Fluoroleakeite, NaNa2(Mg2Fe3+2Li)Si8O22F2, a new mineral of the amphibole group from the Verkhnee Espe deposit, Akjailyautas Mountains, Eastern Kazakhstan District, Kazakhstan: description and crystal structure

2010 ◽  
Vol 74 (3) ◽  
pp. 521-528 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Cámara ◽  
F. C. Hawthorne ◽  
N. A. Ball ◽  
G. Bekenova ◽  
A. V. Stepanov ◽  
...  

AbstractFluoroleakeite, NaNa2(Mg2Fe3+2Li)Si8O22F2 is a new mineral of the amphibole group from the Verkhnee Espe deposit, Akjailyautas mountains, eastern Kazakhstan district, Kazakhstan. The granites and their host rocks have been intensely reworked by post-magmatic and host-rock fluids, resulting in intense recrystallization, enrichment in F, Li and rare elements, and replacement of primary biotite and sodic-calcic amphiboles by Li-bearing riebeckite, aegirine, astrophyllite and other sodic minerals including fluoroleakeite. Crystals are prismatic parallel to [001] with {100} and {110} faces and cleavage surfaces, and the prism direction is terminated by irregular fractures. Grains are up to 3 mm long, and occur as isolated crystals, as small aggregates, and as inclusions in cámaraite. Crystals are black with a very pale grey to colourless streak. Fluoroleakeite is brittle, has a Mohs hardness of 6 and a splintery fracture; it is non-fluorescent with perfect {110} cleavage, no observable parting, and has a calculated density of 3.245 g cm–3. In plane-polarized light, it is pleochroic, X = pale grey-green, Y = medium grey, Z = grey-brown; X^a = 14.1° (in β obtuse), Y ‖ b, Z^c = 75.9° (in β acute). Fluoroleakeite is biaxial negative, α = 1.663(2), β = 1.673(2), γ = 1.680(2); 2Vobs = 80.9(6)°, 2Vcalc = 79.4°Fluoro-leakeite is monoclinic, space group C2/m, a = 9.8927(3), b = 17.9257(6), c = 5.2969(2) Å, β = 103.990(1)°, V = 905.7(1) Å3, Z = 2. The strongest ten X-ray diffraction lines in the powder pattern are [d in Å(I)(hkl)]: 2.718(100)(151), 8.434(40)(110), 4.464(30)(021), 3.405(30)(131), 3.137(20)(310), 2.541(20)(), 2.166(20)(261), 2.325(15)(), 2.275(15)() and 2.806(10)(330). Analysis by a combination of electron microprobe and crystal-structure refinement gives SiO2 53.34, Al2O3 0.62, TiO2 1.27, V2O3 0.05, Fe2O3 15.10, FeO 6.00, MnO 2.04, ZnO 0.18, MgO 6.40, CaO 0.13, Na2O 9.08, K2O 1.98, Li2O 1.10, F 3.33, H2Ocalc 0.16, sum 99.39 wt.%. The formula unit, calculated on the basis of 23 O, is A(Na0.64K0.38)(Na1.98Ca0.02)(Li0.66Mg1.42Fe0.752+Mn0.262+Zn0.02Fe1.693+V0.013+Ti0.144+Al0.03) (Si7.93Al0.07)O22(F1.57OH0.16O0.27). Crystal-structure refinement shows Li to be completely ordered at the M(3) site. Fluoroleakeite, ideally NaNa2(Mg2Fe23+Li)Si8O22F2, is related to end-member leakeite, NaNa2(Mg2Fe23+Li)Si8O22(OH)2 by the substitution F → (OH).

2009 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 487-494 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Oberti ◽  
M. Boiocchi ◽  
N. A. Ball ◽  
F. C. Hawthorne

