A single-crystal neutron and X-ray diffraction study of pezzottaite, Cs(Be2Li)Al2Si6O18

The chemical composition and the crystal structure of pezzottaite [ideal composition Cs(Be₂Li)Al₂Si₆O₁₈; space group: ${\it{R}} \overline{\text{3}} $ c, a?=?15.9615(6) ?, c?=?27.8568(9) ?] from the type locality in Ambatovita (central Madagascar) were investigated by electron microprobe analysis in wavelength dispersive mode, thermo-gravimetric analysis, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy, single-crystal X-ray (at 298?K) and neutron (at 2.3?K) diffraction. The average chemical formula of the sample of pezzottaite resulted ^Cs1,Cs2(Cs_0.565Rb_0.027K_0.017)_Σ0.600 ^Na1,Na2(Na_0.101Ca_0.024)_Σ0.125Be_2.078Li_0.922 ^Al1,Al2(Mg_0.002Mn_0.002Fe_0.003Al_1.978)_Σ1.985 ^Si1,Si2,Si3(Al_0.056Si_5.944)_Σ6O₁₈·0.27H₂O. The (unpolarized) IR spectrum over the region 3,800–600?cm^?1 was collected and a comparison with the absorption bands found in beryl carried out. In particular, two-weak absorption bands ascribable to the fundamental H₂O stretching vibrations (i.e. 3,591 and 3,545?cm^?1) were observed, despite the mineral being nominally anhydrous. The X-ray and neutron structure refinements showed: (a) a non-significant presence of aluminium, beryllium or lithium at the Si1, Si2 and Si3 sites, (b) the absence (at a significant level) of lithium at the octahedral Al1, Al2 and Al3 sites and (c) a partial lithium/beryllium disordering between tetrahedral Be and Li sites.     

Osumilite-(Mg): Validation as a mineral species and new data

Osumilite-(Mg), the Mg-dominant analogue of osumilite, has been approved by the CNMNC IMA as a new mineral species. The holotype sample has been found at Bellerberg, Eifel volcanic area, Germany. Fluorophlogopite, sanidine, cordierite, mullite, sillimanite, topaz, pseudobrookite and hematite are associated minerals. Osumilite-(Mg) occurs as short prismatic or thick tabular hexagonal crystals reaching 0.5 × 1 mm in size in the cavities in basaltic volcanic glasses at their contact with thermally metamorphosed xenoliths of pelitic rocks. The mineral is brittle, with Mohs’ hardness 6.5. Cleavage was not observed. Color is blue to brown. D _meas = 2.59(1), D _calc = 2.595 g/cm³. No bands corresponding to H₂O and OH-groups are in the IR spectrum. Osumilite-(Mg) is uniaxial (+), ω = 1.539(2), ? = 1.547(2). The chemical composition (electron microprobe, average of 5 point analyses, wt %) is: 0.08 Na₂O, 3.41 K₂O, 0.04 CaO, 7.98 MgO, 0.28 MnO, 21.57 Al₂O₃, 3.59 Fe₂O₃, 62.33 SiO₂, total 99.28. The empirical formula is: (K_0.72Na_0.03Ca_0.01)(Mg_1.97Mn_0.04)[Al_4.21Fe _0.45 ³⁺ Si_10.32]O₃₀. The simplified formula is: KMg₂Al₃(Al₂Si₁₀)O₁₀. The crystal structure was refined on a single crystal, R = 0.0294. Osumilite-(Mg) is hexagonal, space group P6/mcc; a = 10.0959(1), c = 14.3282(2)Å, V = 1264.79(6) ų, Z = 2. The strongest reflections in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern [d, Å I %) (hkl)] are: 7.21 (37) (002), 5.064 (85) (110), 4.137 (45) (112), 3.736 (43) (202), 3.234 (100) (211), 2.932 (42) (114), 2.767 (51) (204). A type specimen is deposited in the Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, registration number 4174/1.     

Friedrichbeckeite, K (□0.5Na0.5)2 (Mg0.8Mn0.1Fe0.1)2 (Be0.6 Mg0.4)3 [Si12O30], a new milarite-type mineral from the Bellerberg volcano, Eifel area, Germany

