The crystal structure of svabite, Ca5(AsO4)3F, an arsenate member of the apatite supergroup

The crystal structure of svabite, ideally Ca5(AsO4)3F, was studied using a specimen from the Jakobsberg mine, Värmland, Sweden, by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The structure was refined to R1 = 0.032 on the basis of 928 unique reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo) in the P63/m space group, with unit-cell parameters a = 9.7268(5), c = 6.9820(4) Å, V = 572.07(5) Å3. The chemical composition of the sample, determined by electron-microprobe analysis, is (in wt%, average of 10 spot analyses): SO3 0.49, P2O5 0.21, V2O5 0.04, As2O5 51.21, SiO2 0.19, CaO 39.31, MnO 0.48, SrO 0.03, PbO 5.19, Na2O 0.13, F 2.12, Cl 0.08, H2Ocalc 0.33, O (= F+Cl) -0.91, total 98.90. On the basis of 13 anions per formula unit, the empirical formula corresponds to (Ca4.66Pb0.16Mn0.04Na0.03)Σ4.89(As2.96S0.04Si0.02P0.02)Σ3.04O12 [F0.74(OH)0.24Cl0.01]. Svabite is topologically similar to the other members of the apatite supergroup: columns of face-sharing M1 polyhedra running along c are connected through TO4 tetrahedra with channels hosting M2 cations and X anions. The crystal structure of synthetic Ca5(AsO4)3F was previously reported as triclinic. On the contrary, the present refinement of the crystal structure of svabite shows no deviations from the hexagonal symmetry. An accurate knowledge of the atomic arrangement of this apatite-remediation mineral represents an improvement in our understanding of minerals able to sequester and stabilize heavy metals such as arsenic in polluted areas

Heliophyllite: a discredited mineral species identical to ecdemite

Abstract. The type material for heliophyllite, preserved in the Swedish Museum of Natural History in Stockholm, was re-investigated through a combined EPMA (electron probe X-ray microanalysis), Raman, and X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD) and single-crystal study. EPMA chemical data, together with Raman and single-crystal structural studies, point to heliophyllite being identical to ecdemite. XRPD synchrotron data highlight the presence of a minor quantity of finely admixed finnemanite in the analyzed material, explaining the presence of some additional diffraction peaks, not indexable with the ecdemite unit cell, reported in the literature. The discreditation of heliophyllite has been approved by the IMA Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names (proposal 19-H, 2019)

Crystal chemistry of spinels in the system MgAl2O4-MgV2O4-Mg2VO4

Eight spinel single-crystal samples belonging to the spinel sensu stricto-magnesiocoulsonite series (MgAl2O4-MgV2O4) were synthesized and crystal-chemically characterized by X‑ray diffraction, electron microprobe and optical absorption spectroscopy. Site populations show that the tetrahedrally coordinated site (T) is populated by Mg and minor Al for the spinel sensu stricto compositions, and only by Mg for the magnesiocoulsonite compositions, while the octahedrally coordinated site (M) is populated by Al, V3+, minor Mg, and very minor amounts of V4+. The latter occurs in appreciable amounts in the Al-free magnesium vanadate spinel, T(Mg)M(Mg0.26V3+1.48V4+0.26)O4, showing the presence of the inverse spinel VMg2O4. The studied samples are characterized by substitution of Al3+ for V3+ and (Mg2++V4+) for 2V3+ described in the system MgAl2O4-MgV2O4-VMg2O4. The present data in conjunction with data from the literature provide a basis for quantitative analyses of two solid-solution series MgAl2O4-MgV23+O4 and MgV23+O4-V4+Mg2O4. Unit-cell parameter increases with increasing V3+ along the series MgAl2O4-MgV2O4 (8.085–8.432 Å), but only slightly increases with increasing V3+ along the series VMg2O4-MgV2O4 (8.386–8.432 Å). Although a solid solution could be expected between the MgAl2O4 and VMg2O4 end-members, no evidence was found. Amounts of V4+ are nearly insignificant in all synthetic Al-bearing vanadate spinels, but are appreciable in Al-free vanadate spinel. An interesting observation of the present study is that despite the observed complete solid-solution along the MgAl2O4-MgV2O4 and MgV2O4-VMg2O4 series, the spinel structure seems to be unable to stabilize V4+ in any intermediate members on the MgAl2O4-Mg2VO4 join even at high oxygen fugacities. This behavior indicates that the accommodation of specific V-valences can be strongly influenced by crystal-structural constraints, and any evaluation of oxygen fugacities during mineral formation based exclusively on V cation valence distributions in spinel should be treated with caution. The present study underlines that the V valency distribution in spinels is not exclusively reflecting oxygen fugacities, but also depends on activities and solubilities of all chemical components in the crystallization environment