AbstractFluoro-sodic-ferropedrizite, ideally ANaBLi2C()TSi8O22WF2, is a new mineral of the amphibole group from the Sutlug River, Tuva Republic, Russia. It occurs at the endogenic contact of a Li-pegmatite with country rocks near to a diabase dyke and formed by reaction of the pegmatitic melt with the country rock. Fluoro-sodic-ferropedrizite occurs as prismatic to acicular crystals, ranging in length from 0.1–3 cm and widths of up to 50 μm. Crystals occur inparallel to sub-parallel aggregates up to 5 mm across ina matrix of calcite and plagioclase feldspar. Crystals are pale bluish-grey with a greyish-white streak.Fluoro-sodic-ferropedrizite is brittle, has a Mohs hardness of ~6 and a splintery fracture; it is non-fluorescent with perfect {110} cleavage, no observable parting, and has a calculated density of 3.116 g cm–3. In plane-polarized light, it is pleochroic, X = pale purple-grey, Y = light grey, Z = colourless; X ^ a = 71.2º (in β acute), Y || b, Z ^ c = 83.4º (in β obtuse). Fluoro-sodic-ferropedrizite is biaxial positive, α = 1.642(1), β = 1.644(1), γ = 1.652(1); 2V(obs) = 68.0(3)º, 2V(calc) = 56.4º. Fluoro-sodic-ferropedrizite is monoclinic, space group C2/m, a = 9.3720(4) Å, b = 17.6312(8) Å, c = 5.2732(3) Å, β = 102.247(4)º, V = 851.5(2) Å3, Z = 2. The strongest ten X-ray diffraction lines in the powder patternare (d in Å ,(I),(hkl)): 8.146,(10),(110); 2.686,(9),(151); 3.008,(8),(310); 4.430,(7),(021); 2.485,(6),(02); 3.383,(4),(131); 2.876,(3),(51, 11); 2.199,(3),(12); 4.030,(2),(111) and 3.795,(2),(31). Analysis by a combination of electron microprobe and crystal-structure refinement gives SiO2 59.81, Al2O3 12.66, TiO2 0.09, FeO 10.32, MgO 5.56, MnO 0.73, ZnO 0.17, CaO 0.20, Na2O 2.81, Li2O 4.80, F 2.43, H2Ocalc 1.10, sum = 99.65 wt.%. The formula unit, calculated on the basis of 24(O,OH,F) is A(Na0.68)B(Li1.92Na0.05Ca0.03)C() T(Si7.98Al0.02)O22W(F1.03OH0.97). Crystal-structure refinement shows Li to be completely ordered at the M(3) and M(4) sites. Fluoro-sodic-ferropedrizite, ideally ANaBLi2C()TSi8O22WF2, is related to the theoretical end-member ‘sodic-pedrizite’, ANaBLi2C(Mg2Al2Li)TSi8O22W(OH)2, by the substitutions CFe2+ → CMg and WF → W(OH).


2009 ◽  
Vol 73 (5) ◽  
pp. 817-824 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Oberti ◽  
F. Cámaraite ◽  
F. C. Hawthorne ◽  
N. A. Ball

AbstractFluoro-aluminoleakeite, ideally , is a new mineral of the amphibole group from Norra Kärr, Sweden (IMA-CNMMNC 2009-012). It occurs in a proterozoic alkaline intrusion that mainly comprises a fine-grained schistose agpaitic nepheline-syenite (grennaite). Fluoro- aluminoleakeite occurs as isolated prismatic crystals 0.10–2 mm long in a syenitic matrix. Crystals are light greenish-blue with a greenish-blue streak. It is brittle, has a Mohs hardness of 6 and a splintery fracture; it is non-fluorescent with perfect {110} cleavage, no observable parting, and has a calculated density of 3.14 g cm–3. In plane-polarized light, it is pleochroic, X = pale green, Y = dark green, Z = pale green; X ^ a = 62.9° (in β obtuse), Y || b. Fluoro-aluminoleakeite is biaxial negative, α = 1.632(1), β = 1.638(1), γ = 1.643(1); 2Vobs. = 98.0(4)°, 2Vcalc. = 95.5°.MFluoro-aluminoleakeite is monoclinic, space group C2/m, a = 9.7043(5) Å, b = 17.7341(8) Å, c = 5.2833(3) Å, β = 104.067(4)°, V = 882.0(2) Å3, Z = 2. The eight strongest X-ray diffraction lines in the powder-diffraction pattern are [d in Å, (I), (hkl)]: 2.687, (100), (31, 151); 4.435, (80), (021, 040); 3.377, (80), (131); 2.527, (60), (02); 8.342, (50), (110); 3.096, (40), (310); 2.259, (40), (71, 12) and 2.557, (30), (002, 061). Analysis, by a combination of electron microprobe and crystal-structure refinement, gives SiO2 58.61, Al2O3 7.06, TiO2 0.32, FeO 3.27, Fe2O3 6.05, MgO 8.61, MnO 0.73, ZnO 0.43, CaO 0.05, Na2O 9.90, K2O 2.43, Li2O 1.62, F 3.37, H2Ocalc. 0.50, sum 101.08 wt.%. The formula unit, calculated on the basis of 24 (O,OH,F,Cl) p.f.u. with (OH) + F = 2 a.p.f.u., is A(Na0.65 O22W(F1.47OH0.53)Σ=2.00. Crystal-structure analysis shows CLi to be completely ordered at the M(3) site, and provided reliable site populations. Fluoro-aluminoleakeite is related to the end-member leakeite, , by the substitutions CFe3+ → CAl and WF → W(OH).


