Pyrochlore-Supergroup Minerals Nomenclature: An Update

The general formula of the pyrochlore-supergroup minerals is A2B2X6Y. The mineral names are composed of two prefixes and one root name (identical to the name of the group). The first prefix refers to the dominant anion (or cation or H2O or vacancy) of the dominant valence at the Y-site. The second prefix refers to the dominant cation of the dominant valence [or H2O or vacancy] at the A-site. Thirty-one pyrochlore-supergroup mineral species are currently distributed into four groups [pyrochlore (B = Nb, X = O), microlite (B = Ta, X = O), roméite (B = Sb5+, X = O), and elsmoreite (B = W, X = O)] and two unassigned members [hydrokenoralstonite (B = Al, X = F) and fluornatrocoulsellite (B = Mg, X = F)]. However, when the new nomenclature system of this supergroup was introduced (2010) only seven mineral species, namely, oxycalciopyrochlore, hydropyrochlore, hydroxykenomicrolite, oxystannomicrolite, oxystibiomicrolite, hydroxycalcioroméite, and hydrokenoelsmoreite, were valid. The seven species belong to the cubic crystal system and space group Fd3¯m and O is predominant in the X structural site. The 24 new mineral species described between 2010 and 2021 are cesiokenopyrochlore, fluorcalciopyrochlore, fluornatropyrochlore, hydrokenopyrochlore, hydroxycalciopyrochlore, hydroxynatropyrochlore, hydroxykenopyrochlore, hydroxymanganopyrochlore, hydroxyplumbopyrochlore, fluorcalciomicrolite, fluornatromicrolite, hydrokenomicrolite, hydroxycalciomicrolite, kenoplumbomicrolite, oxynatromicrolite, oxycalciomicrolite, oxybismutomicrolite, fluorcalcioroméite, hydroxyferroroméite, oxycalcioroméite, oxyplumboroméite, fluornatrocoulsellite, hydrokenoralstonite, and hydroxykenoelsmoreite. Among the new species, hydroxycalciomicrolite belongs to a different space group of the cubic system, i.e., P4232. There are also some mineral species that crystallize in the trigonal system. Hydrokenoelsmoreite occurs as 3C (Fd3¯m) and 6R (R3¯) polytypes. Hydrokenomicrolite occurs as 3C (Fd3¯m) and 3R (R3¯m) polytypes, of which the latter corresponds to the discredited “parabariomicrolite.” Fluornatrocoulsellite crystallizes as 3R (R3¯m) polytype. Surely there are several new pyrochlore-supergroup minerals to be described.

Fluoride ions in groundwater of the Turkana County, Kenya, East Africa

Groundwater samples were evaluated throughout Turkana County (Kenya, East Africa) while looking for drinking water sources. Some samples showed high concentrations of fluoride with values in the range of 0.15–5.87 mg/L. Almost 50% of the samples exceeded the WHO and Kenyan potable water standard guideline value of 1.5 mg/L for drinking water quality. The hydrogeochemical studies revealed that the dominant cation in water is Na+ and the dominant anion is HCO3− resulting in Na-HCO3 type of groundwater, followed by Ca/Mg-HCO3 or Na-SO4 and Na-Cl in a few cases. Speciation modelling revealed that the groundwater is undersaturated with respect to gypsum and anhydrite, mostly undersaturated with respect to fluorite (6 samples are at equilibrium), and supersaturated or at equilibrium with respect to calcite (CaCO3). Precipitation of calcite favours the dissolution of F-rich minerals in the alkaline medium. Simultaneously, groundwater is enriched with sodium and bicarbonate, probably as a result of chemical weathering of Na-feldspar. Investigated groundwater can be presumably used for drinking purposes from 17 wells, but a detailed investigation of other trace element concentrations is necessary.

