges; the chains are interconnected with Tl+(In+) ions.


2010 ◽  
Vol 74 (5) ◽  
pp. 863-869 ◽  
Author(s):  
S. J. Mills ◽  
A. R. Kampf ◽  
P. A. Williams ◽  
P. Leverett ◽  
G. Poirier ◽  
...  

AbstractHydroniumpharmacosiderite, ideally (H3O)Fe4(AsO4)3(OH)4·4H2O, is a new mineral from Cornwall, UK, probably from the St. Day group of mines. It occurs as a single yellowish green, slightly elongated cube, measuring 0.17 mm ×0.14 mm ×0.14 mm. The mineral is transparent with a vitreous lustre. It is brittle with a cleavage on {001}, has an irregular fracture, a white streak and a Mohs hardness of 2–3 (determined on H3O-exchanged pharmacosiderite). Hydroniumpharmacosiderite has a calculated density of 2.559 g cm–3 for the empirical formula. The empirical formula, based upon 20.5 oxygen atoms, is: [(H3O)0.50K0.48Na0.06]1.04(Fe3.79Al0.22)4.01[(As2.73P0.15)2.88O12](OH)4·4H2.14O. The five strongest lines in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern are [dobs(Å),Iobs,(hkl)]: 8.050,100,(001); 3.265,35,(112); 2.412,30,(113); 2.830,23,(202); 4.628,22,(111). Hydroniumpharmacosiderite is cubic, space group with a = 7.9587(2) Å, V = 504.11(2) Å3 and Z = 1. The crystal structure was solved by direct methods and refined to R1 = 0.0481 for 520 reflections with I > 2σ(I). The structure is consistent with determinations for H3O-exhchanged pharmacosiderite and the general pharmacosiderite structure type.


1995 ◽  
Vol 59 (395) ◽  
pp. 305-310 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. C. Roberts ◽  
J. A. R. Stirling ◽  
G. J. C. Carpenter ◽  
A. J. Criddle ◽  
G. C. Jones ◽  
...  

AbstractShannonite, ideally Pb2OCO3, is a new mineral species that occurs as mm-sized white porcellanous crusts, associated with fluorite, at the Grand Reef mine, Graham County, Arizona, USA. Other associated minerals are plumbojarosite, hematite, Mn-oxides, muscovite-2M1, quartz, litharge, massicot, hydrocerussite, minium, and unnamed PbCO3·2PbO. Shannonite is orthorhombic, space group P21221 or P212121, with unit-cell parameters (refined from X-ray powder data): a 9.294(3), b 9.000(3), c 5.133(2) Å, V 429.3(3) Å3, a:b:c 1.0327:1:0.5703, Z = 4. The strongest five lines in the X-ray powder pattern [d in Å (I)(hkl)] are: 4.02(40)(111); 3.215(100)(211); 3.181(90)(121); 2.858(40)(130); 2.564(35)(002). The average of eight electron microprobe analyses is PbO 89.9(5), CO2 (by CHN elemental analyser) 9.70, total 99.60 wt.%. With O = 4, the empirical formula is Pb1.91C1.05O4.00. The calculated density for the empirical formula is 7.31 and for the idealized formula is 7.59 g/cm3. In reflected light, shannonite is colourless-grey to white, with ubiquitous white internal reflections (× 16 objectives), weak anisotropy, barely detectable bireflectance, and no evidence of pleochroism. The calculated refractive index (at 590 nm) is 2.09. Measured reflectance values in air and in oil (× 4 objectives) are tabulated. Transmission electron-microscopy studies reveal that individual crystallites range in size from 10–400 nm, are platy, and are anhedral. Physical properties for cryptocrystalline crusts include: white streak; waxy lustre; opaque; nonfluorescent under both long- and short-wave ultraviolet light; uneven fracture; brittle; VHN100 97 (range 93–100); calculated Mohs’ hardness 3–3½. Shannonite is soluble in concentrated HCl and in dilute HNO3 and H2SO4. The mineral name is for David M. Shannon, who helped collect the samples and who initiated this study.


2014 ◽  
Vol 69 (1) ◽  
pp. 17-24 ◽  
Author(s):  
Olaf Reckeweg ◽  
Armin Schulz ◽  
Björn Blaschkowski ◽  
Thomas Schleid ◽  
Francis J. DiSalvo

The crystal structure of Li[SCN] · 2 H2O has been determined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction on commercially available material. Crystals of this compound are colorless, transparent and hygroscopic. Li[SCN] · 2H2O adopts the orthorhombic space group Pnma with the cell parameters a = 572.1(3), b = 809.3(4) and c = 966.9(4) pm and Z = 4. Li[SCN] was obtained by dehydration of the afore-mentioned dihydrate and also crystallizes orthorhombically in Pnma with the lattice parameters a = 1215.1(3), b = 373.6(1) and c = 529:9(2) pm (Z = 4). Both compounds contain Li+ cations in sixfold coordination. Four water molecules and two nitrogen-attached thiocyanate anions [SCN]- arrange as trans-octahedra [Li(OH2)4(NCS)2]- in the case of Li[SCN] · 2 H2O. Anhydrous Li[SCN] displays fac-octahedra [Li(NCS)3(SCN)3]5- with six thiocyanate anions grafting via both nitrogen and sulfur atoms, three each. Infrared and Raman spectra of both compounds were recorded and a DSC=TG measurement was performed on Li[SCN] · 2 H2O.


