The Pseudobrookite Group: Crystal Chemical Features of the Armalcolite Fe2+ Analogue

Doklady Earth Sciences - The crystal structure of a potentially new mineral, the Fe2+-dominant analogue of armalcolite with the idealized formula Fe2+Ti2O5 has been solved. The sample studied...     

The Mineralogy of Iron and Manganese Ores of the Ushkatyn-III Deposit in Central Kazakhstan

Geology of Ore Deposits - The Ushkatyn-III in Central Kazakhstan is a weakly metamorphosed hydrothermal–sedimentary ore deposit of the Atasu type. For such objects, an assemblage of...     

Avdeevite,a Na-Dominant Alkali Beryl: Determination as Valid Mineral Species and New Data

Geology of Ore Deposits - Abstract—This paper describes the first Na-dominant member of the beryl group, named avdeevite. The sample, which became its holotype, was found in a granitic...     

Belogubite,a New Mineral of the Chalcanthite Group from the Gaiskoe Deposit,South Urals,Russia

Geology of Ore Deposits - Belogubite CuZn(SO4)2 ⋅ 10H2O, a new mineral of the chalcanthite group, is found in the Gai (Gaiskoe) massive sulfide deposit, South Urals, Russia. This mineral...     

Deltalumite,a New Natural Modification of Alumina with a Spinel-Type Structure

Geology of Ore Deposits - A new mineral, deltalumite, which is an analogue of the spinel-type synthetic δ-Al2O3, the second natural modification of alumina after corundum, α-Al2O3, has...     

Schüllerite, Ba2Na(Mn,Ca)(Fe3+,Mg,Fe2+)2Ti2(Si2O7)2(O,F)4, a new mineral species from the Eifel volcanic district, Germany

A new heterophyllosilicate mineral schüllerite was found in the L?hley basalt quarry in the Eifel volcanic region, Germany, as a member of the late mineral assemblage comprising nepheline, leucite, augite, phlogopite, magnetite, titanite, fresnoite, barytolamprophyllite, fluorapatite, perovskite, and pyrochlore. Flattened brown crystals of schüllerite up to 0.5 × 1 × 2 mm in size and their aggregates occur in miarolic cavities of alkali basalt. The mineral is brittle, with a Mohs hardness 3–4 and perfect cleavage parallel to (001). D _calc = 3.974 g/cm³. Its IR spectrum is individual and does not contain bands of OH⁻, CO₃²⁻ or H₂O. Schüllerite is biaxial (−), α = 1.756(3), β = 1.773(4), γ = 1.780(4), 2V _meas = 40(20)°. Dispersion is weak, r < ν. Pleochroism is medium X > Y > Z, brown to dark brown. Chemical composition (electron microprobe, mean of five-point analyses, Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ ratio determined by the X-ray emission spectroscopic data, wt %): 3.55 Na₂O, 0.55 K₂O, 3.89 MgO, 2.62 CaO, 1.99 ArO, 28.09 BaO, 3.43 FeO, 8.89 Fe₂O₃, 1.33 Al₂O₃, 11.17 TiO₂, 2.45 Nb₂O₅, 26.12 SiO₂, 2.12 F, −0.89 -O=F₂, 98.98 in total. The empirical formula is (Ba_1.68Sr_0.18K_0.11Na_1.05Ca_0.43Mn_0.47Mg_0.88Fe_0.44²⁺Fe_1.02³⁺Ti_1.28Nb_0.17Al_0.24)_Σ7.95Si_3.98O_16.98F_1.02. The crystal structure was refined on a single crystal. Schüllerite is triclinic, space group P1, unit cell parameters: a = 5.4027(1), b = 7.066(4), c = 10.2178(1)?, α = 99.816(1), β = 99.624(1), γ = 90.084(1)°, V = 378.75(2) ?³, Z = 1. The strongest lines of the X-ray powder diffraction pattern [d, ?, (I, %)]: 9.96(29), 3.308(45), 3.203(29), 2.867(29), 2.791(100), 2.664(46), 2.609(36), 2.144(52). The mineral was named in honor of Willi Schüller (born 1953), an enthusiastic, prominent amateur mineral collector, and a specialist in the mineralogy of Eifel. Type specimens have been deposited at the Fersman Mineralogical Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, registration no. 3995/1,2.     

Refinement of the crystal structure of bonshtedtite, Na3Fe(PO4)(CO3)

The crystal structure of bonshtedtite, Na₃Fe(PO₄)(CO₃) (monoclinic, P2₁/m, a = 5.137(4), b = 6.644(4), c = 8.908(6) Å, β = 90.554(14)°, V = 304.0(4) ų, Z = 2) has been refined to R ₁ = 0.041 on the basis of 1314 unique reflections. The structure is similar to that of other minerals of the bradleyite group. It is based on the [Fe(PO₄)(CO₃)]^3? layers oriented parallel to (001). The layers are formed by corner-sharing PO₄ tetrahedra and FeO₄(CO₃) complexes, where FeO₆ tetrahedra and CO₃ triangles are edge-shared. The topology of the octa-tetrahedral layer in bonshtedtite is similar to that of the autunite-group minerals, but it differs from the latter in terms of local topological properties.     