Water Quality Evaluation of Selected Springs in Qazania Area, Diala Governorate, East Iraq

Twenty-five spring water samples were collected from the study area and analyzed for major constituents’ concentrations Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+, Cl ̶, SO42 ̶, HCO3 ̶ and NO3 ̶. The parameters of H, TDS and EC were measured as well. The springs water is neutral to slightly alkaline, Piper’s diagram classification indicates that most samples are earth alkaline water with an increase portion of alkali with prevailing sulfate and chloride. A Dominant cation is sodium followed by calcium then magnesium, while sulfate is a dominant anion followed by chloride, bicarbonate then nitrate. The dominant water type is NaSO4 which represents 64% of all samples followed by NaCl type which represents 28% and CaSO4 type which represents 8% of all samples. According to Water Quality Index (WQI) classification, 24% of whole samples are excellent, 8% is good, 24% poor and 44% are unsuitable for human drinking. According to Richard diagram, 20% of all samples have been fallen in C2S1 class where they are good for irrigation, 68% of all samples have been fallen in C4S2 class where they are poor for irrigation and 8% of all samples have been fallen in C4S3 class where they are very poor for irrigation, therefore it is clear that the most springs samples are not suitable for irrigation purposes except for very salt-tolerant plants.

HYDROCHEMICAL FACIES DESCRIPTION TO ASSESS THE WATER QUALITY OF HABBANIYA LAKE, IRAQ

The present study depicts the hydrochemical processes controlling the variance in the hydrochemical facies for sixteen samples obtained from Habbaniya Lake. The water samples were analyzed for the major ions (cations and anions) data in mg/l, total dissolved solids in mg/l, pH unitless, electrical conductivity in μS/cm, and temperature in °C. Piper trilinear (three-line) diagram indicates the overall of samples belongs to class 1 (Ca2+, Mg2+, Cl-, SO42-), category I (SO42- - Cl- and Ca2+ - Mg2+), and permanent total hardness (calcium chloride type). The contribution of cations in the Habbaniya lake was almost the same percentage (no dominant cation), while the SO42- is the dominant ion of the surface water in the Habbaniya lake. The analytical values showed that overall the samples were freshwater and low enrichment salts within the permissible limits of the World Health Organization standards. Irrigation parameters and water quality index were calculated for samples to assess water for agricultural and drinking uses for the inhabitants of the study area. The basic exchange is the exchange of Na+ and K+ ions in water with Mg2+ and Ca2+ ions in materials which is exposed to weathering.

Hydrochemical differences between river water and groundwater in Suzhou, Northern Anhui Province, China

Understanding hydrological process of surface water and groundwater is significant for the management of urban water resources. In this study, a total of thirty-seven water samples have been collected from the river (RW, 15 samples), shallow aquifer (SG, 12 samples), and deep aquifer (DG, 10 samples) in Suzhou, Northern Anhui Province, China, and their major ion concentrations and stable H–O isotopes have been measured. The results revealed that Na+ and HCO3− were the dominant cation and anion, respectively, and most of the water samples are classified to be Na-HCO3 type, to a lesser extent, Mg-HCO3 type. K-mean and Q-type clustering analyses ruled out the hydrological relationship between river and groundwater, but there was a significant connectivity between shallow and deep groundwater, which was further confirmed by the hydrogen and oxygen isotopes. The relationship between δ2H and δ18O has shown that precipitation was the main source of the groundwater in the study area. Furthermore, the values of deuterium excess (d-excess) in different water bodies suggested that the groundwater has not been affected by evaporation, which was the main process controlling the isotopic composition of river water.

Manganoarrojadite-(KNa), KNa5MnFe13Al(PO4)11(PO3OH)(OH)2, a new arrojadite-group mineral from the Palermo No. 1 mine, New Hampshire, USA