Minerals ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (4) ◽  
pp. 385 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Holtstam ◽  
Luca Bindi ◽  
Andreas Karlsson ◽  
Jörgen Langhof ◽  
Thomas Zack ◽  
...  

Kesebolite-(Ce), ideal formula CeCa2Mn(AsO4)[SiO3]3, is a new mineral (IMA No. 2019-097) recovered from mine dumps at the Kesebol Mn-(Fe-Cu) deposit in Västra Götaland, Sweden. It occurs with rhodonite, baryte, quartz, calcite, talc, andradite, rhodochrosite, K-feldspar, hematite, gasparite-(Ce), chernovite-(Y) and ferriakasakaite-(Ce). It forms mostly euhedral crystals, with lengthwise striation. The mineral is dark grayish-brown to brown, translucent, with light brown streak. It is optically biaxial (+), with weak pleochroism, and ncalc = 1.74. H = 5–6 and VHN100 = 825. Fair cleavage is observed on {100}. The calculated density is 3.998(5) g·cm−3. Kesebolite-(Ce) is monoclinic, P21/c, with unit-cell parameters from X-ray single-crystal diffraction data: a = 6.7382(3), b = 13.0368(6), c = 12.0958(6) Å, β = 98.578(2)°, and V = 1050.66(9) Å3, with Z = 4. Strongest Bragg peaks in the X-ray powder pattern are: [I(%), d(Å) (hkl)] 100, 3.114 (20-2); 92, 2.924 (140); 84, 3.138 (041); 72, 2.908 (014); 57, 3.228 (210); 48, 2.856 (042); 48, 3.002 (132). The unique crystal structure was solved and refined to R1 = 4.6%. It consists of 6-periodic single silicate chains along (001); these are interconnected to infinite (010) strings of alternating, corner-sharing MnO6 and AsO4 polyhedra, altogether forming a trellis-like framework parallel to (100).


2011 ◽  
Vol 75 (6) ◽  
pp. 2721-2732 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Bindi ◽  
F. Nestola ◽  
U. Kolitsch ◽  
A. Guastoni ◽  
F. Zorzi

AbstractFassinaite, ideally Pb22+(S2O3)(CO3), is a new mineral from the Trentini mine, Mount Naro, Vicenza Province, Veneto, Italy (holotype locality). It is also reported from the Erasmus adit, Schwarzleo District, Leogang, Salzburg, Austria and the Friedrich-Christian mine, Schapbach, Black Forest, Baden-Wurttemberg, Germany (cotype localities). At the Italian type locality it occurs as acicular [010]. colourless crystals up to 200 μn long, closely associated with galena, quartz and anglesite. At the Austrian cotype locality it is associated with cerussite, rare sulphur and very rare phosgenite. At the German cotype locality anglesite is the only associated phase. Fassinaite crystals commonly have flat chisel-shaped terminations. They are transparent with vitreous to adamantine lustre and a white streak. Fassinaite is brittle with an irregular fracture and no discernible cleavage; the estimated Mohs hardness is 11/2—2. The calculated density for the type material is 6.084 g cm–3 (on the basis of the empirical formula), whereas the X-ray density is 5.947 g cm–3. In common with other natural lead thiosulphates (i.e. sidpietersite and steverustite) fassinaite has intense internal reflections, which do not allow satisfactory optical data to be collected; the crystals are length-slow and have very high birefringence. The mineral is not fluorescent.Fassinaite is orthorhombic, space group Pnma, with unit-cell parameters (for the holotype material) a = 16.320(2), b = 8.7616(6), c = 4.5809(7) Å, V = 655.0(1) Å3, a:b:c = 1.863:1:0.523, Z = 4. Single-crystal structural studies were carried out on crystals from all three localities: R1(F) values range between 0.0353 and 0.0596. The structure consists of rod-like arrangements of Pb-centred polyhedra that extend along the [010] direction. These ‘rods’ are linked, alternately, by (CO3)2– and (S2O3)2– groups. The (S2O3)2– groups point alternately left and right (in a projection on [001] with [010] set vertical) if the apex occupied by the S2– in the thiosulphate group is defined to be the atom giving the direction. The lead atoms are nine-coordinated by seven oxygen atoms and two sulphur (S2–) atoms. The eight strongest X-ray powder-diffraction lines [d in Å (I/I0) (hkl)] are: 4.410 (39) (101), 4.381 (59) (020), 4.080 (62) (400), 3.504 (75) (301), 3.108 (100) (121), 2.986 (82) (420), 2.952 (49) (221) and 2.736 (60) (321). Electron-microprobe analyses produce an empirical formula Pb2.01(1)(S1.82(2)O3)CO3 (on the basis of six oxygen atoms). The presence of both carbonate and thiosulphate groups was corroborated by Raman spectra, which are discussed in detail. Fassinaite is named after Bruno Fassina (b. 1943), an Italian mineral collector who discovered the mineral in 2009.


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