Chukotkaite, AgPb7Sb5S15, a new sulfosalt mineral from Eastern Chukotka, Russia

2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 587-596
Author(s):  
Anatoly V. Kasatkin ◽  
Emil Makovicky ◽  
Jakub Plášil ◽  
Radek Škoda ◽  
Atali A. Agakhanov ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The new sulfosalt chukotkaite, ideally AgPb7Sb5S15, was discovered in the valley of the Levyi Vulvyveem river, Amguema river basin, Iultin District, Eastern Chukotka, Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, North-Eastern region, Russia. The new mineral forms anhedral grains up to 0.4 × 0.5 mm intergrown with pyrrhotite, sphalerite, galena, stannite, quartz, and Mn-Fe-bearing clinochlore. Other associated minerals include arsenopyrite, benavidesite, diaphorite, jamesonite, owyheeite, uchucchacuaite, cassiterite, and fluorapatite. Chukotkaite is lead-grey and has metallic luster and a grey streak. It is brittle and has an uneven fracture. Neither cleavage nor parting were observed. Mohs hardness is 2–2½. Dcalc. = 6.255 g/cm3. In reflected light, chukotkaite is white, moderately anisotropic with rotation tints varying from bluish-grey to brownish-grey. No pleochroism or internal reflections are observed. The chemical composition of chukotkaite is (wt.%; electron microprobe) Ag 3.83, Pb 53.67, Sb 24.30, S 18.46, total 100.26. The empirical formula based on the sum of all atoms = 28 pfu is Ag0.93Pb6.78Sb5.22S15.07. Chukotkaite is monoclinic, space group P21/c, a = 4.0575(3), b = 35.9502(11), c = 19.2215(19) Å, β = 90.525(8)°, V = 2803.7(4) Å3, and Z = 4. The strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, Å (I, %) (hkl)] are: 3.52 (100) (045), 3.38 (50) (055), 3.13 (50) (065), , 2.82 (25) (066), 1.91 (50) (0 1 10). The crystal structure of chukotkaite was refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data to R = 0.0712 for 3307 observed reflections with Iobs > 3σ(I). Chukotkaite belongs to the group of rod-based sulfosalts. The new mineral is named after the region of its type locality: Chukotka Autonomous Okrug, North-Eastern Region, Russia.

2013 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 385-398 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. Elliott ◽  
J. Brugger ◽  
T. Caradoc-Davies ◽  
A. Pring

AbstractHylbrownite, ideally Na3MgP3O10·12H2O, the second known triphosphate mineral, is a new mineral species from the Dome Rock mine, Boolcoomatta Reserve, Olary Province, South Australia, Australia. The mineral forms aggregates and sprays of crystals up to 0.5 mm across with individual crystals up to 0.12 mm in length and 0.02 mm in width. Crystals are thin prismatic to acicular in habit and are elongate along [001]. Forms observed are {010}, {100}, {001}, {210} and {201}. Crystals are colourless to white, possess a white streak, are transparent, brittle, have a vitreous lustre and are nonfluorescent. The measured density is 1.81(4) g cm−3; Mohs' hardness was not determined. Cleavage is good parallel to {001} and to {100} and the fracture is uneven. Hylbrownite crystals are nonpleochroic, biaxial (−), with α = 1.390(4), β = 1.421(4), γ = 1.446(4) and 2Vcalc. = 82.2°. Hylbrownite is monoclinic, space group P21/n, with a = 14.722(3), b = 9.240(2), c = 15.052(3) Å, β = 90.01(3)°, V = 2047.5(7) Å3, (single-crystal data) and Z = 4. The strongest lines in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern are [d (Å)(I)(hkl)]: 10.530(60)(10,101), 7.357(80)(200), 6.951(100)(11, 111), 4.754(35)(10, 103), 3.934(40)(022), 3.510(45)(30, 303), 3.336(35)(41, 411). Chemical analysis by electron microprobe gave Na2O 16.08, MgO 7.08, CaO 0.43, P2O5 37.60, H2Ocalc 38.45, total 99.64 wt.%. The empirical formula, calculated on the basis of 22 oxygen atoms is Na2.93Mg0.99Ca0.04P2.99O9.97·12.03H2O. The crystal structure was solved from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data using synchrotron radiation (T = 123 K) and refined to R1 = 4.50% on the basis of 2417 observed reflections with F0 > 4 σ(F0). [Mg(H2O)3P3O10] clusters link in the b direction to Naφ6 octahedra, by face and corner sharing. Edge sharing Naφ6 Octahedra and Naφ7 polyhedra form Na2O9 groups which link via corners to form chains along the b direction. Chains link to [Mg(H2O)3P3O10] clusters via corner-sharing in the c direction and form a thick sheet parallel to (100). Sheets are linked in the a direction via hydrogen bonds.