A new arrojadite-group mineral manganoarrojadite-(KNa), ideally KNa5MnFe13Al(PO4)11(PO3OH)(OH)2, was found in a phosphate-bearing granite pegmatite at the Palermo No. 1 mine, New Hampshire, USA. It forms anhedral grains up to 1 × 1.5 cm in size combined in aggregates with vivianite, goyazite, quartz and calcite. The mineral is olive green with a pale green streak and vitreous to greasy lustre. The cleavage is good in one direction. The Mohs hardness is 4½. Dcalc is 3.53 g/cm3. Manganoarrojadite-(KNa) is optically biaxial (–), α = 1.658(2), β = 1.666(2), γ = 1.670(2), 2Vmeas. = 67(1)° and 2Vcalc. = 70° (589 nm). The infrared spectrum is reported. The composition (wt.%) is Na2O 6.97, K2O 1.78, CaO 0.31, MgO 2.17, MnO 12.30, FeO 31.17, Al2O3 2.43, P2O5 40.48, F 0.30, H2O 1.32, O = F2 –0.13, total 99.10. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of 12 P and (O+OH+F) = 50 apfu is Na4.73K0.80Ca0.12Mg1.13Mn2+3.65Fe2+9.13Al1.00P12.00O46.59OH3.08F0.33. The ideal structural formula is A 1K A 2Na B 1Na B 2NaNa1,2Na2Na3□ C Mn M Fe13Al(PO4)11(PO3OH) W (OH)2. The mineral is monoclinic, Cc, a = 16.5345(3), b = 10.0406(2), c = 24.6261(5) Å, β = 105.891(2)°, V = 3932.09(14) Å3 and Z = 4. The strongest reflections of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d,Å(I)(hkl)] are: 5.902(24)(202), 5.025(24)(020), 3.208(47)(206, $\;\bar{1}$ 32), 3.048(100)( $\bar{5}$ 14, $\bar{4}$ 24), 2.758(24)( $\bar{6}$ 02) and 2.704(70)(226). The crystal structure, refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data (R1 = 0.025), is of the arrojadite structure type. Manganoarrojadite-(KNa) is the first arrojadite-group mineral with Mn dominant on the site usually occupied by Ca and without Ca as the dominant cation at any cation site.

Parafiniukite, Ca2Mn3(PO4)3Cl, a New Member of the Apatite Supergroup from the Szklary Pegmatite, Lower Silesia, Poland: Description and Crystal Structure

Parafiniukite, ideally Ca2Mn3(PO4)3Cl, is a new apatite-supergroup mineral from the Szklary pegmatite, Lower Silesia, Poland. It occurs as anhedral grains, up to 250 µm in size, dark olive green in colour, embedded in a mixture of Mn-oxides and smectites around beusite. It has a vitreous luster, and it is brittle with irregular, uneven fracture. The calculated density is 3.614 g·cm−3. Parafiniukite is hexagonal, space group P63/m, with unit-cell parameters a = 9.4900(6), c = 6.4777(5) Å, V = 505.22(5) Å3, Z = 2. The eight strongest reflections in the calculated X-ray powder diffraction pattern of parafiniukite are [d in Å (I) hkl]: 3.239 (39) 002; 2.801 (55) 211; 2.801 (76) 121; 2.740 (100) 300; 2.675 (50) 112; 2.544 (69) 202; 1.914 (31) 222; and 1.864 (22) 132. Chemical analysis by an electron microprobe gave (in wt%) P2O5 39.20, MgO 0.19, CaO 24.14, MnO 31.19, FeO 2.95, Na2O 0.05, F 0.39, Cl 3.13, H2O(calc) 0.68, O=(Cl,F) −0.87, sum 101.05. The resulting empirical formula on the basis of 13 anions per formula unit is (Mn2.39Ca2.34Fe0.22Mg0.03Na0.01)Σ4.99P3.00O12[Cl0.48(OH)0.41F0.11]. The crystal structure of parafiniukite was refined to an R1 = 0.0463 for 320 independent reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo) and 41 refined parameters. Parafiniukite is isotypic with apatites. Manganese is the dominant cation at the M(2) site, and Ca is the dominant cation at the M(1) site.

Calcium for Florida Turfgrasses

Calcium is the dominant cation in all soils of agronomic importance. This 3-page document will explain the function of Calcium in turfgrasses, describe situations where applications would or would not be of value in turfgrass management, and identify calcium sources. Written by T. W. Shaddox and published by the UF/IFAS Environmental Horticulture Department, March 2018. http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/ep554

Fluorarrojadite-(BaNa), BaNa4CaFe13Al(PO4)11(PO3OH)F2, a new member of the arrojadite group from Gemerská Poloma, Slovakia