Friedrichbeckeite is a new milarite-type mineral. It was found in a single silicate-rich xenolith from a quarry at the Bellerberg volcano near Ettringen, eastern Eifel volcanic area, Germany. It forms thin tabular crystals flattened on {0001}, with a maximum diameter of 0.6 mm and a maximum thickness of 0.1 mm. It is associated with quartz, tridymite, augite, sanidine, magnesiohornblende, enstatite, pyrope, fluorapatite, hematite, braunite and roedderite. Friedrichbeckeite is light yellow, with white to light cream streak and vitreous lustre. It is brittle with irregular fracture and no cleavage, Mohs hardness of 6, calculated density is 2.686 gcm^?3. Optically, it is uniaxial positive with n_ω = 1.552(2) and n_ε = 1.561(2) at 589.3 nm and a distinct pleochroism from yellow (//ω) to light blue (//ε). Electron microprobe analyses yielded (wt.%): Na₂O 2.73, K₂O 4.16, BeO 4.67, MgO 11.24, MnO 2.05, FeO 1.76, Al₂O₃ 0.15, SiO₂ 73.51, (Σ CaO, TiO₂ = 0.06) sum 100.33 (BeO determined by LA-ICP-MS). The empirical formula based on Si = 12 is K_0.87 Na_0.86 (Mg_1.57Mn_0.28Fe_0.24)_Σ2.09 (Be_1.83?Mg_1.17)_Σ3.00 [Si₁₂O₃₀], and the simplified formula can be given as K (□_0.5Na_0.5)₂ (Mg_0.8Mn_0.1Fe_0.1)₂ (Be_0.6?Mg_0.4)₃ [Si₁₂O₃₀]. Friedrichbeckeite is hexagonal, space-group P6/mcc, with a = 9.970(1), c = 14.130(3) Å, V = 1216.4(3) ų, and Z = 2. The strongest lines in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern are (d in Å / I _obs / hkl): 3.180 / 100 / 121, 2.885 / 70 / 114, 4.993 / 30 / 110, 4.081 / 30 / 112, 3.690 / 30 / 022. A single-crystal structure refinement (R1 = 3.62 %) confirmed that the structure is isotypic with milarite and related ^[12] C ^[9] B ₂ ^[6] A ₂ ^[4] T2₃ [^[4] T1₁₂O₃₀] compounds. The C-site is dominated by potassium, the B-site is almost half occupied by sodium, and the A-site is dominated by Mg. The site-scattering at the T2-site can be refined to a Be/(Be?+?Mg) value close to 0.61; the T1-site is occupied by Si. Micro-Raman spectroscopy reveals an increasing splitting of scattering bands around 550 cm^?1 for friedrichbeckeite. The mineral can be classified as an unbranched ring silicate or as a beryllo-magnesiosilicate. With respect to the end-member formula K (□0.5Na0.5)₂ Mg₂ Be₃ [Si₁₂O₃₀] friedrichbeckeite represents the Mg-dominant analogue of almarudite, milarite or oftedalite. The mineral and its paragenesis were formed during pyrometamorphic modifications of the silicate-rich xenoliths enclosed in Quaternary leucite-tephritic lava of the Bellerberg volcano. Holotype material of friedrichbeckeite has been deposited at the mineral collection of the Naturhistorisches Museum Wien, Austria. The mineral is named friedrichbeckeite in honour of the Austrian mineralogist and petrographer Friedrich Johann Karl Becke (1855–1931).     

Aqualite,a new mineral species of the eudialyte group from the Inagli alkaline pluton,Sakha-Yakutia,Russia, and the problem of oxonium in hydrated eudialytes

Aqualite, a new eudialyte-group mineral from hydrothermally altered peralkaline pegmatites of the Inagli alkaline pluton (Sakha-Yakutia, Russia) is described in this paper. Natrolite, microcline, eckermanite, aegirine, batisite, innelite, lorezenite, thorite, and galena are associated minerals. Aqualite occurs as isometric crystals up to 3-cm across. The color is pale pink, with a white streak and vitreous luster. The mineral is transparent. The fracture is conchoidal. The mineral is brittle; no cleavage or parting is observed. The Mohs’ hardness is 4 to 5. The density is 2.58(2) g/cm³ (measured by the volumetric method) and 2.66 g/cm³ (calculated). Aqualite is optically uniaxial (+), α = 1.569(1) and β = 1.571(1). The mineral is pleochroic from colorless to pale pink on X and pink on Y, α < β. Aqualite is weakly fluorescent with a dull yellow color under ultraviolet light. The mineral is stable in 50% HCl and HNO₃ at room temperature. Weight loss after ignition at 500°C is 9.8%. Aqualite is monoclinic, and the space group is R3. The unit-cell dimensions are a = 14.078(3) Å, c = 31.24(1) Å, V = 5362 ų, and Z = 3. The strongest reflections in the X-ray powder pattern [d, Å (I)(hkl)] are: 4.39(100)(2005), 2.987(100)(315), 2.850(79)(404), 10.50(44)(003), 6.63(43)(104), 7.06(42)(110), 3.624(41)(027), and 11.43(39)(101). The chemical composition (electron microprobe, H₂O determined with the Penfield method) is as follows (wt %): 2.91 Na₂O, 1.93 K₂O, 11.14 CaO, 1.75 SrO, 2.41 BaO, 0.56 FeO, 0.30 MnO, 0.17 La₂O₃, 0.54 Ce₂O₃, 0.36 Nd₂O₃, 0.34 Al₂O₃, 52.70 SiO₂, 12.33 ZrO₂, O.78 TiO₂, 0.15 Nb₂O₅; 1.50 Cl, 9.93 H₂O,-O=Cl₂ 0.34; where the total is 99.46. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of Si + Zr + Ti + Al + Nb = 29 apfu is as follows: [(H₃O)_7.94Na_2.74K_1.20Sr_0.49Ba_0.46Fe_0.23Mn_0.12]_Σ13.18(Ca_5.79REE_0.19)_Σ5.98 (Zr_2.92Ti_0.08)_Σ3.0(Si_25.57Ti_0.21Al_0.19Nb_0.03)S_26.0[O_66.46(OH)_5.54]_Σ72.0 [(OH)_2.77Cl_1.23]_Σ4.0. The simplified formula is (H₃O)₈(Na,K,Sr)₅Ca₆Zr₃Si₂₆O₆₆(OH)₉Cl. Aqualite differs from typical eudialyte by the extremely low contents of Na and Fe, with more than 50% Na being replaced with the (H₃O)⁺ group. The presence of oxonium ions is confirmed by IR spectroscopic and X-ray single-crystal diffraction analysis. The mineral is compared with five structurally studied high-oxonium analogues from alkaline plutons of other regions. All of these minerals were formed at a relatively low temperature through the ion-exchange transformation of “protoeudialytes”; the successor minerals inherited the principal structural and compositional features of the precursor minerals. The name aqualite is derived from the Latin aqua in reference to its specific chemical composition. The type material of aqualite is deposited in the Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow.     

