Elpasolite from hyperalkaline pegmatite of the Khibiny pluton, Kola Peninsula. Symmetry of elpasolite

Elpasolite, K₂NaAlF₆, has been found for the first time in a pegmatite related to peralkaline foid syenite at Mt. Koashva, Khibiny alkaline pluton, Kola Peninsula, Russia, as pale pink octahedral crystals up to 2 mm in size within cavities in the natrolite core of pegmatite in association with amicite, sodalite, aegirine, pectolite, catapleiite, sitinakite, lemmleinite-K, and vinogradovite. The chemical composition determined with an electron microprobe is as follows, wt %: 31.53 K; 9.22 Na; 11.20 Al; 47.21 F; total is 99.16. The empirical formula is K_1.96Na_0.98Al_1.01F_6.05. The infrared spectrum is given. The crystal structure has been refined to R = 0.030, space group Fm $ \bar 3 Elpasolite, K₂NaAlF₆, has been found for the first time in a pegmatite related to peralkaline foid syenite at Mt. Koashva, Khibiny alkaline pluton, Kola Peninsula, Russia, as pale pink octahedral crystals up to 2 mm in size within cavities in the natrolite core of pegmatite in association with amicite, sodalite, aegirine, pectolite, catapleiite, sitinakite, lemmleinite-K, and vinogradovite. The chemical composition determined with an electron microprobe is as follows, wt %: 31.53 K; 9.22 Na; 11.20 Al; 47.21 F; total is 99.16. The empirical formula is K_1.96Na_0.98Al_1.01F_6.05. The infrared spectrum is given. The crystal structure has been refined to R = 0.030, space group Fm m, a = 8.092 ?. The result of a special X-ray powder diffraction study confirmed the suggestion made by Morss (1974) that reflections violating space group Fm m in some published X-ray powder patterns of natural elpasolite are Kβ-lines. Original Russian Text ? I.V. Pekov, N.V. Chukanov, N.N. Kononkova, N.V. Zubkova, M.Kh. Rabadanov, D.Yu. Pushcharovsky, 2007, published in Zapiski Rossiiskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva, 2007, No. 6, pp. 76–84.     

New insight into the composition and the structure of the deep layers of the terrestrial planets

New approaches, which expand the ideas about the compositions and structures of the mantle of the Earth and terrestrial planets, are considered. New data indicate a more fractional structure of the deep layers of the Earth and the Moon. The experimental results at high pressures and temperatures allow modeling the change in the structure and properties of the most important components of the composition of the mantle and cores of the Earth and Moon, as well as the gas (Jupiter and Saturn) and ice (Uranus and Neptune) giants.     

Arcanite from Fumarole Exhalations of the Tolbachik Volcano (Kamchatka,Russia) and Its Crystal Structure

The crystal structure (R = 0.0194) of arcanite β-K₂SO₄ was studied on a single crystal from exhalations of the Arsenatnaya fumarole, Tolbachik Volcano (Kamchatka, Russia). The mineral crystallizes at a temperature of ≥350–430°C and associates with langbeinite, aphthitalite, hematite, tenorite, johillerite, and others. Arcanite is orthorhombic, Pnma, a = 7.4763(2) Å, b = 5.77262(16) Å, c = 10.0630(3) Å, V = 434.30(2) ų, Z = 4. Its structure contains isolated SO₄ tetrahedra, whereas K cations center ten- and nine-fold polyhedra.     

Redefinition of Lemanskiite: New Mineralogical Data,Crystal Structure,and Revised Formula NaCaCu5(AsO4)4Cl · 3H2O

Geology of Ore Deposits - The crystal structure of lemanskiite is determined for the first time (R = 0.019) and the mineral is redefined. Its chemical formula, crystal system, space group and...     

Yegorovite,Na<Subscript>4</Subscript>[Si<Subscript>4</Subscript>O<Subscript>8</Subscript>(OH)<Subscript>4</Subscript>]·7H<Subscript>2</Subscript>O,a new mineral from the Lovozero alkaline pluton,Kola Peninsula

A new mineral, yegorovite, has been identified in the late hydrothermal, low-temperature assemblage of the Palitra hyperalkaline pegmatite at Mt. Kedykverpakhk, Lovozero alkaline pluton, Kola Peninsula, Russia. The mineral is intimately associated with revdite and megacyclite, earlier natrosilite, microcline, and villiaumite. Yegorovite occurs as coarse, usually split prismatic (up to 0.05 × 0.15 × 1 mm) or lamellar (up to 0.05 × 0.7 × 0.8 mm) crystals. Polysynthetic twins and parallel intergrowths are typical. Mineral individuals are combined in bunches or chaotic groups (up to 2 mm); radial-lamellar clusters are less frequent. Yegorovite is colorless, transparent with vitreous luster. Cleavage is perfect parallel to (010) and (001). Fracture is splintery; crystals are readily split into acicular fragments. The Mohs hardness is ～2. Density is 1.90(2) g/cm³ (meas) and 1.92 g/cm³ (calc). Yegorovite is biaxial (?), with α = 1.474(2), β = 1.479(2), and γ = 1.482(2), 2V _meas > 70°, 2V _calc = 75°. The optical orientation is X ∧ a ～ 15°, Y = c, Z = b. The IR spectrum is given. The chemical composition determined using an electron microprobe (H₂O determined from total deficiency) is (wt %): 23.28 Na₂O, 45.45 SiO₂, 31.27 H₂O_calc; the total is 100.00. The empirical formula is Na_3.98Si_4.01O_8.02(OH)_3.98 · 7.205H₂O. The idealized formula is Na₄[Si₄O₈(OH)₄] · 7H₂O. Yegorovite is monoclinic, space group P2₁/c. The unit-cell dimensions are a = 9.874, b= 12.398, c = 14.897 Å, β = 104.68°, V = 1764.3 ų, Z = 4. The strongest reflections in the X-ray powder pattern (d, Å (I, %)([hkl]) are 7.21(70)[002], 6.21(72)[012, 020], 4.696(44)[022], 4.003(49)[211], 3.734(46)[\(\bar 2\) 13], 3.116(100)[024, 040], 2.463(38)[\(\bar 4\)02, \(\bar 2\)43]. The crystal structure was studied by single-crystal method, R _hkl = 0.0745. Yegorovite is a representative of a new structural type. Its structure consists of single chains of Si tetrahedrons [Si₄O₈(OH)₄]∞ and sixfold polyhedrons of two types: [NaO(OH)₂(H₂O)₃] and [NaO(OH)(H₂O)₄] centered by Na. The mineral was named in memory of Yu. K. Yegorov-Tismenko (1938–2007), outstanding Russian crystallographer and crystallochemist. The type material of yegorovite has been deposited at the Fersman Mineralogical Museum of Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow.     

The crystal structure of arsentsumebite, Pb2Cu[(As, S)O4]2(OH)

Summary The crystal structure of arsentsumebite, ideally, Pb₂Cu[(As, S)O₄]₂(OH), monoclinic, space group P2₁/m, a = 7.804(8), b = 5.890(6), c = 8.964(8) ?, β = 112.29(6)°, V = 381.2 ?³, Z = 2, d_calc. = 6.481 has been refined to R = 0.053 for 898 unique reflections with I> 2σ(I). Arsentsumebite belongs to the brackebuschite group of lead minerals with the general formula Pb₂ Me(XO₄)₂(Z) where Me = Cu²⁺, Mn²⁺, Zn²⁺, Fe²⁺, Fe³⁺; X = S, Cr, V, As, P; Z = OH, H₂O. Members of this group include tsumebite, Pb₂Cu(SO₄)(PO₄)(OH), vauquelinite, Pb₂Cu(CrO₄)(PO₄)(OH), brackebuschite, Pb₂ (Mn, Fe)(VO₄)₂(OH), arsenbracke buschite, Pb₂(Fe, Zn)(AsO₄)₂(OH, H₂O), fornacite, Pb₂Cu(AsO₄)(CrO₄)(OH), and feinglosite, Pb₂(Zn, Fe)[(As, S)O₄]₂(H₂O). Arsentsumebite and all other group members contain M = M–T chains where M = M means edge-sharing between MO₆ octahedra and M–T represents corner sharing between octahedra and XO₄ tetrahedra. A structural relationship exists to tsumcorite, Pb(Zn, Fe)₂(AsO₄)₂ (OH, H₂O)₂ and tsumcorite-group minerals Me(1)Me(2)₂(XO₄)₂(OH, H₂O)₂. Received June 24, 2000; revised version accepted February 8, 2001     

A geologist’s shining path

Chronicle

A geologist’s shining path     

Tectonic types of deepwater basins and structural segmentation of the North Atlantic

Typification of tectonic structures is one of the important lines of tectonic research. Recently, I have published several articles, which are concerned with deepwater oceanic basins. This paper is focused on tectonic typification of deepwater basins of the North Atlantic. They are attributed to three types: perispreading, central thalassogenic, and pericontinental. The first type comprises the Irminger, Iceland, Greenland, and Lofoten basins. The first two basins are associated with the Reykjanes Ridge and the two others, with the Mohns Ridge. The central thalassogenic type is exemplified in the Norwegian Basin, while the pericontinental type in the Rockall Trough. Two systems of basins are distinguished by morphostructural and historical-geological features: the northern system of the Oligocene-Quaternary structures and the southern system of the Paleocene-Quaternary structures. The Greenland-Faroe tectonovolcanic zone serves as their tectonic interface. In the tectonic typology of their deepwater basins, the North Atlantic is closer to the Indian than to other oceans. The present-day configuration of the northern basins is determined by neotectonics. The tectonic movements in the northern system of basins at this stage were more contrasting than in the southern system. This explains the greater depth of the former basins. The spatial position of the deepwater basins belonging to different types determines the tectonic segmentation of the oceanic bottom. The southern, central, and northern latitudinal segments correspond to different geodynamic states of the Earth’s interior.