Scaling the state: Egypt in the third millennium BC

Discussions of the early Egyptian state suffer from a weak consideration of scale. Egyptian archaeologists derive their arguments primarily from evidence of court cemeteries, elite tombs, and monuments of royal display. The material informs the analysis of kingship, early writing, and administration but it remains obscure how the core of the early Pharaonic state was embedded in the territory it claimed to administer. This paper suggests that the relationship between centre and hinterland is key for scaling the Egyptian state of the Old Kingdom (ca. 2,700-2,200 BC). Initially, central administration imagines Egypt using models at variance with provincial practice. The end of the Old Kingdom demarcates not the collapse, but the beginning of a large-scale state characterized by the coalescence of central and local models

The system Pd-Ag-S: Phase relations and mineral assemblages

© 2020 Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland. Phase equilibria in the system Pd-Ag-S were studied using the silica-glass tube method at 400°C and 550°C. In the system we synthesised three ternary phases: Coldwellite (Pd3Ag2S), kravtsovite (PdAg2S) and a new phase Pd13Ag3S4. At 400°C, coldwellite forms a stable association with vysotskite (PdS) and vasilite (Pd16S7); vysotskite and kravtsovite; phase Pd4S and a Ag-Pd alloy; it also coexists with a new phase Pd13Ag3S4. Kravtsovite is stable up to 507°C; the presence of kravtsovite in the mineral assemblage reflects its formation below this temperature. The occurrence of coldwellite, vysotskite and Ag2S together in equilibrium reflects the formation of this mineral assemblage above this temperature (507°C). Coldwellite is stable up at 940°. Mineral assemblages defined in this study can be expected in Cu-Ni-PGE mineral deposits, associated with mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks, in particular in mineralisations with known silver-palladium sulfides

Crystal structure and transport properties of CuPdBiS<inf>3</inf>

© 2019 Elsevier B.V. The CuPdBiS3 compound was synthetized from individual elements by solid-state chemical reactions and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It crystalizes in the (Bi,Sb)CuNiS3 structure-type with the P212121 space group, unit-cell parameters a = 4.8847(8), b = 7.5885(11), c = 12.8646(10), V = 476.86(11) and Z = 4. The structure of CuPdBiS3 compound forms a three-dimensional framework composed of corner-sharing [CuS4] deformed tetrahedra and [PdS4] squares. The Bi atoms form [BiS4] pyramids and fill the channels running along the a-axis. There are no short Pd-Pd, Cu-Pd or Cu-Cu interactions (<3.4 Å). Arrhenius behaviour of the electrical conductivity was observed. Considering high free carrier concertation and very low Hall mobility, charge transport is very likely realized via thermally-activated hopping processes. Despite high values of the Seebeck coefficient and rather low thermal conductivity values, the thermoelectric figure-of-merit reaches its maximal value ZT = 0.023 at 675 K only

Crystal structure and transport properties of CuPdBiS<inf>3</inf>

© 2019 Elsevier B.V. The CuPdBiS3 compound was synthetized from individual elements by solid-state chemical reactions and structurally characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction. It crystalizes in the (Bi,Sb)CuNiS3 structure-type with the P212121 space group, unit-cell parameters a = 4.8847(8), b = 7.5885(11), c = 12.8646(10), V = 476.86(11) and Z = 4. The structure of CuPdBiS3 compound forms a three-dimensional framework composed of corner-sharing [CuS4] deformed tetrahedra and [PdS4] squares. The Bi atoms form [BiS4] pyramids and fill the channels running along the a-axis. There are no short Pd-Pd, Cu-Pd or Cu-Cu interactions (<3.4 Å). Arrhenius behaviour of the electrical conductivity was observed. Considering high free carrier concertation and very low Hall mobility, charge transport is very likely realized via thermally-activated hopping processes. Despite high values of the Seebeck coefficient and rather low thermal conductivity values, the thermoelectric figure-of-merit reaches its maximal value ZT = 0.023 at 675 K only

Andrieslombaardite, RhSbS, a new platinum-group mineral from the platiniferous Onverwacht Pipe, Republic of South Africa