Lavoisierite, Mn2+ 8[Al10(Mn3+Mg)][Si11P]O44(OH)12, a new mineral from Piedmont, Italy: the link between “ardennite” and sursassite

The new mineral species lavoisierite, ideally Mn²⁺ ₈[Al₁₀(Mn³⁺Mg)][Si₁₁P]O₄₄(OH)₁₂, has been discovered in piemontite-bearing micaschists belonging to the Piedmontese Nappe from Punta Gensane, Viù Valley, Western Alps, Italy. It occurs as yellow-orange acicular to prismatic-tabular crystals up to a few millimeters in length, with white streak and vitreous luster, elongated along [010] and flattened on {001}. Lavoisierite is associated with quartz, “mica,” sursassite, piemontite, spessartine, braunite, and “tourmaline.” Calculated density is 3.576 g cm^?3. In plane-polarized light, it is transparent, pleochroic, with pale yellow parallel to [010] and yellow-orange normal to this direction; extinction is parallel and elongation is positive. Birefringence is moderate; the calculated average refraction index n is 1.750. Lavoisierite is orthorhombic, space group Pnmm, with a 8.6891(10), b 5.7755(3), c 36.9504(20) Å, V 1854.3(2) Å³, Z = 2. Calculated main diffraction lines of the X-ray powder diffraction pattern are [d in Å, (I), (hkl); relative intensities are visually estimated]: 4.62 (m) (112), 2.931 (vs) (1110), 2.765 (s) (1111), 2.598 (s) (310), 2.448 (ms) (028). Chemical analyses by electron microprobe give (in wt%) P₂O₅ 2.08, V₂O₅ 0.37, SiO₂ 34.81, TiO₂ 0.13, Al₂O₃ 22.92, Cr₂O₃ 0.32, Fe₂O₃ 0.86, Mn₂O₃ 6.92, MnO 19.09, MgO 5.73, CaO 1.94, Na₂O 0.01, H₂O 5.44, sum 100.62 wt%. H₂O content was calculated from structure refinement. The empirical formula, based on 56 anions, is (Mn _5.340 ²⁺ Mg_1.810Ca_0.686Na_0.006)_Σ=7.852(Al_8.921Mn _1.739 ³⁺ Mg_1.010Fe _0.214 ³⁺ Cr_0.084Ti_0.032)_Σ=12.000(Si_11.496P_0.582V_0.081)_Σ=12.159O_43.995(OH)_12.005. The crystal structure of lavoisierite was solved by direct methods and refined on the basis of 1743 observed reflections to R ₁ = 4.6 %. The structure is characterized by columns of edge-sharing octahedra running along [010] and linked to each other by means of [SiO₄], [Si₂O₇], and [Si₃O₁₀] groups. Lavoisierite, named after the French chemist and biologist Antoine-Laurent de Lavoisier (1743–1794), displays an unprecedented kind of structure, related to those of “ardennite” and sursassite.     