2013 ◽  
Vol 77 (7) ◽  
pp. 2931-2939 ◽  
Author(s):  
U. Hålenius ◽  
F. Bosi

AbstractOxyplumboroméite, Pb2Sb2O7, is a new mineral of the roméite group of the pyrochlore supergroup (IMA 2013-042). It is found together with calcite and leucophoenicite in fissure fillings in tephroite skarn at the Harstigen mine, Värmland, Sweden. The mineral occurs as yellow to brownish yellow rounded grains or imperfect octahedra. Oxyplumboroméite has a Mohs hardness of ∼5, a calculated density of 6.732 g/cm3 and is isotropic with a calculated refractive index of 2.061. Oxyplumboroméite is cubic, space group Fdm, with the unit-cell parameters a = 10.3783(6) Å, V = 1117.84(11) Å3 and Z = 8. The strongest five X-ray powder-diffraction lines [d in Å(I)(hkl)] are: 2.9915(100)(222), 2.5928(32)(400), 1.8332(48)(440), 1.5638(38)(622) and 1.1900(12)(662). The crystal structure of oxyplumboroméite was refined to an R1 index of 3.02% using 160 unique reflections collected with MoKα radiation. Electron microprobe analyses in combination with crystal-structure refinement, infrared, Mössbauer and electronic absorption spectroscopy resulted in the empirical formula A(Pb0.92Ca0.87Mn0.09Sr0.01Na0.05)Σ1.93B(Sb1.73Fe3+0.27)Σ2.00X+Y[O6.64(OH)0.03]Σ6.67. Oxyplumboroméite is the Pb analogue of oxycalcioroméite, ideally Ca2Sb2O7.


2011 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
pp. 2677-2686 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Bindi ◽  
C. Carbone ◽  
R. Cabella ◽  
G. Lucchetti

AbstractBassoite, ideally SrV3O7·4H2O, is a new mineral from the Molinello manganese mine, Val Graveglia. eastern Liguria, northern Apennines, Italy. It occurs as black euhedral to subhedral grains up to 400 urn across, closely associated with rhodonite, quartz and braunite. Bassoite is opaque with a sub-metallic lustre and a black streak. It is brittle and neither fracture nor cleavage was observed; the Vickers micro-hardness (VHN100) is 150 kg/mm (range 142—165; corresponding to a Mohs hardness of 4—41/2). The calculated density is 2.940 g/cm3 (on the basis of the empirical formula and X-ray single-crystal data). Bassoite is weakly bireflectant and very weakly pleochroic from grey to a dark green. Internal reflections are absent. The mineral is anisotropic, without characteristic rotation tints. Reflectance percentages (Rmin and Rmax) for the four standard COM wavelengths are 18.5%, 19.0% (471.1 nm); 17.2%, 17.8% (548.3 nm); 16.8%, 17.5% (586.6 nm) and 16.2%, 16.8% (652.3 nm), respectively.Bassoite is monoclinic, space group P21/m, with unit-cell parameters: a = 5.313(3) Å, b = 10.495(3) Å, c = 8.568(4) Å, β = 91.14(5)°, V= 477.7(4) Å3, a:b:c = 0.506:1:0.816, and Z = 2. The crystal structure was refined to R1 = 0.0209 for 1148 reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo) and it consists of layers of VO5 pyramids (with vanadium in the tetravalent state) pointing up and down alternately with Sr between the layers (in nine-fold coordination). The nine most intense X-ray powder-diffraction lines [d in Å (I/I0) (hkt)] are: 8.5663 (100) (001); 6.6363 (14) (011); 3.4399 (14) (1̄21); 3.4049 (17) (121); 2.8339 (15) (1̄22); 2.7949 (11) (122); 2.6550 (15) (200); 2.6237 (11) (040) and 1.8666 (15) (240). Electron microprobe analyses produce a chemical formula (Sr0.97Ca0.02Na0.01)V3.00O74H20, on the basis of 2(Sr+Ca+Na) = 1, taking the results of the structure refinement into account. The presence of water molecules was confirmed by micro-Raman spectroscopy. The name honours Riccardo Basso (b. 1947), full professor of Mineralogy and Crystallography at the University of Genova. The new mineral and mineral name have been approved by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification, IMA (2011-028).