ABSTRACTThe new mineral fluorarrojadite-(BaNa), ideally BaNa4CaFe13Al(PO4)11(PO3OH)F2 was found on the dump of Elisabeth adit near Gemerská Poloma, Slovakia. It occurs in hydrothermal quartz veins intersecting highly fractionated, topaz–zinnwaldite S-type leucogranite. Fluorarrojadite-(BaNa) is associated with fluorapatite, ‘fluordickinsonite-(BaNa)’, triplite, viitaniemiite and minor amounts of other minerals. It forms fine-grained irregular aggregates up to 4 cm x 2 cm, which consist of individual anhedral grains up to 0.01 mm in size. It has a yellowish-brown to greenish-yellow colour, very pale yellow streak and a vitreous to greasy lustre. Mohs hardness is ~4½ to 5. The fracture is irregular and the tenacity is brittle. The measured density is 3.61(2) g cm–3 and calculated density is 3.650 g cm–3. Fluorarrojadite-(BaNa) is biaxial (+) and nonpleochroic. The calculated refractive index based on empirical formula is 1.674. The empirical formula (based on 47 O and 3 (OH + F) apfu) is A1(Ba0.65K0.35)Σ1.00 A2Na0.35 B1(Na0.54Fe0.46)Σ1.00 B2Na0.54Ca(Ca0.74Sr0.20Pb0.02Ba0.04)Σ1.00Na2 Na3Na0.46 M(Fe7.16Mn5.17Li0.37Mg0.12Sc0.08Zn0.06Ga0.02Ti0.02)Σ13.00 Al1.02P11O44PO3.46(OH)0.54 W(F1.54OH0.46). Fluorarrojadite-(BaNa) is monoclinic, space group Cc, a = 16.563(1) Å, b = 10.0476(6) Å, c = 24.669(1) Å, β = 105.452(4)°, V = 3957.5(4) Å3 and Z = 4. The seven strongest reflections in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern are [dobs in Å, (I), hkl]: 3.412, (21), 116; 3.224, (37), 206; 3.040, (100), 42$\bar 4$; 2.8499, (22), 33$\bar 3$; 2.7135, (56), 226; 2.5563, (33), 028 and 424; 2.5117, (23), 040. The new mineral is named according to the nomenclature scheme of arrojadite-group minerals, approved by the IMA CNMNC. In fluorarrojadite-(BaNa), Fe2+ is a dominant cation at the M site (so the root-name is arrojadite) and two suffixes are added to the root-name according to the dominant cation of the dominant valence state at the A1 (Ba2+) and B1 sites (Na+). A prefix fluor is added to the root-name as F– is dominant over (OH)– at the W site.

The astrophyllite supergroup: nomenclature and classification

Here we report a nomenclature and classification for the astrophyllite-supergroup minerals. The HOH block is the main structural unit in all astrophyllite-supergroup structures; it consists of three H–O–H sheets where the T4O12 astrophyllite ribbons occur in the H sheets. In each structure, HOH blocks alternate with I (Intermediate) blocks along [001]. The twelve minerals of the astrophyllite supergroup are divided into three groups based on (1) the type of self-linkage of HOH blocks, i.e. (a) HOH blocks link directly where they share common vertices of D octahedra, or (b) HOH blocks do not link directly; and (2) the dominant cation of the O sheet (the C group: C7 apfu). In the astrophyllite group (HOH blocks connect via D– XDP–D bridges, Fe2+ is dominant at C7), there are six minerals: astrophyllite, niobophyllite, zircophyllite, tarbagataite, nalivkinite and bulgakite. In the kupletskite group (HOH blocks connect via D–XDP–D bridges, Mn2+ is dominant at C7), there are three minerals: kupletskite, niobokupletskite and kupletskite-(Cs). In the devitoite group (HOH blocks do not connect via D–XDP–D bridges), there are three minerals: devitoite, sveinbergeite and lobanovite. The general formula for the astrophyllite-supergroup minerals is of the form A2pBrC7D2(T4O12)2IXD2OXA4OXDnPWA2, where C [cations at the M(1–4) sites in the O sheet] = Fe2+, Mn, Na, Mg, Zn, Fe3+, Ca, Zr, Li; D (cations in the H sheets) = [6,5]Ti, Nb, Zr, Sn4+ , [5]Fe3+, Mg, Al; T = Si, minor Al; A2pBrIWA2 (I block) where p = 1,2; r = 1,2; A = K, Cs, Ba, H2O, Li, Rb, Pb2+, Na,□; B = Na, Ca, Ba, H2O,□; I represents the composition of the central part of the I block, excluding peripheral layers of the form A2pBrWA2, e.g. (PO4)2(CO3) (devitoite); XDO = O; XAO = OH, F; XDP = F, O, OH, H2O,□, where n = 0, 1, 2 for (XDP)n; WA = H2O,□.