Derbylite and graeserite from the Monte Arsiccio mine (Apuan Alps, Tuscany, Italy): occurrence and crystal-chemistry

New occurrences of derbylite, Fe2+xFe3+4-2xTi4+3+xSb3+O13(OH), and graeserite, Fe2+xFe3+4-2xTi4+3+xAs3+O13(OH), have been identified in the Monte Arsiccio mine, Apuan Alps (Tuscany, Italy). Derbylite occurs as prismatic to acicular black crystals in carbonate veins.Iron and Ti are replaced by V (up to 0.29 atoms per formula unit, apfu) and minor Cr (up to0.4 apfu). Mössbauer spectroscopy confirmed the occurrence of Fe 2+ (up to 0.73 apfu), along with Fe 3+ . The Sb/(As+Sb) atomic ratio range between 0.73 and 0.82. Minor Ba and Pb (up to 0.04 apfu) occur. Derbylite is monoclinic, space group P21/m, with unit-cell parameters a 7.1690(3), b 14.3515(7), c 4.9867(2) Å, β 104.820(3)°, V 495.99(4) Å 3 . The crystal structure was refined to R1 = 0.0352 for 1955 reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo). Graeserite occurs as prismatic to tabular black crystals, usually twinned, in carbonate veins or as as porphyroblasts in schist. Graeserite in the first kind of assemblage is V-rich (up to 0.66 apfu), whereas it is V-poor in the second one (0.03 apfu). Along with minor Cr (up to 0.06 apfu), this element replaces Fe and Ti. The occurrence of Fe 2+ (up to 0.68 apfu) is confirmed by Mössbauer spectroscopy. Arsenic is dominant over Sb and detectable amounts of Ba and Pb have been measured (up to 0.27 apfu). Graeserite is monoclinic, space group C2/m. Unit-cell parameters are a 5.0225(7), b 14.3114(18), c 7.1743(9) Å, β 104.878(3)°, V 498.39(11) Å 3 and a 5.0275(4), b 14.2668(11), c 7.1663(5) Å, β 105.123(4)°, V 496.21(7) Å3 . The crystal structures of two graeserite samples were refined to R1 = 0.0399 and 0.0237 for 428 and 1081 reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo), respectively. Derbylite and graeserite have homeotypic relations. They share the same tunnel structure, characterized by an octahedral framework and cuboctahedral cavities, hosting (As/Sb)O3 groups and (Ba/Pb) atom

Gatedalite, Zr(Mn2+2Mn3+4)SiO12, a new mineral species of the braunite group from Långban, Sweden