2009 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 373-384 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. Wiedenmann ◽  
A. N. Zaitsev ◽  
S. N. Britvin ◽  
S. V. Krivovichev ◽  
J. Keller

AbstractAlumoåkermanite, (Ca,Na)2(Al,Mg,Fe2+)(Si2O7), is a new mineral member of the melilite group from the active carbonatite-nephelinite-phonolite volcano Oldoinyo Lengai, Tanzania. The mineral occurs as tabular phenocrysts and microphenocrysts in melilite-nephelinitic ashes and lapilli-tuffs. Alumoåkermanite is light brown in colour; it is transparent, with a vitreous lustre and the streak is white. Cleavages or partings are not observed. The mineral is brittle with an uneven fracture. The measured density is 2.96(2) g/cm3. The Mohs hardness is ~4.5–6. Alumoåkermanite is uniaxial (–) with ω = 1.635(1) and ε = 1.624–1.626(1). In a 30 mm thin section (+N), the mineral has a yellow to orange interference colour, straight extinction and positive elongation, and is nonpleochroic. The average chemical formula of the mineral derived from electron microprobe analyses is: (Ca1.48Na0.50Sr0.02 K0.01)(Si1.99Al0.01O7). Alumoåkermanite is tetragonal, space group P421m with a = 7.7661(4) Å, c = 5.0297(4) Å, V = 303.4(1) Å3 and Z = 2. The five strongest powder-diffraction lines [d in Å, (I/Io), hkl] are: 3.712, (13), (111); 3.075, (25), (201); 2.859, (100), (211); 2.456, (32), (311); 1.757, (19), (312). Single-crystal structure refinement (R1 = 0.018) revealed structure topology typical of the melilite-group minerals, i.e. tetrahedral [(Al,Mg)(Si2O7)] sheets interleaved with layers of (CaNa) cations. The name reflects the chemical composition of the mineral.


2010 ◽  
Vol 74 (1) ◽  
pp. 39-53 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Elliott ◽  
J. Brugger ◽  
T. Caradoc-Davies

AbstractEdwardsite, Cu3Cd2(SO4)2(OH)6·4H2O, is a new mineral from the Block 14 Opencut, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia. It occurs as druses of tabular and bladed crystals up to 0.06 mm in size, associated with niedermayrite and christelite. Edwardsite is pale blue, transparent with vitreous lustre and has excellent cleavage parallel to {100}. Density was not measured but the calculated density, from the empirical formula, is 3.53 g cm–3 and the Mohs hardness is ∼3. Optically, it is biaxial negative with α ∼ 1.74, β = 1.762(4), γ ∼ 1.77 and 2Vcalc. ∼ +62°. The optical orientation is X = b, Y ∼ a, Z ∼ c. Electron microprobe analysis gave (wt.%): CdO 32.43, CuO 28.06, ZnO 2.26, FeO 0.08, SO3 20.35, H2Ocalc. (from crystal-structure analysis) 14.14, totalling 99.32. The empirical formula, calculated on the basis of 18 oxygen atoms is Cu2.77Cd1.98Zn0.22Fe0.01(SO4)2.00(OH)5.95·4.06H2O. Edwardsite is monoclinic, space group P21/c, with a = 10.863(2) Å, b = 13.129(3) Å, c = 11.169(2) Å, β = 113.04(3)°, V = 1465.9(5) Å3 (single-crystal data) and Z = 4. The eight strongest lines in the powder diffraction pattern are [d (Å), (I/I0), (hkl)]: 9.991, (90), (100); 5.001, (90), (200, 21); 4.591, (45), (20); 3.332, (60), (300, 032); 3.005, (30), (03); 2.824, (40), (2); 2.769, (55), (20, 042, 10); 2.670, (45), (2). The crystal structure was determined by direct methods and refined to R1 = 3.21% using 1904 observed reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo) collected using synchrotron X-ray radiation (λ = 0.773418 Å). The structure is based on infinite sheets of edge-sharing Cuϕ6 (ϕ: O2–, OH) octahedra and Cdϕ7 (ϕ: O2–, H2O) polyhedra parallel to (100). The sheets are decorated on both sides by corner-sharing (SO4) tetrahedra, which also corner-link to isolated Cdϕ6 octahedra, thus connecting adjacent sheets. Moderate-strong to weak hydrogen bonding provides additional linkage between sheets.