A hundred years after the discovery of the Merensky Reef in 1924, it is appropriate to present the new mineral andrieslombaardite in honour of Andries Frederik Lombaard who was instrumental in its discovery. Andrieslombaardite, RhSbS, was first described as an unknown mineral from placer deposits associated with the Tulameen Alaskan-Uralian type complex, British Colombia, Canada (Raicevic and Cabri, 1976) but has since been reported from several other deposits including the platiniferous Driekop, Mooihoek, and Onverwacht pipes in the eastern Bushveld Complex, South Africa. The mineral and the name were approved by the Commission on New Minerals Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA no. 2022-076) based on data in the co-type samples from Onverwacht and a co-type sample from the Yubdo stream, Birbir River, Ethiopia. Andrieslombaardite in the Onverwacht sample is a single 8 x 20 μm grain attached to laurite in a matrix of altered silicate and Fe-oxyhydroxide minerals. In the Yubdo samples, there are many grains of pale brownish gray andrieslombaardite up to 25 x 55 μm in size, included in Pt-Fe alloys, some associated with erlichmanite, and others attached to bornite and chalcopyrite. The reflectance values (R%) measured in air and in oil at the COM wavelengths are 48.3 and 33.0 (470 nm), 49.3 and 34.0 (546 nm), 51.0 and 35.9 (589 nm), and 51.8 and 36.7 (650 nm). The colour values x, y, Y, λd, and Pe in air are 0.317, 0.322, 50.3, 580, and 3.2, and in oil are 0.319, 0.324, 35.6, 579, and 4.5. The composition of andrieslombaardite is ideally RhSbS, but it contains variable amounts of Fe, Pt, Pd, and Ir that may substitute for Rh. The mineral is cubic with unit-cell dimensions of a = 6.0278(4) Å, V = 219.01(6) Å3 and Z = 4. It was synthesised at 400 and 550°C using stoichiometric elemental amounts. It is a member of the cobaltite group. The mineralisation of the intrusive dunite pipes was probably introduced at high temperatures, under magmatic conditions. The primary assemblages were to a certain degree overprinted and redistributed by low-temperature hydrothermal fluids. The Pt-Fe alloys from Yubdo containing PGM inclusions such as andrieslombaardite in the Yubdo-Alaskan-type complex were formed at some post-magmatic stage owing to PGE remobilisation during hydrothermal or metamorphic episodes

Kitagohaite, Pt7Cu, a new mineral from the Lubero region, North Kivu, democratic Republic of the Congo

Kitagohaite, ideally Pt7Cu, is a new mineral from the Lubero region of North Kivu, emocratic Republic of the Congo. The mineral occurs as alluvial grains that were recovered together with other Pt-rich intermetallic compounds and Au. Kitagohaite is opaque, greyish white and malleable and has a metallic lustre and a grey streak. In reflected light, kitagohaite is white and isotropic. The crystal structure of kitagohaite is cubic, space group Fm3̄m, of the Ca7Ge type, with a = 7.7891(3) Å, V = 472.57(5) Å 3 and Z = 4. The strongest diffraction lines [d in Å (I)(hkl)] are: 2.246 (100)(222), 1.948(8)(004), 1.377 (77)(044), 1.174(27)(622), 1.123 (31)(444) and 0.893 (13)(662). The Vickers hardness is 217 kg mm-2 (VHN100), which is equivalent to a Mohs hardness of 31/2 and the calculated density is 19.958(2) g cm-3. Electron-microprobe analyses gave a mean value (n = 13) of 95.49 wt.% Pt and 4.78 wt.% Cu, which corresponds to Pt6.93Cu1.07 on the basis of eight atoms. The new mineral is named for the Kitagoha river, in the Lubero region. ©2014 The Mineralogical Society.SCOPUS: ar.jinfo:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Nipalarsite, Ni<inf>8</inf>Pd<inf>3</inf>As<inf>4</inf>, a new platinum-group mineral from the Monchetundra Intrusion, Kola Peninsula, Russia

© Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2019. Nipalarsite, Ni8Pd3As4, is a new platinum-group mineral discovered in the sulfide-bearing orthopyroxenite of the Monchetundra layered intrusion, Kola Peninsula, Russia (67°52′22″N, 32°47′60″E). Nipalarsite forms anhedral grains (5-80 m in size) in intergrowths with sperrylite, kotulskite, hollingworthite, isomertieite, menshikovite, palarstanide, nielsenite and monchetundtraite enclosed in pentlandite, anthophyllite, actinolite and chlorite. Nipalarsite is brittle, has a metallic lustre and a grey streak. In plane-polarised light, nipalarsite is light grey with a blue tinge. Reflectance values in air (in %) are: 46.06 at 470 nm, 48.74 at 546 nm, 50.64 at 589 nm and 54.12 at 650 nm. Values of VHN20 fall between 400.5 and 449.2 kg.mm-2, with a mean value of 429.9 kg.mm-2, corresponding to a Mohs hardness of ~4. The average result of 27 electron microprobe wavelength dispersive spectroscopy analyses of nipalarsite is (wt.%): Ni 44.011, Pd 28.74, Fe0.32, Cu 0.85, Pt 0.01, Au 0.05, As 25.42, Sb 0.05, Te 0.39, total 99.85. The empirical formula (normalised to 15 atoms per formula unit) is: (Ni8.10Fe0.06)Σ8.16(Pd2.94Cu0.18)Σ3.12(As3.68Te0.03)Σ3.71 or, ideally, Ni8Pd3As4. Nipalarsite is cubic, space group Fmm, with a = 11.4428(9) Å, V = 1498.3(4) Å3 and Z = 8. The strongest lines in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern of synthetic Ni8Pd3As4 [d, Å (I) (hkl)] are: 2.859(10)(004), 2.623(6)(313), 2.557(6)(024), 2.334(11)(224), 2.201(35)(115,333), 2.021(100)(044), 1.906(8)(006,244) and 1.429(7)(008). The crystal structure was solved and refined from the single-crystal X-ray diffraction data of synthetic Ni8Pd3As4. The relation between natural and synthetic nipalarsite is illustrated by an electron back-scattered diffraction study of natural nipalarsite. The density calculated on the basis of the empirical formula of nipalarsite is 9.60 g.cm-3. The mineral name corresponds to the three main elements: Ni, Pd and As

Nipalarsite, Ni<inf>8</inf>Pd<inf>3</inf>As<inf>4</inf>, a new platinum-group mineral from the Monchetundra Intrusion, Kola Peninsula, Russia

© Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2019. Nipalarsite, Ni8Pd3As4, is a new platinum-group mineral discovered in the sulfide-bearing orthopyroxenite of the Monchetundra layered intrusion, Kola Peninsula, Russia (67°52′22″N, 32°47′60″E). Nipalarsite forms anhedral grains (5-80 m in size) in intergrowths with sperrylite, kotulskite, hollingworthite, isomertieite, menshikovite, palarstanide, nielsenite and monchetundtraite enclosed in pentlandite, anthophyllite, actinolite and chlorite. Nipalarsite is brittle, has a metallic lustre and a grey streak. In plane-polarised light, nipalarsite is light grey with a blue tinge. Reflectance values in air (in %) are: 46.06 at 470 nm, 48.74 at 546 nm, 50.64 at 589 nm and 54.12 at 650 nm. Values of VHN20 fall between 400.5 and 449.2 kg.mm-2, with a mean value of 429.9 kg.mm-2, corresponding to a Mohs hardness of ~4. The average result of 27 electron microprobe wavelength dispersive spectroscopy analyses of nipalarsite is (wt.%): Ni 44.011, Pd 28.74, Fe0.32, Cu 0.85, Pt 0.01, Au 0.05, As 25.42, Sb 0.05, Te 0.39, total 99.85. The empirical formula (normalised to 15 atoms per formula unit) is: (Ni8.10Fe0.06)Σ8.16(Pd2.94Cu0.18)Σ3.12(As3.68Te0.03)Σ3.71 or, ideally, Ni8Pd3As4. Nipalarsite is cubic, space group Fmm, with a = 11.4428(9) Å, V = 1498.3(4) Å3 and Z = 8. The strongest lines in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern of synthetic Ni8Pd3As4 [d, Å (I) (hkl)] are: 2.859(10)(004), 2.623(6)(313), 2.557(6)(024), 2.334(11)(224), 2.201(35)(115,333), 2.021(100)(044), 1.906(8)(006,244) and 1.429(7)(008). The crystal structure was solved and refined from the single-crystal X-ray diffraction data of synthetic Ni8Pd3As4. The relation between natural and synthetic nipalarsite is illustrated by an electron back-scattered diffraction study of natural nipalarsite. The density calculated on the basis of the empirical formula of nipalarsite is 9.60 g.cm-3. The mineral name corresponds to the three main elements: Ni, Pd and As