2020 ◽  
Vol 84 (5) ◽  
pp. 738-745 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anatoly V. Kasatkin ◽  
Emil Makovicky ◽  
Jakub Plášil ◽  
Radek Škoda ◽  
Atali A. Agakhanov ◽  
...  

AbstractLuboržákite, ideally Mn2AsSbS5, is a new mineral from the Vorontsovskoe gold deposit, Northern Urals, Russia. It forms long-prismatic crystals up to 70 × 20 μm and anhedral grains of the same size embedded in the matrix of Mn-bearing dolomite and Mn-bearing calcite. Associated minerals include pyrite, orpiment, realgar, stibnite, aktashite, alabandite, boscardinite, chabournéite, coloradoite, clerite, écrinsite, gold, routhierite, sphalerite and twinnite. Luboržákite is black, opaque with metallic lustre and has a black streak. It is brittle and has an uneven fracture. No cleavage and parting have been observed. Mohs hardness is 4–4½. Dcalc = 4.181 g cm–3. In reflected light, luboržákite is tin-white, weakly anisotropic with rotation tints varying from dark grey to grey. The chemical composition of luboržákite is (wt.%; electron microprobe, WDS mode): Mn 21.23, Cu 0.29, Ag 0.56, Pb 1.90, As 15.25, Sb 27.03, S 33.23, total 99.49. The empirical formula based on the sum of all atoms = 9 apfu is Mn1.86Pb0.04Ag0.03Cu0.02As0.98Sb1.07S5.00. The new mineral is monoclinic, space group C2/m with a = 12.5077(6), b = 3.8034(2), c = 16.0517(8) Å, β = 94.190(4)°, V = 761.57(6) Å3 and Z = 4. The crystal structure of luboržákite was solved from the single-crystal X-ray diffraction data to R = 0.0383 for 712 observed reflections with I > 3σ(I). Luboržákite is a new member of the heterochemical isostructural series of ‘unit-cell twinned’ structures, named the pavonite series. The new mineral honours Lubor Žák, a prominent Czech crystallographer and the professor of the Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic.


2015 ◽  
Vol 79 (3) ◽  
pp. 687-694 ◽  
Author(s):  
L. Bindi ◽  
F. Nestola ◽  
S. Graeser ◽  
P. Tropper ◽  
T. Raber

AbstractEckerite, ideally Ag2CuAsS3, is a new mineral from the Lengenbach quarry in the Binn Valley, Valais, Switzerland. It occurs as very rare euhedral crystals up to 300 μm across associated with realgar, sinnerite, hatchite, trechmannite and yellow, fibrous smithite. In thick section eckerite is opaque with a metallic lustre and shows a dark orange-red streak. It is brittle; the Vickers hardness (VHN25) is 70 kg/mm2 (range: 64–78) (Mohs hardness of ∼2½–3). In reflected light, eckerite is moderately bireflectant and weakly pleochroic from light grey to a slightly bluish grey. Internal reflections are absent. Under crossed nicols, it is weakly anisotropic with greyish to light blue rotation tints. Reflectance percentages for Rmin and Rmax are 27.6, 31.7 (471.1 nm), 22.8, 26.1 (548.3 nm), 21.5, 24.5 (586.6 nm) and 19.4, 22.3 (652.3 nm), respectively.Eckerite is monoclinic, space group C2/c, with a = 11.8643(3), b = 6.2338(1), c = 16.6785(4) Å, β = 110.842(3)°, V = 1152.81(5) Å3, Z = 8. The crystal structure [R1 = 0.0769 for 1606 reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo)] is topologically identical to that of xanthoconite and pyrostilpnite. In the structure, AsS3 pyramids are joined by AgS3 triangles to form double sheets parallel to (001); the sheets are linked by Cu(Ag) atoms in a quasi-tetrahedral coordination. Among the three metals sites, Ag2 is dominated by Cu. The mean metal–S distances reflect well the Ag ↔ Cu substitution occurring at this site.The eight strongest powder X-ray diffraction lines [d in Å (I/I0) (hkl)] are: 3.336 (70) (312); 2.941 (100) (314,114); 2.776 (80) (400,206); 2.677 (40) (312); 2.134 (50) (421); 2.084 (40) (208,206); 2.076 (40) (420); 1.738 (40) (228,226). A mean of five electron microprobe analyses gave Ag 52.08(16), Cu 11.18(9), Pb 0.04(1), Sb 0.29(3), As 15.28(11), S 20.73(13), total 99.60 wt.%, corresponding, on the basis of a total of 7 atoms per formula unit, to Ag2.24Cu0.82As0.94Sb0.01S2.99. The new mineral has been approved by the International Mineralogical Association Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (2014–063) and named for Markus Ecker, a well known mineral expert on the Lengenbach minerals for more than 25 years.


2018 ◽  
Vol 83 (03) ◽  
pp. 393-400
Author(s):  
Anna Vymazalová ◽  
Kari Kojonen ◽  
František Laufek ◽  
Bo Johanson ◽  
Chris J. Stanley ◽  
...  

AbstractPampaloite, AuSbTe, is a new mineral discovered in the Pampalo gold mine, 65 km east of Joensuu, Finland. It forms anhedral grains (up to ~20 μm) intergrown with gold, frohbergite and altaite. Pampaloite is brittle and has a metallic lustre. Values of VHN25 lie between 245 and 295 kg/mm2, with a mean value of 276 kg/mm2, corresponding to a Mohs hardness of ~4–5 (measured on synthetic material). In plane-polarised light, pampaloite is white with medium to strong bireflectance, weak reflectance pleochroism from slightly pinkish brown to slightly bluish white (only visible in grains of synthetic material containing multiple orientations), and strong anisotropy, with blue to light brown rotation tints; it exhibits no internal reflections. Reflectance values of pampaloite in air (R1, R2 in %) are: 60.0, 62.5 at 470 nm, 62.5, 64.8 at 546 nm, 63.2, 65.6 at 589 nm and 63.7, 66.0 at 650 nm. Ten electron-microprobe analyses of natural pampaloite give an average composition: Au 44.13, Sb 27.44 and Te 28.74, total 100.31 wt.%, corresponding to the empirical formula Au1.00Sb1.00Te1.00 based on 3 atoms; the average of eleven analyses on synthetic pampaloite is: Au 44.03, Sb 27.26, and Te 29.08, total 100.38 wt.%, corresponding to Au0.99Sb1.00Te1.01. The density, calculated on the basis of the empirical formula, is 9.33 g/cm3.The mineral is monoclinic, space group C2/c, with a = 11.947(3), b = 4.481(1) Å, c = 12.335(3) Å, β = 105.83(2)°, V = 635.3(3) Å3 and Z = 8. The crystal structure was solved and refined from the single-crystal X-ray-diffraction data of synthetic AuSbTe. The pampaloite crystal structure can be considered as a monoclinic derivative of the CdI2 structure composed of [AuTe3Sb3] octahedra. The strongest lines in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern of synthetic pampaloite [d in Å (I) (hkl)] are: 4.846(24)($\bar{2}$02), 3.825(18)(111), 2.978(100)($\bar{3}$11), 2.968(50)(004), 2.242(25)(020), 2.144(55)(313), 2.063(33)($\bar{3}$15) and 1.789(18)(024).


2020 ◽  
Vol 58 (5) ◽  
pp. 549-562
Author(s):  
Anatoly V. Kasatkin ◽  
Fabrizio Nestola ◽  
Radek Škoda ◽  
Nikita V. Chukanov ◽  
Atali A. Agakhanov ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT Hingganite-(Nd), ideally Nd2□Be2Si2O8(OH)2, is a new gadolinite group, gadolinite supergroup mineral discovered at Zagi Mountain, near Kafoor Dheri, about 4 km S of Warsak and 30 km NW of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, Pakistan. The new mineral forms zones measuring up to 1 × 1 mm2 in loose prismatic crystals up to 0.7 cm long, where it is intergrown with hingganite-(Y). Other associated minerals include aegirine, microcline, fergusonite-(Y), and zircon. Hingganite-(Nd) is dark greenish-brown, transparent, has vitreous luster and a white streak. It is brittle and has a conchoidal fracture. No cleavage or parting are observed. Mohs hardness is 5½–6. Dcalc. = 4.690 g/cm3. Hingganite-(Nd) is non-pleochroic, optically biaxial (+), α = 1.746(5), β = 1.766(5), γ = 1.792(6) (589 nm). 2Vmeas. = 80(7)°; 2Vcalc. = 84°. Dispersion of optical axes was not observed. The average chemical composition of hingganite-(Nd) is as follows (wt.%; electron microprobe, BeO, B2O3, and Lu2O3 content measured by LA-ICP-MS; H2O calculated by stoichiometry): BeO 9.64, CaO 0.45, MnO 0.10, FeO 3.03, B2O3 0.42, Y2O3 8.75, La2O3 1.63, Ce2O3 12.89, Pr2O3 3.09, Nd2O3 16.90, Sm2O3 5.97, Eu2O3 1.08, Gd2O3 5.15, Tb2O3 0.50, Dy2O3 2.50, Ho2O3 0.33, Er2O3 0.84, Tm2O3 0.10, Yb2O3 0.44, Lu2O3 0.04, ThO2 0.13, SiO2 23.55, H2O 2.72, total 100.25. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of 2 Si apfu is (Nd0.513Ce0.401Y0.395Sm0.175Gd0.145Pr0.096Dy0.068La0.051Ca0.041Eu0.031Er0.022Tb0.014Yb0.011Ho0.009Tm0.003Th0.003Lu0.001)Σ1.979(□0.778Fe2+0.215Mn0.007)Σ1.000(Be1.967B0.062)Σ2.029Si2O8.46(OH)1.54. Hingganite-(Nd) is monoclinic, space group P21/c with a = 4.77193(15), b = 7.6422(2), c = 9.9299(2) Å, β = 89.851(2)°, V = 362.123(14) Å3, and Z = 2. The strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, Å (I, %) (hkl)] are: 6.105 (95) (011), 4.959 (56) (002), 4.773 (100) (100), 3.462 (58) (102), 3.122 , 3.028 (61) (013), 2.864 (87) (121), 2.573 (89) (113). The crystal structure of hingganite-(Nd) was refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data to R = 0.034 for 2007 unique reflections with I > 2σ(I). The new mineral is named as an analogue of hingganite-(Y), hingganite-(Yb), and hingganite-(Ce), but with Nd dominant among the rare earth elements.


2009 ◽  
Vol 73 (6) ◽  
pp. 1027-1032 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Nestola ◽  
A. Guastoni ◽  
L. Bindi ◽  
L. Secco

AbstractDalnegroite, ideally Tl4Pb2(As12Sb8)Σ20S34, is a new mineral from Lengenbach, Binntal, Switzerland. It occurs as anhedral to subhedral grains up to 200 μm across, closely associated with realgar, pyrite, Sb-rich seligmanite in a gangue of dolomite. Dalnegroite is opaque with a submetallic lustre and shows a brownish-red streak. It is brittle; the Vickers hardness (VHN25) is 87 kg mm-2(range: 69—101) (Mohs hardness ∼3—3½). In reflected light, dalnegroite is highly bireflectant and weakly pleochroic, from white to a slightly greenish-grey. In cross-polarized light, it is highly anisotropic with bluish to green rotation tints and red internal reflections.According to chemical and X-ray diffraction data, dalnegroite appears to be isotypic with chabournéite, Tl5-xPb2x(Sb,As)21-xS34. It is triclinic, probable space groupP1, witha= 16.217(7) Å,b= 42.544(9) Å,c= 8.557(4) Å, α = 95.72(4)°, β = 90.25(4)°, γ = 96.78(4)°,V= 5832(4) Å3,Z= 4.The nine strongest powder-diffraction lines [d(Å) (I/I0) (hkl)] are: 3.927 (100) (10 0); 3.775 (45) (22); 3.685 (45) (60); 3.620 (50) (440); 3.124 (50) (2); 2.929 (60) (42); 2.850 (70) (42); 2.579 (45) (02); 2.097 (60) (024). The mean of 11 electron microprobe analyses gave elemental concentrations as follows: Pb 10.09(1) wt.%, Tl 20.36(1), Sb 23.95(1), As 21.33(8), S 26.16(8), totalling 101.95 wt.%, corresponding to Tl4.15Pb2.03(As11.86Sb8.20)S34. The new mineral is named for Alberto Dal Negro, Professor in Mineralogy and Crystallography at the University of Padova since 1976.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-8
Author(s):  
Jiří Sejkora ◽  
Pavel Škácha ◽  
Jakub Plášil ◽  
Zdeněk Dolníček ◽  
Jana Ulmanová