2020 ◽  
Vol 32 (4) ◽  
pp. 449-455
Author(s):  
Simon Philippo ◽  
Frédéric Hatert ◽  
Yannick Bruni ◽  
Pietro Vignola ◽  
Jiří Sejkora

Abstract. Luxembourgite, ideally AgCuPbBi4Se8, is a new selenide discovered at Bivels, Grand Duchy of Luxembourg. The mineral forms tiny fibres reaching 200 µm in length and 5 µm in diameter, which are deposited on dolomite crystals. Luxembourgite is grey, with a metallic lustre and without cleavage planes; its Mohs hardness is 3 and its calculated density is 8.00 g cm−3. Electron-microprobe analyses indicate an empirical formula Ag1.00(Cu0.82Ag0.20Fe0.01)Σ1.03Pb1.13Bi4.11(Se7.72S0.01)Σ7.73, calculated on the basis of 15 atoms per formula unit. A single-crystal structure refinement was performed to R1=0.0476, in the P21∕m space group, with a=13.002(1), b=4.1543(3), c=15.312(2) Å, β=108.92(1)∘, V=782.4(2) Å3, Z=2. The crystal structure is similar to that of litochlebite and watkinsonite and can be described as an alternation of two types of anionic layers: a pseudotetragonal layer four atoms thick and a pseudohexagonal layer that is one atom thick. In the pseudotetragonal layers the Bi1, Bi2 ,Bi3, Pb, and Ag1 atoms are localised, while the Cu2 and Bi4 atoms occur between the pseudotetragonal and the pseudohexagonal layers. Bi1, Bi2, and Bi3 atoms occur in weakly distorted octahedral sites, whereas Bi4 occurs in a distorted 7-coordinated site. Ag1 occupies a fairly regular octahedral site, Cu2 a tetrahedral position, and Pb occurs on a very distorted 8-coordinated site.


2018 ◽  
Vol 82 (4) ◽  
pp. 821-836
Author(s):  
Mark A. Cooper ◽  
Gunnar Raade ◽  
Neil A. Ball ◽  
Yassir A. Abdu ◽  
Frank C. Hawthorne ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTFolvikite, Sb5+Mn3+(Mg,Mn2+)10O8(BO3)4, is a new oxyborate mineral from the Kitteln mine, Värmland, Sweden, where it occurs as a primary skarn mineral embedded in calcite. It forms striated prismatic crystals up to 0.3 mm, and is black to dark reddish-brown with submetallic lustre and a reddish-brown streak. It is brittle, has a Mohs hardness of 6, and the calculated density is 4.14 g/cm3. Folvikite is biaxial with indeterminate optic sign due to pervasive twinning. The optic axial angle is 68.9(4)°. Refractive indices were not measured; the calculated mean refractive index is 1.85. Strong pleochroism was observed in plane-polarized light: AB = brown (intermediate), OB = dark brown (maximum) and ON = honey brown (minimum). Folvikite is monoclinic, space group P2, a = 5.3767(10), b = 6.2108(10), c = 10.9389(18) Å, β = 94.399(9)°, V = 364.22(16) Å3 and Z = 1. Chemical analysis by electron microprobe gave Sb2O5 18.15, MgO 24.11, MnO 29.73, Mn2O3 11.62, Al2O3 0.27, Fe2O3 0.45, B2O3 15.27, sum 99.60 wt.%. The B2O3 content was assigned as B = 4 apfu and the Mn2O3 / (MnO + Mn2O3) ratio was determined from the crystal structure. The empirical formula was normalized on the basis of 20 anions pfu: (Sb5+1.02Mn3+1.34Al0.05Fe3+0.05Mg5.46Mn2+3.82□0.26)Σ12O8(BO3)4. A simplified formula may be written as Sb5+Mn3+(Mg,Mn2+)10O8(BO3)4 with Z = 1. The crystal structure was solved by direct methods and refined to an R1 index of 4.1%. Folvikite is a member of the (3 Å) zigzag wallpaper-borate structures in which chains of edge-sharing octahedra extend along the c axis and are cross-linked by BO3 groups. There are five X sites partly occupied by Mn2+ > Mg, one octahedrally coordinated M-site occupied by Sb5+ > Mg, two M sites occupied by Mg ≥ Mn > Sb5+, two M sites occupied by Mn3+ > Mn2+, two M sites occupied by Mg > Mn2+, and one M-site occupied by Mg > □; plus two [3]-coordinated B sites occupied by B. As with the other zigzag borates, the polyhedra are arranged in F-walls, C-walls and S-columns.