Ferrovalleriite, 2(Fe,Cu)S · 1.5Fe(OH)2: Validation as a mineral species and new data

Ferrovalleriite, ideally 2(Fe,Cu)S · 1.5Fe(OH)₂, a layered hydroxide-sulfide of the valleriite group and an analog of valleriite with Fe instead of Mg in the hydroxide block, has been approved by the IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification as a valid mineral species. It was found in the Oktyabr’sky Mine, Noril’sk, Krasnoyarsk krai, Siberia, Russia. Ferrovalleriite occurs in cavities of massive sulfide ore mainly consisting of cubanite and mooihoekite. In different cases, it is associated with magnetite, Fe-rich chlorite-like phyllosilicate, ferrotochilinite, hibbingite, or rhodochrosite. Ferrovalleriite forms crystals flattened on [001] (from scaly to tabular; up to 5 mm across and up to 0.3 mm thick), typically split and curved. Occasionally, they are combined into aggregates up to 1.5 × 2 cm. Ferrovalleriite is dark bronze-colored, with a metallic luster and black streak. The Mohs’ hardness is ca. 1; VHN is 35 kg/mm². Cleavage is perfect parallel to {001}, mica-like. Individuals are flexible and inelastic. D(calc) = 3.72 g/cm³. In reflected light, ferrovalleriite is pleochroic from yellowish to gray; bireflectance is moderate. Anisotropy is strong, with bluish gray to yellowish beige rotation colors. Reflectance values [R ₁–R ₂ %, (λ, nm)] are: 15.6–16.6 (470), 14.8–20.5 (546), 14.7–22.3 (589), 14.5–24.1 (650). The IR spectrum shows the presence of (OH) groups bonded with Fe cations and the absence of H2O molecules. The chemical composition of the holotype (wt %; electron microprobe, H content is calculated) is as follows: 0.10 Al, 0.03 Mn, 45.31 Fe, 0.07 Ni, 18.29 Cu, 20.37 S, 15.62 O, 0.98 H, total is 100.77. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of 2 S atoms is: Al_0.01Fe_2.55Cu_0.91S₂(OH)_3.07 = (Fe_1.09Cu_0.91)_Σ2S₂ · (Fe _1.34 ²⁺ Fe _0.12 ³⁺ Al_0.01)_Σ1.47(OH)_3.07. The structure of ferrovalleriite is incommensurate (misfit); two sublattices are present: (1) sulfide sublattice, space group $R\bar 3m$ , R3m or R32; the unit-cell dimensions are: a = 3.792(2), c = 34.06(3) Å, V = 424(1) ų and (2) hydroxide sublattice, space group $P\bar 3m1$ , P3m1 or P321; the unit-cell dimensions: a = 3.202(3), c = 11.35(2)Å, V = 100.8(3) ų. Together with this main polytype modification with three-layer (R-cell, Z = 3) sulfide block, the holotype ferrovalleriite contains the modification with one-layer (P-cell, Z = 1) sulfide block (sulfide sublattice with $P\bar 3m1$ , P3m1 or P321, unit cell dimensions: a = 3.789(4), c = 11.35(1) Å, V = 141(5) ų). The strongest reflections in the X-ray powder pattern (d, Å-I) are: 5.69–100; 3.268–58; 3.163–36; 1.894–34; 1.871–45.     

Ferrotochilinite, 6FeS · 5Fe(OH)2, a new mineral from the Oktyabr’sky deposit, Noril’sk district, Siberia, Russia