Abstract The new mineral hrabákite (IMA2020-034) was found in siderite–sphalerite gangue with minor dolomite–ankerite at the dump of shaft No. 9, one of the mines in the abandoned Příbram uranium and base-metal district, central Bohemia, Czech Republic. Hrabákite is associated with Pb-rich tučekite, Hg-rich silver, stephanite, nickeline, millerite, gersdorffite, sphalerite and galena. The new mineral occurs as rare prismatic crystals up to 120 μm in size and allotriomorphic grains. Hrabákite is grey with a brownish tint. Mohs hardness is ca. 5–6; the calculated density is 6.37 g.cm–3. In reflected light, hrabákite is grey with a brown hue. Bireflectance is weak and pleochroism was not observed. Anisotropy under crossed polars is very weak (brownish tints) to absent. Internal reflections were not observed. Reflectance values of hrabákite in air (Rmin–Rmax, %) are: 39.6–42.5 at 470 nm, 45.0–47.5 at 546 nm, 46.9–49.2 at 589 nm and 48.9–51.2 at 650 nm). The empirical formula for hrabákite, based on electron-microprobe analyses (n = 11), is (Ni8.91Co0.09Fe0.03)9.03(Pb0.94Hg0.04)0.98(Sb0.91As0.08)0.99S7.99. The ideal formula is Ni9PbSbS8, which requires Ni 47.44, Pb 18.60, Sb 10.93 and S 23.03, total of 100.00 wt.%. Hrabákite is tetragonal, P4/mmm, a = 7.3085(4), c = 5.3969(3) Å, with V = 288.27(3) Å3 and Z = 1. The strongest reflections of the calculated powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, Å (I)(hkl)] are: 3.6543(57)(200); 3.2685(68)(210); 2.7957(100)(211); 2.3920(87)(112); 2.3112(78)(310); 1.8663(74)(222); and 1.8083(71)(302). According to the single-crystal X-ray diffraction data (Rint = 0.0218), the unit cell of hrabákite is undoubtedly similar to the cell reported for tučekite. The structure contains four metal cation sites, two Sb (Sb1 dominated by Pb2+) and two Ni (with minor Co2+ content) sites. The close similarity in metrics between hrabákite and tučekite is due to similar bond lengths of Pb–S and Sb–S pairs. Hrabákite is named after Josef Hrabák, the former professor of the Příbram Mining College.


2017 ◽  
Vol 81 (2) ◽  
pp. 369-381 ◽  
Author(s):  
F. Cámara ◽  
E. Sokolova ◽  
Y. A. Abdu ◽  
F. C. Hawthorne ◽  
T. Charrier ◽  
...  

AbstractFogoite-(Y), Na3Ca2Y2Ti(Si2O7)2OF3, is a new mineral from the Lagoa do Fogo, São Miguel Island, the Azores. It occurs in cavities as highly elongated (on [001]) prisms, up to 2000 μm long and 50 μm× 50 μm in cross-section, associated with sanidine, astrophyllite, fluornatropyrochlore, ferrokentbrooksite, quartz and ferro-katophorite. Crystals are generally transparent and colourless, with vitreous lustre, occasionally creamy white. Fogoite-(Y) has a white streak, splintery fracture and very good {100} cleavage. Mohs hardness is ∼5. Dcalc. = 3.523 g/cm3. It is biaxial (+) with refractive indices (λ = 590 nm) α = 1.686(2), β = 1.690(2), γ = 1.702(5); 2Vmeas. = 57(1)° and 2Vcalc. = 60°. It is nonpleochroic. Fogoite-(Y) is triclinic, space group P1, a = 9.575(6), b = 5.685(4), c = 7.279(5) Å, α = 89.985(6), β = 100.933(4), γ = 101.300(5)°, V = 381.2 (7) Å3. The six strongest reflections in the powder X-ray diffraction data [d (Å), I, (hkl)] are: 2.954, 100, (1̄1̄2, 3̄10); 3.069, 42, (300, 01̄2); 2.486, 24, (310, 21̄2); 3.960, 23, (1̄1̄1, 2̄10); 2.626, 21, (2̄20); 1.820, 20, (1̄04). Electron microprobe analysis gave the following empirical formula calculated on 18 (O + F) (Na2.74Mn0.15)∑2.89Ca2[Y1.21(La0.01Ce0.03Nd0.03Sm0.02Gd0.08Dy0.08Er0.05Yb0.04Lu0.01)∑0.35Mn0.16Zr0.11Na0.09Fe0.072+Ca0.01]∑2(Ti0.76Nb0.23Ta0.01)∑1(Si4.03O14)O1.12F2.88, Z = 1. The crystal structure was refined on a twinnedcrystal to R1 = 2.81% on the basis of 2157 unique reflections (Fo > 4σFo) and is a framework of TS (Titanium Silicate) blocks, which consist of HOH sheets (H – heteropolyhedral, O – octahedral) parallel to (100). In the O sheet, the the [6]MO(1) site is occupied mainly by Ti, <MO(1)–ϕ> = 1.980 Å, and the [6]MO(2) and [6]MO(3) sites are occupied by Na and Na plus minor Mn, <MO(2)–ϕ>= 2.490 Å and <MO(3)–ϕ> = 2.378 Å. In the H sheet, the two [4]Si sites are occupied by Si, with <Si–O> = 1.623 Å; the [6]MH site is occupied by Y and rare-earth elements (Y > REE), with minor Mn, Zr, Na, Fe2+ and Ca, <MH–ϕ> = 2.271 Å and the [6]AP site is occupied by Ca, <AP–ϕ> = 2.416 Å. The MH and AP octahedra and Si2O7 groups constitute the H sheet. The ideal compositions of the O and two H sheets are Na3Ti(OF)F2 and Y2Ca2(Si2O7)2 apfu. Fogoite-(Y) is isostructural with götzenite and hainite. The mineral is named after the type locality, the Fogo volcano in the Azores.


2014 ◽  
Vol 78 (3) ◽  
pp. 497-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. V. Kasatkin ◽  
J. Plášil ◽  
J. Marty ◽  
A. A. Agakhanov ◽  
D. I. Belakovskiy ◽  
...  

AbstractNestolaite (IMA 2013-074), CaSeO3·H2O, is a new mineral species from the Little Eva mine, Grand County, Utah, USA. It is named in honour of the prominent Italian mineralogist and crystallographer Fabrizio Nestola. The new mineral was found on sandstone matrix as rounded aggregates up to 2 mm across and up to 0.05 μm thick consisting of tightly intergrown oblique-angled, flattened to acicular crystals up to 30 μm long and up to 7 μm (very rarely up to 15 μm) thick. Nestolaite associates with cobaltomenite, gypsum, metarossite, orschallite and rossite. The new mineral is light violet and transparent with a white streak and vitreous lustre. The Mohs hardness is 2½. Nestolaite is brittle, has uneven fracture and perfect cleavage on {100}. The measured and calculated densities are Dmeas. = 3.18(2) g/cm3 and Dcalc. = 3.163 g/cm3. Optically, nestolaite is biaxial positive. The refractive indices are α = 1.642(3), β = 1.656(3), γ = 1.722(6). The measured 2V is 55(5)° and the calculated 2V is 51°. In transmitted light nestolaite is colourless. It does not show pleochroism but has strong pseudoabsorption caused by high birefringence. The chemical composition of nestolaite (wt.%, electronmicroprobe data) is: CaO 28.97, SeO2 61.14, H2O (calc.) 9.75, total 99.86. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of 4 O a.p.f.u. (atoms per formula unit) is Ca0.96Se1.02O3·H2O. The Raman spectrum is dominated by the Se–O stretching and O–Se–O bending vibrations of the pyramidal SeO3 groups and O–H stretching modes of the H2O molecules. The mineral is monoclinic, space group P21/c, with a = 7.6502(9), b = 6.7473(10), c = 7.9358(13) Å, β = 108.542 (12)°, V = 388.37(10) Å3 and Z = 4. The eight strongest powder X-ray diffraction lines are [dobs in Å(hkl) (Irel)]: 7.277 (100)(100), 4.949 (110)(37), 3.767 (002)(29), 3.630 (200)(58), 3.371 (020)(24), 3.163 (02)(74), 2.9783 (21)(74) and 2.7231 (112)(31). The crystal structure of nestolaite was determined by means of the Rietveld refinement from the powder data to Rwp = 0.019. Nestolaite possesses a layered structure consisting of CaΦ–SeO3 sheets, composed of edge-sharing polyhedra. Adjacent sheets are held by H bonds emanating from the single (H2O) group within the sheets. The nestolaite structure is topologically unique.


2017 ◽  
Vol 81 (1) ◽  
pp. 113-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Atali A. Agakhanov ◽  
Leonid A. Pautov ◽  
Elena Sokolova ◽  
Frank C. Hawthorne ◽  
Vladimir Yu Karpenko ◽  
...  

AbstractOdigitriaite, a new Cs, Na, Ca borosilicate mineral, was discovered in moraine adjacent to the Darai-Pioz alkaline massif in the upper reaches of the Darai-Pioz river at the intersection of the Turkestansky, Zeravshansky and Alaisky mountain ridges, Tajikistan. It occurs as irregular thin flakes associated with quartz, pectolite, baratovite, fluorite, pekovite, polylithionite, aegirine, leucosphenite, pyrochlore, neptunite, reedmergnerite, mendeleevite-(Ce), zeravshanite and sokolovaite. It is colourless with a white streak, is translucent and has a vitreous lustre; it does not fluoresce under ultraviolet light. Odigitriaite is brittle with an uneven fracture and a Mohs hardness of 5. The calculated density is 2.80(2) g/cm3. The indices of refraction are α = 1.502, β = 1.564, γ = 1.576; 2Vobs = 46(2)°, dispersion is weak r > v, and there is no pleochroism. The chemical composition is as follows (electron microprobe, H2O calculated from structure): SiO2 55.30, Al2O3 0.09, Y2O3 0.44, MnO 0.94, FeO 0.10, PbO 0.21, K2O 0.01 Cs2O 8.36, B2O3 4.75, H2O 0.37, F 1.74, O = F2 –0.74, total 99.43 wt.%. The empirical formula of odigitriaite is Cs0.90Na5.12Ca4.68Mn0.20Y0.06Fe0.02Pb0.01[Si13.92Al0.03B2.06O38]F1.39(OH)0.62. The end-member formula is CsNa5Ca5[Si14B2O38]F2. The strong reflections in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern are: [(d, Å), (I, %), (hkl)]: 5.45 (25) (1 1 3), 4.66 (33) (3 1 1), 4.40 (26) (0 2 2), 4.10 (36) (3 1 3), 3.95 (25) (3̄ 1 3), 2.85 (31) (2 2 2), 2.68 (40) (0 0 6), 3.62 (45) (0 2 4), 3.35 (100) (2̄ 2 4), 3.31 (30) (3̄ 1 5), 3.25 (35) (4 0 4), 3.04 (60) (4̄ 2 2), 2.925 (22) (4̄ 2 3), 1.813 (23) (9 1 0). Odigitriaite is monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 16.652(5), b = 9.598 (3), c = 22.120(7) Å, β= 92.875(14)°, V = 3530.9(1.9) Å3, Z = 4. The crystal structure of odigitriaite was solved by direct methods and refined to an R1 value of 2.75% based on single-crystal X-ray data. It is a double-layer sheet-borosilicate mineral; Cs and Na are intercalated within the double-layer sheet, and the double layers are linked by interstitial Ca and Na atoms.


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