Adanite, a new lead-tellurite-sulfate mineral from the North Star mine, Tintic, Utah, and Tombstone, Arizona, USA

ABSTRACT Adanite, Pb2(Te4+O3)(SO4), is a new oxidation-zone mineral from the North Star mine, Tintic district, Juab County, Utah, and from Tombstone, Cochise County, Arizona, USA. The characterization of the species is based principally on North-Star holotype material. Crystals are beige wedge-shaped blades, up to about 1 mm in length, in cockscomb intergrowths. The mineral is transparent with adamantine luster, white streak, Mohs hardness 2½, brittle tenacity, conchoidal fracture, and no cleavage. The calculated density is 6.385 g/cm3. Adanite is biaxial (–), with α = 1.90(1), β = 2.04(calc), γ = 2.08(calc), 2V(meas) = 54(1)°. The Raman spectrum is consistent with the presence of tellurite and sulfate groups and the absence of OH and H2O. Electron-microprobe analyses gave the empirical formula Pb1.89Sb3+0.02Te4+0.98S6+1.04Cl0.02O6.98. The mineral is monoclinic, space group P21/n, with a = 7.3830(3), b = 10.7545(5), c = 9.3517(7) Å, β = 111.500(8)°, V = 690.86(7) Å3, and Z = 4. The four strongest X-ray powder diffraction lines are [dobs Å(I)(hkl)]: 6.744(47), 3.454(80), 3.301(100), and 3.048(73). The structure (R1 = 0.022 for 1906 I > 2σI reflections) contains Te4+O3 pyramids that are joined by short (strong) Pb–O bonds to form sheets. Interlayer SO4 groups link the sheets via long Pb–O and Te–O bonds.

Review of the Nearctic (north of Mexico) species of Elacatis Pascoe (Coleoptera: Salpingidae: Othniinae)

The North American (north of Mexico) species of Elacatis were revised, based on external and genitalic structures of adults. Seven species are recognized, though the historical inclusion of E. fasciatus Bland among Nearctic species is very likely based on an erroneous collecting locality. Two new species are described, with type localities (counties only) in parentheses: E. larsoni (Nebraska: Box Butte County) and E. stephani (Arizona: Cochise County). The following new synonym is proposed: Othnius umbrosus LeConte 1861 = Othnius lugubris Horn 1868; therefore, only E. umbrosus (LeConte) is associated with dead/dying conifers in western North America. Larval E. umbrosus are thought to be xylophagous, while adults are very likely predaceous. Elacatis senecionis (Champion) and E. immaculatus (Champion) are recorded from north of Mexico for the first time. A lectotype is designated for Elacatis longicornis Horn. A key to the seven species in Canada and the United States is provided, supplemented with photographic images of habiti and selected structural features. Maps of known distributions, based on geo-referenced locality lists, are provided.

The discreditation of girdite

Girdite, a mineral described byWilliams in 1979 from the Grand Central mine, Tombstone, Cochise County, Arizona, USA, has been re-examined by powder X-ray diffraction, single-crystal X-ray diffraction and electron microprobe. Type material from The Natural History Museum, London and the United States National Museum of Natural History (Smithsonian Institution) was examined. The original description of girdite is shown to have been based upon data obtained from at least two and possibly three different phases, one corresponding to ottoite and another probably corresponding to oboyerite, although the latter itself appears to be a mixture. The discreditation of girdite as a valid mineral species has been approved by the IMA-CNMNC, Proposal 16-G.

Enhanced Aedes spp. surveillance across jurisdictions in Arizona’s border region

ObjectiveThis surveillance project aims to increase and broaden coverage ofAedesspp. ovitrap locations in Arizona’s U.S.-Mexico border regionthrough interagency collaboration.IntroductionAs part of a statewide effort to enhance surveillance forAedesspp.mosquitoes (1,2) the Office of Border Health (OBH) took the lead inproviding technical assistance on surveillance in counties borderingMexico. In 2016, OBH sought ways to enhance surveillance in a widergeographic area. Trap locations closer to the border were establishedas a priority, given high amount of traffic across the internationalline, high borderAedesmosquito activity, and native cases of denguereported at the border in Mexico.MethodsThe Arizona Office of Border Health partnered with U.S. Customsand Border Protection to select possible locations for ovitrappingnear the border. Border Patrol Health and Safety Tucson coordinationaccompanied OBH and preparedness staff on three occasions to scoutareas around pre-selected border patrol facilities. County, and borderpatrol staff contributed to trap maintenance. BIDS provided technicalassistance to identify positive traps, collected data for reporting tothe state, and collaborated with experts at the University of Arizonaentomology department to verify results and identifyAedesspp.ResultsOut of 15 border patrol stations within border lands in SantaCruz County, and Cochise County, OBH epidemiologist considered10 viable trapping sites. Two facilities were eventually eliminatedbecause of logistical challenges. OBH visited eight facilities andselected five locations within five miles of the U.S. –Mexicoborder and two located less than 30 miles from the border. OBHepidemiologists inspected sites for potential mosquito habitat and setovitraps low to the ground in areas protected from rain. Some facilitieshad areas of standing water discovered in unused tires, truck-washingstations, heavy-lifting equipment, and natural washes. Border Patrolstaff complained of mosquito activity around some of the stations.After inspection OBH set an average of three traps at each site. Onesite had evidence of mosquito larvae activity.ConclusionsBorder patrol facilities offer ideal trap locations given theirproximity to the international line. Secure facilities offer extraprotection for traps against tampering. The partnership across local,state, tribal, and federal lines allowed Arizona Office of Border Healthto expand surveillance locations, allowing two jurisdictions to set thefirst Aedes-specific traps since Arizona began the 2016 campaign,“Fight the Bite.”