2004 ◽  
Vol 68 (2) ◽  
pp. 231-240 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. C. Roberts ◽  
P. C. Burns ◽  
R. A. Gault ◽  
A. J. Criddle ◽  
M. N. Feinglos

AbstractPetewilliamsite, ideally (Ni,Co)30(As2O7)15, monoclinic, space group C2, a = 33.256(5), b = 8.482(1), c = 14.191(2) Å, ß = 104.145(3)°, V = 3881.6(11) Å3, a:b:c = 3.9209:1:1.6731, Z = 2, is a new mineral found on a single nickeline-veined quartz specimen from Johanngeorgenstadt, Saxony, Germany. The mineral possesses a pronounced subcell-supercell: a (subcell) = 1/5 a (supercell); b (subcell) = b (supercell); c (subcell) = 1/3 c (supercell), and the strongest six lines of the X-ray powder-diffraction pattern are [d in Å (I) (hkl)]: 4.235(30)(020) ; 3.118(100)(513, 023); 3.005(60); 2.567(50); 1.637(50)(536 ); 1.507(30b)(553, ). It occurs predominantly as scattered patches of mm-sized aggregates which are intimately associated with varicoloured xanthiosite; additional associations include bunsenite, aerugite, rooseveltite, native bismuth, paganoite and two undefined arsenates. Subhedral equant crystals with rounded faces are intimately intergrown in 1 mm-sized aggregates and individual grains do not exceed 0.5 mm in maximum diameter. The average crystal size is variable from 20 μm to 0.3 mm. The colour varies from dark violet-red to dark brownish-red and the streak is pale reddish-brown to pale purplish-brown. Crystals are translucent, brittle, vitreous, and do not fluoresce under ultraviolet light. The mineral shows neither twinning nor cleavage, has an uneven fracture, and the calculated density (for the empirical formula) is 4.904 g/cm3. Electron-microprobe analyses gave NiO 19.45, CoO 18.39, CuO 3.40, CaO 0.17, FeO 0.04, As2O5 60.32, total 101.77 wt.%. The empirical formula, derived from crystal-structure analysis and electron-microprobe analyses, is (Ni14.662+Co13.822+Cu2.412+Ca0.17Fe0.032+)Σ31.09(As1.975+O7)15, based on O = 105 atoms per formula unit (a.p.f.u.). In reflected plane-polarized light in air, petewilliamsite is dark grey with orange to spectral (multicoloured) internal reflections and no obvious bireflectance, anisotropy or pleochroism. Measured reflectance values in air are tabulated; the index of refraction calculated at 589 nm is 1.88. The mineral name honours Professor Peter (‘Pete’) Allan Williams of the University of Western Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, for his contributions to the study of secondary minerals.The crystal structure of petewilliamsite has been solved by direct methods and refined on the basis of F2 using 9212 unique reflections measured with Mo-Kα X-radiation on a diffractometer equipped with a CCDbased detector. The final R1 was 7.68%, calculated for 1273 observed reflections. The structure contains 15 symmetrically distinct As5+ cations, each of which is tetrahedrally coordinated by four O atoms, and pairs of these AsO4 tetrahedra share a vertex which results in As2O7 pyroarsenate groups that are in layers parallel to (010). The structure also has 16 distinct transition-metal M (M: Ni,Co) sites of which there are one tetrahedral, four square bipyramidal, and 11 octahedral arrangements. Adjacent pyroarsenate groups are linked through bonds to M cations. The structure of petewilliamsite is not closely related to other naturally occurring arsenates and it is the first pyroarsenate mineral.