Jinshanjiangite and bafertisite from the Gremyakha-Vyrmes Alkaline Complex,Kola Peninsula

Jinshanjiangite (acicular crystals up to 2 mm in length) and bafertisite (lamellar crystals up to 3 × 4 mm in size) have been found in alkali granite pegmatite of the Gremyakha-Vyrmes Complex, Kola Peninsula. Albite, microcline, quartz, arfvedsonite, zircon, and apatite are associated minerals. The dimensions of a monoclinic unit cell of jinshanjiangite and bafertisite are: a = 10.72(2), b=13.80(2), c = 20.94(6) Å, β = 97.0(5)° and a = 10.654(6), b = 13.724(6), c = 10.863(8) Å, β = 94.47(8)°, respectively. The typical compositions (electron microprobe data) of jinshanjiangite and bafertisite are: (Na_0.57Ca_0.44)_Σ1.01(Ba_0.57K_0.44)_Σ1.01 (Fe_3.53Mn_0.30Mg_0.04Zn_0.01)_Σ3.88(Ti_1.97Nb_0.06Zr_0.01)_Σ2.04(Si_3.97Al_0.03O₁₄)O_2.00(OH_2.25F_0.73O_0.02)_Σ3.00 and (Ba_1.98Na_0.04K_0.03)_Σ2.05(Fe_3.43Mn_0.37Mg_0.03)_Σ3.83(Ti_2.02Nb_0.03)_Σ2.05 (Si_3.92Al_0.08O₁₄)(O_1.84OH_0.16)_Σ2.00(OH_2.39F_1.61)_Σ3.00, respectively. The minerals studied are the Fe-richest members of the bafertisite structural family.     

Aklimaite, Ca4[Si2O5(OH)2](OH)4 · 5H2O, a new natural hydrosilicate from Mount Lakargi, the Northern Caucasus, Russia

A new mineral aklimaite, Ca₄[Si₂O₅(OH)₂](OH)₄ · 5H₂O, has been found near Mount Lakargi, Upper Chegem caldera, Kabardino-Balkaria, the Northern Caucasus, Russia, in the skarnified limestone xenolith in ignimbrite. This hydrothermal mineral occurs in a cavity of altered larnite skarn and is associated with larnite, calcium humite-group members, hydrogarnets, bultfonteinite, afwillite, and ettringite. Aklimaite forms transparent, colorless (or occasionally with pinkish tint) columnar or lath-shaped crystals up 3 × 0.1 × 0.01 mm in size, flattened on {001} and elongated along {010}; they are combined in spherulites. The luster is vitreous; the cleavage parallel to the {001} is perfect. D _calc = 2.274 g/cm³. The Mohs’ hardness is 3–4. Aklimaite is optically biaxial, negative, 2V _meas > 70°, 2V _calc = 78°, α = 1.548(2), β = 1.551(3), γ = 1.553(2). The IR and Raman spectra are given. The chemical composition (wt %, electron microprobe) is as follows: 0.06 Na₂O, 0.02 K₂O, 45.39 CaO, 0.01 MnO, 0.02 FeO, 24.23 SiO₂, 0.04 SO₃, 3.22 F, 27.40 H₂O_(calc.), ?1.36 -O=F₂; the total is 99.03. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of 2Si apfu with O + OH + F = 16 is as follows: (Ca_4.02Na_0.01)_Σ4.03[Si_2.00O_5.07(OH)_1.93][(OH)_3.16F_0.84] _Σ4.00 · 5H₂O. The mineral is monoclinic, space group C2/m, a = 16.907(5), b = 3.6528(8), c = 13.068(4) Å, β = 117.25(4)·, V= 717.5(4) ų, Z = 2. Aklimaite is representative of the new structural type, the sorosilicate with disilicate groups [Si₂O₅(OH)₂]. The strongest reflections in the X-ray powder patterns [d, Å (hkl)] are: 11.64(100)(001), 2.948(32)(310, 203), 3.073(20) ( $\bar 404$ , $\bar 311$ ), 2.320(12)(005, 510), 2.901 (11)(004), 8.30(10) $\left( {\bar 201} \right)$ . The type specimen is deposited in the Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow.     

Sodium trisilicate: A new high-pressure silicate structure (Na2Si[Si2O7])

Crystals of sodium trisilicate (Na₂Si₃O₇) have been grown in the presence of melt at 9 GPa, 1200 °C using the MA6/8 superpress at Edmonton, and the X-ray structure determined at room pressure (R=2.0%). Na₂Si₃O₇ is monoclinic with a=8.922(2) Å, b= 4.8490(5) Å, c=11.567(1) Å, β=102.64(1)° (C2/c), D _x = 3.295 g·cm^-3. Silicon occurs in both tetrahedral and octahedral coordination (^[6]Si∶^[4]Si = l∶2). The SiO₄ tetrahedra form a diorthosilicate [Si₂O₇] group and are linked by the isolated SiO₆ octahedra via shared corners into a framework of 6-membered (^[4]Si-^[4]Si-^[6]Si^[4]Si-^[4] Si-^[6]Si) and 4-membered (^[4]Si-^[6]Si-^[4]Sr-^[6]Si) rings: 〈^[6]Si-O〉=1.789 Å, 〈^[4]Si-O〉= 1.625 Å, ^[4]Si-O-^[4]Si=132.9° and the bridging oxygen is overbonded (s = 2.22). Channels parallel to b-axis and [110] accommodate Na in irregular 6-fold coordination: 〈Na-O〉 = 2.511 Å.     

Ertixiite—a new mineral from the Altay Pegmatite Mine,Xinjiang, China

Ertixiite (Na₂Si₄O₉), a new mineral found in a miarolitic cavity of the Altay Pegmatite Mine, Xinjiang, China, is associated with topaz, apatite, quartz, cleavelandite, etc. The mineral is white, granular, and transparent. HNV=570.08?850.96 kg/mm² (Moh’s 5.8?6.5), D=2.35, N=1.502. Cubic system,a=5.975 Å, V=213.311 Å, Z=1,D _x =2.34g/cm³. The chemical composition of ertixiite (the average of six samples) is: Na₂O 17.97, CaO 2.82, SiO₂ 77.86, Al₂O₃ 1.45, FeO 0.05, total 100.15. The strongest lines in the X-ray powder pattern are 3.443(2, 111), 2.647(2. 210), 2.674(2,210), 1.996(8,221), 1.798(10,311), and 1.492(2,400).     

Perrierite-(La), (La,Ce,Ca)4(Fe2+,Mn)(Ti,Fe3+,Al)4(Si2O7)2O8, a new mineral species from the Eifel volcanic district, Germany

Non-metamict perrierite-(La) discovered in the Dellen pumice quarry, near Mendig, in the Eifel volcanic district, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany has been approved as a new mineral species (IMA no. 2010-089). The mineral was found in the late assemblage of sanidine, phlogopite, pyrophanite, zirconolite, members of the jacobsite-magnetite series, fluorcalciopyrochlore, and zircon. Perrierite-(La) occurs as isolated prismatic crystals up to 0.5 × 1 mm in size within cavities in sanidinite. The new mineral is black with brown streak; it is brittle, with the Mohs hardness of 6 and distinct cleavage parallel to (001). The calculated density is 4.791 g/cm³. The IR spectrum does not contain absorption bands that correspond to H₂O and OH groups. Perrierite-(La) is biaxial (-), α = 1.94(1), β = 2.020(15), γ = 2.040(15), 2V _meas = 50(10)°, 2V _calc = 51°. The chemical composition (electron microprobe, average of seven point analyses, the Fe²⁺/Fe³⁺ ratio determined from the X-ray structural data, wt %) is as follows: 3.26 CaO, 22.92 La₂O₃, 19.64 Ce₂O₃, 0.83 Pr₂O₂, 2.09 Nd₂O₃, 0.25 MgO, 2.25 MnO, 3.16 FeO, 5.28 Fe₂O₃, 2.59 Al₂O₃, 16.13 TiO₂, 0.75 Nb₂O₅, and 20.06 SiO₂, total is 99.21. The empirical formula is (La_1.70Ce_1.45Nd_0.15Pr_0.06Ca_0.70)_Σ4.06(Fe _0.53 ²⁺ Mn_0.38Mg_0.08)_Σ0.99(Ti_2.44Fe _0.80 ³⁺ Al_0.62Nb_0.07)_Σ3.93Si_4.04O₂₂. The simplified formula is (La,Ce,Ca)₄(Fe²⁺,Mn)(Ti,Fe³⁺,Al)₄(Si₂O₇)₂O₈. The crystal structure was determined by a single crystal. Perrierite-(La) is monoclinic, space group P2₁/a, and the unit-cell dimensions are as follows: a =13.668(1), b = 5.6601(6), c = 11.743(1) Å, β = 113.64(1)°; V = 832.2(2) ų, Z = 2. The strong reflections in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern are [d, Å (I, %) (hkl)]: 5.19 (40) (110), 3.53 (40) ( $\overline 3 $ 11), 2.96 (100) ( $\overline 3 $ 13, 311), 2.80 (50) (020), 2.14 (50) ( $\overline 4 $ 22, $\overline 3 $ 15, 313), 1.947 (50) (024, 223), 1.657 (40) ( $\overline 4 $ 07, $\overline 4 $ 33, 331). The holotype specimen of perrierite-(La) is deposited at the Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, with the registration number 4059/1.     

Vladimirivanovite, Na6Ca2[Al6Si6O24](SO4,S3,S2,Cl)2 · H2O, a new mineral of sodalite group

