Lahnsteinite, Zn4(SO4)(OH)6 · 3H2O, a new mineral from the Friedrichssegen Mine, Germany

A new mineral, lahnsteinite, has been found in the dump of the Friedrichssegen Mine, Bad Ems district, Rhineland-Palatinate (Rheinland-Pfalz), Germany. Lahnsteinite, occurring as colorless tabular crystals in the cavities of goethite, is associated with pyromorphite, hydrozincite, quartz, and native copper. The Mohs’ hardness is 1.5; the cleavage is perfect parallel to (001). D _calc = 2.995 g/cm³, D _meas = 2.98(2) g/cm³. The IR spectrum is given. The new mineral is optically biaxial, negative, α = 1.568(2), β = 1.612(2), γ = 1.613(2), 2V _meas = 18(3)°, 2V _calc = 17°. The chemical composition (wt %, electron microprobe data; H₂O was determined by gas chromatography of ignition products) is as follows: 3.87 FeO, 1.68 CuO, 57.85 ZnO, 15.83 SO₃, 22.3 H₂O, total is 101.53. The empirical formula is (Zn_3.3Fe_0.27Cu_0.11)_Σ3.91(S_0.98O₄)(OH)₅ · 3H_2.10O. The crystal structure has been studied on a single crystal. Lahnsteinite is triclinic, space group P1, a = 8.3125(6), b = 14.545(1), c = 18.504(2) Å, α = 89.71(1), β = 90.05(1), γ = 90.13(1)°, V = 2237.2(3) ų, Z = 8. The strong reflections in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern [d, Å (I, %)] are: 9.30 (100), 4.175 (18), 3.476 (19), 3.290 (19), 2.723 (57), 2.624 (36), 2.503 (35), 1.574 (23). The mineral has been named after its type locality near the town of Lahnstein. The type specimen of lahnsteinite is deposited in the Fersman Mineralogical Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, registration number 4252/1.     

Structure of magnetite lodes at the Estyunino iron deposit in the central Urals

The structure of magnetite lodes is determined by iron and sulfur distribution, as well as texture and structure of ore. These features have been revealed by documentation of cores from ore intervals in exploration boreholes penetrating two main lodes 21 and 22 of the Estyunino iron deposit. The documentation of cores was accompanied by sampling for microscopic examination of texture and structure of ore and selection of Fe and S contents in ore. Then these data were summarized as sections of the lodes. It was established that the structure of magnetite lodes is characterized by conformable ore layers distinguished by texture, structure, and Fe and S contents. Banded and spotty ores containing less than 50% magnetite are predominant. Layers of homogeneous massive ore are infrequent. The textural pattern indicates a volcaniclastic nature of host rocks. The spotty texture is characteristic of hyaloclastites with vitreous shards. The banded texture with oriented distribution of fiamme is inherent to volcaniclastic rocks. In both cases, magnetite selectively replaces dark-colored vitreous fragments and is also dispersed in the salic matrix and lava fragments. No indications of crosscutting superposed relationships are observed. The available data can be satisfactorily explained by an impregnation-metasomatic mode of ore deposition.     

Application of the photoacoustic method for characterization of natural galena (PbS)

Electron transport properties of single crystal and polycrystalline natural mineral galena (PbS) samples from the Trep?a mine, Yugoslavia, were determined using the photoacoustic frequency transmission technique. Their thermal diffusivity (D _T≈0.16 × 10^?5 m² s^?1), the coefficient of diffusion (D between 0.15×10^?2 0.16×10^?2 m² s^?1) and lifetime of the excess carrier (τ≈35 μs and the front and rear recombination velocity (s _g≈65.5 m s^?1 and s _b≈66.4 m s^?1, respectively), were calculated by comparing the experimental results and the theoretical photoacoustic amplitude and phase signals. The lattice parameter obtained by X-ray work was a?=5.936?Å. The free carrier concentration of these single-crystal samples was measured using the Hall method (N?=?3×10¹⁸ cm^?3). Measurements of the optical reflectivity of the same samples, as a function of wavelength, in the infrared and far infrared ranges, were performed. In the far infrared range a free electron plasma frequency was observed and numerically analyzed, using the least-squares fitting procedure. The values of optical parameters were calculated and the value of the free carrier concentration obtained by the Hall method was confirmed.     

IR photometry and dust-shell models for two carbon stars

We present JHKLM photometry of the carbon stars ST And and T Lyn acquired in 2000–2010. Along with brightness variations due to pulsations, changes on timescales of 2000–3000 days are also observed. Our combined light curves can be satisfactorily represented with light elements derived from visual observations, but the maxima are delayed relative to the calculated times. A color-index analysis demonstrates that the dust shell of ST And is fairly weak, and is manifest only episodically, while the presence of hot dust was always detected for T Lyn. These results confirm models of spherically symmetric stellar dust shells based on mean-flux data, supplemented with observations in the intermediate IR from the IRAS and AKARI satellites. The visual optical depth of the relatively cool dust shell of ST And assuming a dust temperature at the inner edge of T ₁ = 510 K is very low: τ _V = 0.047. The dust shell of T Lyn is considerably hotter (T ₁ = 940 K), with τ _V = 0.95. We estimate the mass-loss rate to be 1.8 × 10⁻⁷ M _⊙/year for ST And and 3.7 × 10⁻⁷ M _⊙/year for T Lyn.     

New observations of anomalous X-ray pulsars at low frequencies

We report the results of new observations of three anomalous X-ray pulsars: 1E 2259+586, 4U 0142+61, and XTE J1810-197. The observations were carried out on high-sensitivity radio telescopes of the Pushchino Radio Astronomy Observatory: the Large Phased Array at 111MHz and the DKR-1000 at 62 MHz. New, digital, multi-channel receivers designed for pulsar observations were used. Pulse profiles and dynamical spectra for the three pulsars are presented. The mean flux density for XTE J1810-197 is estimated to be ∼160 mJy at 62 MHz. An estimated spectral index for this pulsar is also presented.     

Determination of the anisotropic thermal conductivity of the Boom Clay based on a combined numerical interpretation of two in situ heater tests at different scales

Acta Geotechnica - In the HADES underground research laboratory in Belgium, a large-scale PRACLAY Heater test and a small-scale ATLAS Heater test are performed to examine the...     

Noble metals in the insoluble carbonaceous substance of black shales and ores: Direct atomic emission data

The way of extraction of insoluble carbonaceous substance (ICS) from black shales and technique of determination of noble metals (NM) in it by direct arc atomic emission analysis (AEA) were developed. The first results are reported on the determination of mineral-bound noble metals in ICS concentrates, which were extracted from the rocks and ores of the Sukhoi Log, Vernyi, Vasil’evskoe, Kuranakh, Daugyztau, Bakyrchik, Kamennoe, El’dorado, and other deposits.