2012 ◽  
Vol 76 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-44 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Stepanov ◽  
G. K. Bekenova ◽  
V. L. Levin ◽  
F. C. Hawthorne

AbstractNatrotitanite, ideally (Na0.5Y0.5)Ti(SiO4)O, is a new mineral from the Verkhnee Espe rare-element deposit at the northern exo-contact of the Akjailyautas granite massif in the northern part of the Tarbagatai mountain range, Eastern Kazakhstan. Both the mineral and the name have been approved by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA 2010-033). Star-shaped aggregates of small short prisms of yellow or yellowish white (Na,Y,REE)-bearing titanite rimmed by thin (∼2 μm) rims of natrotitanite are embedded in yttrium-bearing fluorite and replace narsarsukite. Associated minerals are microcline, albite, quartz, riebeckite, aegirine, biotite, astrophyllite, rutile, zircon and elpidite. Natrotitanite is milky white to yellowish grey, transparent to translucent, and has a white streak and a vitreous lustre. It shows pale orange cathodoluminescence but does not fluoresce under ultraviolet light. It shows no cleavage or parting, and is brittle; the calculated density is 3.833 g cm–3. The indices of refraction, measured with the Bloss spindle stage for the wavelength 590 nm using a gel filter, are α = 1.904, γ = 2.030, and these values are in accord with the mean refractive index, 1.988, calculated from the Gladstone-Dale relation. Natrotitanite is monoclinic, C2/c, a = 6.5691(2), b = 8.6869(3), c = 7.0924(2) Å, β = 114.1269(4)°, V = 369.4(2) Å3, Z = 4, a:b:c = 0.7562:1: 0.8164. The seven strongest lines in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern [in the order d (Å), I, (hkl)] are as follows: 2.597, 10, (130); 3.248, 8, (11); 2.994, 6, (200); 1.641, 4, (330); 4.941, 3, (110); 1.498, 3, (400); 2.273, 3, (11). Chemical analysis by electron microprobe gave Nb2O5 1.28, SiO2 27.83, TiO2 35.00, SnO2 0.57, V2O3 0.36, Fe2O3 0.23, Y2O3 7.87, Ce2O3 0.83, Sm2O3 0.26, Gd2O3 0.46, Tb2O3 0.17, Dy2O3 2.45, Ho2O3 0.16, Er2O3 2.24, Tm2O3 0.50, Yb2O3 2.53, Nd2O3 0.35, Lu2O3 0.28, MnO 0.33, CaO 8.16, Na2O 5.55, F 1.52 O ≡ F –0.64, sum 98.71 wt.%. The resulting empirical formula is (Na0.39Ca0.32Y0.15Dy0.03Yb0.03Er0.03Ce0.01Ho0.01Tm0.01Gd0.01Nd0.01)Σ1.00(Ti0.95Nb0.02Sn0.01Fe3+0.01Mn0.01V0.01)Σ1.01Si1.01O4.00(O0.83F0.17), calculated on the basis of 3 cations per formula unit. The general formula is written as (Na,Ca,Y,REE)TiSiO4(O,F), and the endmember formula is (Na0.5Y0.5)Ti(SiO4)O.The crystal structure of a composite optically continuous crystal of natrotitanite and (Na, Y)-bearing titanite was mounted on a Bruker D8 three-circle diffractometer equipped with a rotating anode generator (MoKα radiation), a multi-layer optics incident-beam path and an APEX-II CCD detector. The crystal structure was refined in space group C2/c to a final R1 index of 1.8%. Natrotitanite is isostructural with titanite, (Na + Y + REE) replacing Ca at the Ca site in the titanite structure.


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