The results of an examination of vladimirivanovite, a new mineral of the sodalite group, found at the Tultui deposit in the Baikal region are discussed. The mineral occurs in the form of outer rims (0.01–3 mm thick) of lazurite, elongated segregations without faced crystals (0.2 to 3–4 mm in size; less frequently, 4 × 12–15 × 20 mm), and rare veinlets (up to 5 mm) hosted in calciphyre and marble. Vladimirivanovite is irregular and patchy dark blue. The mineral is brittle; on average, the microhardness VHN is 522–604, 575 kg/mm²; and the Mohs hardness is 5.0–5.5. The measured and calculated densities are 2.48(3) and 2.436 g/cm³, respectively. Vladimirivanovite is optically biaxial; 2V _meas = 63(±1)°, 2V _calc = 66.2°; the refractive indices are α = 1.502–1.507 (±0.002), N _m = 1.509–1.514 (±0.002), and N _g = 1.512–1.517 (±0.002). The chemical composition is as follows, wt %: 32.59 SiO₂, 27.39 Al₂O₃, 7.66 CaO, 17.74 Na₂O, 11.37 SO₃, 1.94 S, 0.12 Cl, and 1.0 H₂O; total is 99.62. The empirical formula calculated based on (Si + Al) = 12 with sulfide sulfur determined from the charge balance is Na_6.36Ca_1.52(Si_6.03Al_5.97)_Σ12O_23.99(SO₄)_1.58(S₃)_0.17(S₂)_0.08 · Cl_0.04 · 0.62H₂O; the idealized formula is Na₆Ca₂[Al₆Si₆O₂₄](SO₄,S₃,S₂,Cl)₂ · H₂O. The new mineral is orthorhombic, space group Pnaa; the unit-cell dimensions are a = 9.066, b = 12.851, c = 38.558 Å, V = 4492 ų, and Z = 6. The strongest reflections in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern (dÅ—I[hkl]) are: 6.61–5[015], 6.43–11[020, 006], 3.71–100[119, 133], 2.623–30[20.12, 240], 2.273–6[04.12], 2.141–14[159, 13.15], 1.783–9[06.12, 04.18], and 1.606–6[080, 00.24]. The crystal structure has been solved with a single crystal. The mineral was named in memoriam of Vladimir Georgievich Ivanov (1947–2002), Russian mineralogist and geochemist. The type material of the mineral is deposited at the Mineralogical Museum of St. Petersburg State University, St. Petersburg, Russia.     

Structure of Cu-bearing orthopyroxene, Mg(Cu.56,Mg.44)Si2O6, and behavior of Cu2+ in the orthopyroxene structure

Cu-bearing pyroxene, Mg(Cu.₅₆,Mg.₄₄)Si₂O₆, has been synthesized by a flux method and crystal structure refinement has been performed by single crystal X-ray diffraction. It is found that the crystal structure is orthorhombic (space group Pbca) with unit cell dimensions of a=18.221(4), b=8.890(1), c=5.2260(7)Å and the cell volume of 846.5( )3ų. In the M2-site one of the M-O bonds(M-O3B) is extremely expanded from 2.444(2) in enstatite to 2.732(2), thus the coordination polyhedron around M2-site is regarded as square pyramidal rather than square planar or octahedral. It is also found that the M1-site in the pyroxene structure is occupied almost exclusively by Mg, while the M2-site is almost evenly occupied by Mg and Cu. The observed extreme site preference shown by Cu²⁺ is unusual among the divalent cations with similar ionic sizes.     

Depmeierite Na8[Al6Si6O24](PO4,CO3)1−x · 3H2O (x < 0.5): A new cancrinite-group mineral species from the Lovozero alkaline pluton of the Kola Peninsula

A new mineral depmeierite, the first cancrinite-group member with the species-forming extraframework anion PO ₄ ^3? , has been found at Mt. Karnasurt in the Lovozero alkaline pluton on the Kola Peninsula in Russia. Natrolite and depmeierite are the major components of a hydrothermal peralkaline veinlet 1.5 cm thick, which cross cuts the foyaite-urtite-lujavrite complex. The associated minerals are steenstrupine-(Ce), vuonnemite, epistolite, sodalite, aegirine, serandite, natisite, and vitusite-(Ce). Depmeierite occurs as colorless transparent isometric grains up to 1 cm in size. Its luster is vitreous. The mineral is brittle, and its cleavage (100) is perfect. Its Mohs hardness is 5, and D(meas) = 2.321(1) and D(calc) = 2.313 g/cm³. Depmeierite is optically biaxial positive, ω = 1.493(2), and ? = 1.497(2). The IR spectrum is given. The chemical composition is as follows (wt %, the average of 10 microprobe analyses with the H₂O and CO₂ determined by selective sorption): 23.04 Na₂O, 0.54 K₂O, 0.03 Fe₂O₃, 29.07 Al₂O₃, 36.48 SiO₂, 3.30 P₂O₅, 0.08 SO₃, 0.97 CO₂, and 5.93 H₂O; the total is 99.44. The empirical formula based on (Si,Al)₁₂O₂₄ is (Na₇₅₈K_0.12)_Σ7.70(Si_6.19Al_5.81O₂₄)[(PO₄)_0.47(CO₃)_0.22(OH)_0.02(SO₄)_0.01]_Σ0.72 · 3.345H₂O. The simplified formula is Na₈[Al₆Si₆O₂₄](CO₃)_{1 ? x} · 3H₂O (x < 0.05). Depmeierite is hexagonal with space group P6₃, and the unit-cell dimensions are a = 12.7345(2), c = 5.1798(1), V = 727.46(2) ų, and Z = 1. The strongest reflections of the X-ray powder pattern (d, Å (I, %) [hkl]) are as follows: 6.380(30) [110], 4.695(91) [101], 3.681(37) [300], 3.250(100) [211], 2.758 (33) [400], 2.596(31) [002], and 2.121(24) [330, 302]. The crystal structure was studied using a single crystal, and R _hkl = 0.0362. Depmeierite differs from cancrinite in the development of wide channels containing Na cations, H₂O molecules, prevailing PO ₄ ^3? -anionic groups, and CO ₃ ^2? . The mineral is named in honor of the German crystallographer Wulf Depmeier (born in 1944). The type specimen is deposited at the Fersman Mineralogical Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences in Moscow. The cancrinite sensu stricto subgroup separated within the cancrinite group comprises six minerals with AB frameworks, the smallest unit cell is (a ≈ 12.55–12.75, c ≈ 5.1–5.4 Å), and the chain […Na…H₂O…]^∞ exists in narrow channels: cancrinite, vishnevite, cancrisilite, hydroxycancrinite, kyanoxalite, and depmeierite. The P-bearing varieties of the cancrinite-group minerals are discussed, as well as the formation conditions of the noncarbonate members of the group related to intrusive alkaline complexes.     

The natural occurrence of aegirine—neptunite solid solution

The occurrence of titanian-aegirines in alkaline rocks has been summarized to illustrate the extent of their stability and the nature of the substitution in these clinopyroxenes. The chemistry and substitution of Ti in aegirines is discussed with special reference to the newly observed aegirine — neptunite (Na₂Fe₂ ²⁺TiSi₄O₁₂) solid solution. The available data indicate that neptunite should be included in the pyroxene mineral group as an alkali clinopyroxene.     

Steklite, KAl(SO4)2: A finding at the Tolbachik Volcano, Kamchatka, Russia, validating its status as a mineral species and crystal structure

Steklite KAl(SO₄)₂ has been found in sublimates of the Yadovitaya (Poisonous) fumarole at the second cinder cone of the northern breach of the Great Fissure Tolbachik Eruption, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. Steklite was approved as a valid mineral species by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature, and Mineral Classification of the International Mineralogical Association on June 2, 2011 (IMA no. 2011-041). The name steklite is left for this mineral, as it was named by Chesnokov et al. (1995) for its technogenic analog from a burnt dump of coal mine no. 47 at Kopeisk, the Southern Urals, Russia. It is named after the Russian word steklo, meaning glass, in allusion to the visual similarity of its lamellae to thin glass platelets. At Tolbachik, steklite is associated with alumoklyuchevskite, langbeinite, euchlorine, fedotovite, chalcocyanite, hematite, and lyonsite. It occurs as hexagonal or irregular-shaped lamellar crystals with the major form {001} reaching 30 μm in thickness and 0.2 mm (occasionally up to 1 mm) in width. The crystals are frequently split. They are combined into openwork aggregates or thin crusts up to 1.5 × 2.5 cm in area. Steklite is transparent and colorless, with vitreous luster. The cleavage is perfect, parallel to (001). The mineral is brittle. The Mohs’ hardness is 2.5. D _calc is 2.797 g/cm³. Steklite is optically uniaxial, (?), ω = 1.546(2), ? = 1.533(3). The chemical composition (wt %, electron-microprobe data) is as follows: 0.09 Na₂O, 18.12 K₂O, 0.08 CaO, 0.03 MnO, 2.02 Fe₂O₃, 18.18 Al₂O₃, 61.80 SO₃. The total is 100.37. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of eight O atoms is: (K_0.997Na_0.008Ca_0.004)_Σ1.009(Al_0.925Fe _0.066 ³⁺ Mg_0.003Mn_0.001)_Σ0.995S_2.01O₈. Steklite is trigonal, space group P321, a = 4.7281(3), c = 7.9936(5) Å, V = 154.76(17)ų, Z =1. The strongest reflections in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern (d, Å-I[hkl]) are: 8.02–34[001], 4.085–11[100], 3.649–100[011, 101], 2.861–51[012, 102], 2.660 - 19[003], 2.364–25[110], 2.267–14[111, 111, 103], 1.822–12[022, 202]. In the structure of steklite examined in microtwinned crystal with R = 0.0732, the SO₄ tetrahedral anions are shared-corners with distorted AlO₆ trigonal prisms to form _∞ ² [(Al, Fe) (SO₄)₂]^? layers coplanar to (001). The K⁺ cations are in the interlayer space. The type specimen of steklite is deposited in the Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow.     

Crystal chemistry, surface morphology and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy of Fe-rich osumilite from Mt. Arci, Sardinia (Italy)

Microprobe analysis, single crystal X-ray diffraction, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, atomic force microscopy, and X-ray absorption spectroscopy were applied on Fe-rich osumilite from the volcanic massif of Mt. Arci, Sardinia, Italy. Osumilite belongs to the space group P6/mcc with unit cell parameters a = 10.1550(6), c = 14.306(1) Å and chemical formula (K_0.729)_C (Na_0.029)_B (Si_10.498 Al_1.502)_T1 (Al_2.706 Fe _0.294 ²⁺ )_T2 (Mg_0.735 Mn_0.091 Fe _1.184 ²⁺ )_AO₃₀. Structure refinement converged at R = 0.0201. Unit cell parameter a is related to octahedral edge length as well as to Fe²⁺ content, unlike the c parameter which does not seem to be affected by chemical composition. The determination of the amount of each element on the mineral surface, obtained through X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy high-resolution spectra in the region of the Si_2p, Al_2p, Mg_1s and Fe_2p core levels, suggests that Fe presents Fe²⁺ oxidation state and octahedral coordination. Two peaks at 103.1 and 100.6 eV can be related to Si⁴⁺ and Si¹⁺ components, respectively, both in tetrahedral coordination. The binding energy of Al_2p, at 74.5 eV, indicates that Al is mostly present in the distorted T2 site, whereas the Mg peak at 1,305.2 eV suggests that this cation is located at the octahedral site. X-ray absorption at the Fe L_2,3-edges confirms that iron is present in the mineral structure, prevalently in the divalent state and at the A octahedral site.     

Distance least squares modelling of the cubic sodalite structure and of the thermal expansion of Na8(Al6Si6O24)I2

The Distance Least Squares (DLS) structure modelling technique is used to determine the room-temperature structures of the sodalites Li₈(Al₆Si₆O₂₄)Cl₂, Na₈(Al₆Si₆O₂₄)Cl₂, K₈(Al₆Si₆O₂₄)Cl₂, Na₈(Al₆Si₆O₂₄)Br₂, and Na₈(Al₆Si₆O₂₄)I₂. The technique is also used to calculate the thermal expansion behaviour of Na₈(Al₆Si₆O₂₄)I₂ assuming that the discontinuity in its thermal expansion curve occurred either when the ideal fully-expanded state was achieved (case 1) or when the x-coordinate of the sodium atom became 0.25 (case 2). The results are given as plots of bond lengths and bond angles as a function of temperature. Case 2 was preferred and analysis of the results implied that the driving force for the untwisting of the partially-collapsed sodalite framework was in the framework bonds with the cavity ion bonds resisting the untwisting. Best estimates indicate that the expansion of the Na-O and Na-I bonds are 9% and 27.4% respectively, between room temperature and 810° C, and there is an apparent shortening of the framework bond distances of about 1.5%.     

Günterblassite, (K,Ca)3 − x Fe[(Si,Al)13O25(OH,O)4] · 7H2O, a new mineral: the first phyllosilicate with triple tetrahedral layer

A new mineral, günterblassite, has been found in the basaltic quarry at Mount Rother Kopf near Gerolstein, Rheinland-Pfalz, Germany as a constituent of the late assemblage of nepheline, leucite, augite, phlogopite, åkermanite, magnetite, perovskite, a lamprophyllite-group mineral, götzenite, chabazite-K, chabazite-Ca, phillipsite-K, and calcite. Günterblassite occurs as colorless lamellar crystals up to 0.2 × 1 × 1.5 mm in size and their clusters. The mineral is brittle, with perfect cleavage parallel to (001) and less perfect cleavage parallel to (100) and (010). The Mohs hardness is 4. The calculated and measured density is 2.17 and 2.18(1) g/cm³, respectively. The IR spectrum is given. The new mineral is optically biaxial and positive as follows: α = 1.488(2), β = 1.490(2), γ = 1.493(2), 2V _meas = 80(5)°. The chemical composition (electron microprobe, average of seven point analyses, H₂O is determined by gas chromatography, wt %) is as follows: 0.40 Na₂O, 5.18 K₂O, 0.58 MgO, 3.58 CaO, 4.08 BaO, 3.06 FeO, 13.98 Al₂O₃, 52.94 SiO₂, 15.2 H₂O, and the total is 98.99. The empirical formula is Na_0.15K_1.24Ba_0.30Ca_0.72Mg_0.16F _0.48 ²⁺ [Si_9.91Al_3.09O_25.25(OH)_3.75] · 7.29H₂O. The crystal structure has been determined from a single crystal, R = 0.049. Günterblassite is orthorhombic, space group Pnm2₁; the unit-cell dimensions are a = 6.528(1), b = 6.970(1), c = 37.216(5) Å, V = 1693.3(4) ų, Z = 2. Günterblassite is a member of a new structural type; its structure is based on three-layer block [Si₁₃O₂₅(OH,O)₄]. The strong reflections in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern [d Å (I, %) are as follows: 6.532 (100), 6.263 (67), 3.244 (49), 3.062 (91), 2.996 (66), 2.955 (63), and 2.763 (60). The mineral was named in honor of Günter Blass (born in 1943), a well-known amateur mineralogist and specialist in electron microprobe and X-ray diffraction. The type specimen of günterblassite is deposited in the collections of the Fersman Mineralogical Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, with the registration number 4107/1.