Gatedalite, Zr(Mn2+2Mn3+4)SiO12, is a new mineral of the braunite group. It is found in hausmannite-impregnated skarn together with jacobsite, Mn-bearing calcite, tephroite, Mn-bearing phlogopite, långbanite, pinakiolite and oxyplumboroméite at the Långban Mn-Fe oxide deposit, Värmland, central Sweden. The mineral occurs as very rare, small (≤60 μm), grey, submetallic, irregularly rounded anhedral grains. Gatedalite has a calculated density of 4.783 g/cm3. It is opaque and weakly anisotropic with reflectivity in air varying between 17.1 and 20.8% in the visible spectral range. Gatedalite is tetragonal, space group I41/acd, with the unit-cell parameters a = 9.4668(6) Å, c = 18.8701(14) Å, V = 1691.1(2) Å3 and Z = 8. The crystal structure was refined to an R1 index of 5.09% using 1339 unique reflections collected with MoKα X-ray radiation. The five strongest powder X-ray diffraction lines [d in Å, (I), (hkl)] are: 2.730(100)(224), 2.367(12)(040), 1.6735(12)(440), 1.6707(29)(048) and 1.4267(16)(264). Electron microprobe analyses in combination with single-crystal structure refinement resulted in the empirical formula: (Zr4+0.49Mn2+0.40Mg0.07Ca0.02Zn0.01Ce3+0.01)Σ1.00(Mn3+4.44Fe3+0.59Mn2+0.57Mg0.41Al0.01)Σ6.02Si0.99O12. Gatedalite is a member of the braunite group (general formula AB6SiO12). It is related to braunite (Mn2+Mn3+6SiO12) through the net cation exchange (Zr4+ + Mn2+) → 2Mn3+, which results from the substitutions Zr4+ → Mn2+ at the 8-fold coordinated site (A in the general formula) coupled with a 2Mn2+ → 2Mn3+ substitution at the 6-fold coordinated sites (B in the general formula)

Nomenclature of the magnetoplumbite group

A nomenclature classification scheme has been approved by IMA-CNMNC for the magnetoplumbite group, with the general formula A[B12]O19. The classification on the highest hierarchical level is decided by the dominant metal at the 12-coordinated A sites, at present leading to the magnetoplumbite (A = Pb), hawthorneite (A = Ba) and hibonite (A = Ca) subgroups. Two species remain ungrouped. Most cations, with valencies from 2+ to 5+, show strong order over the five crystallographic B sites present in the crystal structure, which forms the basis for the definition of different mineral species. A new name, chihuahuaite, is introduced and replaces hibonite-(Fe)

Iron isotope variations in holocene sediments of the Gotland Deep, Baltic Sea

Holocene sediments from the Gotland Deep basin in the Baltic Sea were investigated for their Fe isotopic composition in order to assess the impact of changes in redox conditions and a transition from freshwater to brackish water on the isotope signature of iron. The sediments display variations in δ56Fe (differences in the 56Fe/54Fe ratio relative to the IRMM-14 standard) from −0.27 ± 0.09‰ to +0.21 ± 0.08‰. Samples deposited in a mainly limnic environment with oxygenated bottom water have a mean δ56Fe of +0.08 ± 0.13‰, which is identical to the mean Fe isotopic composition of igneous rocks and oxic marine sediments. In contrast, sediments that formed in brackish water under periodically euxinic conditions display significantly lighter Fe isotope signatures with a mean δ56Fe of −0.14 ± 0.19‰. Negative correlations of the δ56Fe values with the Fe/Al ratio and S content of the samples suggest that the isotopically light Fe in the periodically euxinic samples is associated with reactive Fe enrichments and sulfides. This is supported by analyses of pyrite separates from this unit that have a mean Fe isotopic composition of −1.06 ± 0.20‰ for δ56Fe. The supply of additional Fe with a light Fe isotopic signature can be explained with the shelf to basin Fe shuttle model. According to the Fe shuttle model, oxides and benthic ferrous Fe that is derived from dissimilatory iron reduction from shelves is transported and accumulated in euxinic basins. The data furthermore suggest that the euxinic water has a negative dissolved δ56Fe value of about −1.4‰ to −0.9‰. If negative Fe isotopic signatures are characteristic for euxinic sediment formation, widespread euxinia in the past might have shifted the Fe isotopic composition of dissolved Fe in the ocean towards more positive δ56Fe values