A new mineral, ferrotochilinite, ideally 6FeS · 5Fe(OH)₂, was found at the Oktyabr’sky Mine, Oktyabr’skoe Cu-Ni deposit, Noril’sk, Krasnoyarsk krai, Siberia, Russia. It is associated with ferrovalleriite, magnetite and Fe-rich, chlorite-like phyllosilicate in the cavities of pentlandite-mooihoekite-cubanite ore with subordinate magnetite and chalcopyrite. Ferrotochilinite occurs as flattened on [001], prismatic to elongated lamellar crystals up to 0.1 × 0.5 × 3.2 mm, typically split and curved. Aggregates (up to 6.5 mm in size) are fanlike, rosette-like, or chaotic. Ferrotochilinite is dark bronze. The streak is black. The luster is moderately metallic. The Mohs’ hardness is ca. 1; VHN is 13 kg/mm². Cleavage is {001} perfect, micalike. Individuals are flexible, inelastic. D(calc) = 3.467 g/cm³. In reflected light, ferrotochilinite is gray, with the hue changing from pale beige to bluish; bireflectance is distinct. Anisotropy is distinct, with gray bluish to yellowish beige rotation colors. No internal reflections. Reflectance values [R _min-R _max, % (λ, nm)] are: 11.6–11.4 (470), 11.2–12.4 (546), 11.1–13.6 (589), 11.0–15.5 (650). The IR spectrum shows the presence of (OH) groups bonded with Fe cations and the absence of H₂O molecules. Chemical composition (wt %; electron probe; H content is calculated) is as follows: 0.02 Mg, 61.92 Fe, 0.03 Ni, 0.09 Cu, 19.45 S, 16.3 O, 1.03 H _calc; the total is 98.84. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of 6 S atoms is: Mg_0.01Fe_10.96Ni_0.005Cu_0.015S₆(OH)_10.07 = (Fe_5.98Cu_0.0015Ni_0.005)_Σ6S₆(OH)_9.80(Fe _4.89 ²⁺ Mg_0.01)_Σ4.90(OH)_9.80Fe _0.09 ³⁺ (OH)_0.27. Ferrotochilinite is monoclinic, space group is C2/m, Cm or C2, the unit-cell dimensions are: a = 5.463(5), b = 15.865(17), c = 10.825(12) Å, β = 93.7(1)°, V = 936(3) ų, Z = 2. The strongest reflections in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern (d, Å-I[hkl]) are: 10.83-13[001], 5.392-100[002], 3.281-7[023], 2.777-7[150], 2.696-12[004, $20\bar 1$ ], 2.524-12[ $22\bar 1$ , $20\bar 2$ ], 2.152-8[134, 153], 1.837-11[135, $17\bar 3$ ]. Ferrotochilinite is a structural analog of tochilinite, with Fe²⁺ instead of Mg in the hydroxide part. The type specimen is deposited in Fersman Mineralogical Museum of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow.     

Tatarinovite Са<Subscript>3</Subscript>Al(SO<Subscript>4</Subscript>)[В(ОH)<Subscript>4</Subscript>](ОH)<Subscript>6</Subscript> · 12H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O,a new ettringite-group mineral from the Bazhenovskoe deposit,Middle Urals,Russia, and its crystal structure

A new mineral, tatarinovite, ideally Са₃Аl(SO₄)[В(ОН)₄](ОН)₆ · 12Н₂O, has been found in cavities of rhodingites at the Bazhenovskoe chrysotile asbestos deposit, Middle Urals, Russia. It occurs (1) colorless, with vitreous luster, bipyramidal crystals up to 1 mm across in cavities within massive diopside, in association with xonotlite, clinochlore, pectolite and calcite, and (2) as white granular aggregates up to 5 mm in size on grossular with pectolite, diopside, calcite, and xonotlite. The Mohs hardness is 3; perfect cleavage on (100) is observed. D _meas = 1.79(1), D _calc = 1.777 g/cm³. Tatarinovite is optically uniaxial (+), ω = 1.475(2), ε = 1.496(2). The IR spectrum contains characteristic bands of SO₄ ^2?, CO₃ ^2?, B(OH)₄ ^?, B(OH)₃, Al(OH)₆ ^3-, Si(OH)₆ ^2-, OH^–, and H₂O. The chemical composition of tatarinovite (wt %; ICP-AES; H₂O was determined by the Alimarin method; CO₂ was determined by selective sorption on askarite) is as follows: 27.40 CaO, 4.06 B₂O₃, 6.34 A1₂O₃, 0.03 Fe₂O₃, 2.43 SiO₂, 8.48 SO₃, 4.2 CO₂, 46.1 H₂O, total is 99.04. The empirical formula (calculated on the basis of 3Ca apfu) is H_31.41Ca_3.00(Al_0.76Si_0.25)_Σ1.01 · (B_0.72S_0.65C_0.59)Σ_1.96O_24.55. Tatarinovite is hexagonal, space gr. P6₃, a = 11.1110(4) Å, c = 10.6294(6) Å, V = 1136.44(9) A³, Z = 2. Its crystal chemical formula is Са₃(Аl_0.70Si_0.30) · {[SO₄]_0.34[В(ОН)₄]_0.33[СO₃]0.₂₄}{[SO₄]_0.30[В(ОН)₄]_0.34[СО₃]_0.30[В(ОН)₃]_0.06}(ОН_5·73О_0.27) · 12Н₂O. The strongest reflections of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, Å (I, %) (hkl)] are 9.63 (100) (100), 5.556 (30) (110), 4.654 (14) (102), 3.841 (21) (112), 3.441 (12) (211), 2.746 (10) (302), 2.538 (12) (213). Tatarinovite was named in memory of the Russian geologist and petrologist Pavel Mikhailovich Tatarinov (1895–1976), a well-known specialist in chrysotile asbestos deposits. Type specimens have been deposited at the Fersman Mineralogical Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow.