Lead-antimony sulfosalts from Tuscany (Italy). XVIII. New data on the crystal-chemistry of boscardinite

Boscardinite, ideally TlPb4(Sb7As2)Σ9S18, has been described recently as a new homeotypic derivative of baumhauerite, found at Monte Arsiccio mine, Apuan Alps, Tuscany, Italy. New findings of boscardinite in different mineral associations of this deposit have allowed the collection of new crystal-chemical data. Electron-microprobe analysis of the crystal used for the single-crystal X-ray diffraction study gave (in wt.%): Ag 1.81(5), Tl 12.60(21), Pb 17.99(12), Hg 0.14(5), As 9.36(12), Sb 33.60(27), S 23.41(30), Cl 0.06(1), total 98.97(100). On the basis of ΣMe = 14 apfu, it corresponds to Ag0.42Tl1.52Pb2.14Hg0.02 (Sb6.82As3.08)Σ9.90S18.04Cl0.04. With respect to the type specimen, these new findings are characterized by a strong Pb depletion, coupled with higher Tl contents, and a significant As enrichment. The single crystal X-ray diffraction study of this (Tl,As)-enriched boscardinite confirms the structural features described for the type sample. The unit-cell parameters are a = 8.1017(4), b = 8.6597(4), c = 22.5574(10) Å, α = 90.666(2), β = 97.242(2), γ = 90.850(2)°, V = 1569.63(12) Å3, space group Pī. The crystal structure was refined down to R1 = 0.0285 on the basis of 6582 reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo). Arsenic is dominant in three MeS3 sites, compared to one in type boscardinite. The main As-enrichment is observed in the sartorite-type sub-layer. Owing to this chemical peculiarity, (Tl,As)-rich boscardinite shows alternation, along b, of Sb-rich sites and As-rich sites; this feature represents the main factor controlling the 8 Å superstructure. The chemical variability of boscardinite is discussed; the Ag increase observed here gets closer to stoichiometric AgTl-Pb4(Sb14As6)Σ20S36 (Z = 1), against possible extension up to AgTl2Pb6(Sb15As4)Σ19S36 for type boscardinite

Le musée exploré. L’écriture de terrain au service de la découverte culturelle

Observer-analyser-écrire permet de porter l’attention et s’installer dans le présent pour imaginer-interpréter-comprendre le lieu, les personnes y travaillant ou visitant et les objets. Le responsable du Centre de ressources Ville de Nantes dévoile les principes et les réalités de cette approche sensible et partagée, à partir du projet mené avec le Muséum de Nantes

Pseudo-cubic trigonal pyrite from the Madan Pb–Zn ore field (Rhodope Massif, Bulgaria): morphology and twinning

A new occurrence of pyrite crystals with rhombohedral habit, up to several centimeters in length, is described from the Madan Pb–Zn ore field (Rhodope Massif, south Bulgaria), where it constitutes a late pyrite generation. As observed in the past in other deposits, the ideal rhombohedron is derived from the pyritohedron by suppression of half of its faces (six “polar faces”) around a ternary axis. In studied crystals, together with six main “equatorial faces”, additional minor faces correspond to cube faces as well as polar faces. Such a dissymmetry indicates that the crystallographic point group of these crystals is 3‾, a subgroup of the eigensymmetry 3‾2/m of a rhombohedron taken as geometric face form. Twinning by metric merohedry confirms such a symmetry decrease and permits the definition of this type of pyrite as a dimorph of cubic pyrite, i.e., pseudo-cubic trigonal pyrite (pyrite-R). Twin operations belong to the set of symmetry operations absent in point group 3‾ relative to pyrite symmetry m3‾: reflection about the {100} plane or two-fold rotation about the &lt;100&gt; direction. Four twin types have been distinguished (name, chromatic point group): three contact twins (reflection, m′; rotation, 2′; trapezoidal, (m(2)m(2)2(2))(4)), as well as one penetration twin (crossed, 2′/m′). Composition planes always correspond to {100}, but there are two types of twin interfaces. More complex twinned samples may develop erratically during crystal growth. Other twin variations as well as genetic aspects of such a type of pyrite are discussed.</p

Lead-antimony sulfosalts from Tuscany (Italy). XVII. Meerschautite, (Ag,Cu)5.5Pb42.4(Sb,As)45.1S112O0.8, a new expanded derivative of owyheeite from the Pollone mine, Valdicastello Carducci: occurrence and crystal structure

The new mineral species meerschautite, ideally (Ag,Cu)5.5Pb42.4(Sb,As)45.1S112O0.8, has been discovered in the baryte + pyrite ± (Pb-Zn-Ag) deposit of the Pollone mine, near Valdicastello Carducci, Apuan Alps, Tuscany, Italy. It occurs as black prismatic crystals, striated along [100], up to 2 mm long and 0.5 mm thick, associated with baryte, boulangerite, pyrite, quartz and sphalerite. Meerschautite is opaque with a metallic lustre and shows a black streak. In reflected light, meerschautite is white in colour, weakly bireflectant and non pleochroic. With crossed polars, it is distinctly anisotropic with grey to dark grey rotation tints with brownish and greenish shades. Reflectance percentages for COM wavelengths [λ (nm), R air (%)] are: 470: 39.7/41.4; 546: 38.3/39.9; 589: 37.4/39.0; 650: 35.8/37.2. Electron-microprobe data collected on two different samples gave (wt.%): Cu 0.22, Ag 3.15, Tl 0.07, Pb 48.54, Sb 25.41, As 2.82, S 19.74, Se 0.14, Cl 0.03, sum 100.12 (# 1) and Cu 0.22, Ag 3.04, Tl 0.13, Pb 48.53, Sb 25.40, As 2.93, Bi 0.06, S 19.82, Se 0.13, Cl 0.05, sum 100.31 (# 2). On the basis of 112 anions (S+Se+Cl) per formula unit, the empirical formulae are (Ag5.29Cu0.63)∑5.92(Pb42.43Tl0.06)∑42.49(Sb37.80As6.82)∑44.62(S111.53Se0.32Cl0.15)∑112 (# 1) and (Ag5.08Cu0.62)∑5.70(Pb42.22Tl0.12)∑42.34(Sb37.61As7.07Bi0.05)∑44.73(S111.45Se0.30Cl0.25)∑112 (# 2). Main diffraction lines, corresponding to multiple hkl indices, are [d in Å (relative visual intensity)]: 3.762 (m), 3.663 (s), 3.334 (vs), 3.244 (s), 3.016 (m), 2.968 (m), 2.902 (m), 2.072 (ms). The crystal structure study gave a monoclinic unit cell, space group P21, with a = 8.2393(1), b = 43.6015(13), c = 28.3688(8) Å, β = 94.128(2)°, V = 10164.93(2) Å3, Z = 2. The crystal structure has been solved and refined to a final R 1 = 0.122 on the basis of 49,037 observed reflections. The structure is based on two building blocks, both formed by a complex column with a pseudotrigonal Pb6S12 core and two arms of unequal lengths (short and long arms, respectively). Two different kinds of short arms occur in meerschautite. One is an Ag-rich arm, whereas the other shows localized Sb–O–Sb bonds. Meerschautite is an expanded derivative of owyheeite and has quasi-homeotypic relationships with sterryite and parasterryite.© The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2017. The attached document is the authors’ preproof accepted version of the journal article, which is made available under a Creative Commons CC-BY-NC-ND license: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/. You are advised to consult the publisher’s version if you wish to cite from it

Lead-antimony sulfosalts from Tuscany (Italy). XVI. Carducciite, (AgSb)Pb6(As,Sb)8S20, a new Sb-rich derivative of rathite from the Pollone mine, Valdicastello Carducci: Occurrence and crystal structure

The new mineral species carducciite, (AgSb)Pb6(As,Sb)8S20, has been discovered in the baryte-pyrite-(Pb-Ag-Zn) deposit of the Pollone mine, near Valdicastello Carducci, Apuan Alps, Tuscany, Italy. It occurs as black metallic prismatic crystals, up to 0.5 mm long, associated with pyrite and sterryite. Its Vickers hardness (VHN10) is 61 kg/mm2 (range: 52-66), corresponding to a Mohs hardness of ∼2-3. In reflected light, carducciite is dark grey in colour, moderately bireflectant; internal reflections are very weak and deep red in colour. Reflectance percentages for the four COM wavelengths [R min, Rmax (%) (λ)] are: 35.8, 40.8 (471.1 nm), 33.7, 39.0 (548.3 nm), 32.7, 37.6 (586.6 nm) and 30.4, 35.1 (652.3 nm). Electron microprobe analysis gives (wt.%-mean of six analyses): Ag 3.55(12), Tl 0.13(3), Pb 41.90(42), Sb 17.79(19), As 12.41(14), S 22.10(17), total 97.9(6). On the basis of ∑Me = 16 a.p.f.u., the chemical formula is Ag0.96Tl0.02Pb5.91As4.84Sb4.27S20.14. The main diffraction lines, corresponding to multiple hkl indices, are (relative visual intensity): 3.689 (s), 3.416 (s), 3.125 (s), 2.989 (s), 2.894 (s), 2.753 (vs), 2.250 (s). The crystal-structure study gives a monoclinic unit cell, space group P21/c, with a 8.4909(3), b 8.0227(3), c 25.3957(9) Å, β 100.382(2)°, V 1701.63(11) Å3, Z = 2. The crystal structure has been solved and refined to a final R 1 = 0.063 on the basis of 4137 observed reflections. It can be described within the framework of the sartorite homologous series, as formed by chemically twinned layers of the dufrenoysite type. The simplified idealized structural formula, based on 20 sulfur atoms, can ideally be written as (AgSb)Pb6(As,Sb)∑=8S20. Carducciite is an (Ag,Sb)-rich homeotype of dufrenoysite, stabilized by the complete coupled substitution 2 Pb2+ = Ag+ + Sb3+ on a specific site of the crystal structure. Together with barikaite, it belongs to the rathite sub-group of P 21/c homeotypes of dufrenoysite, of which the crystal chemistry is discussed. The distribution of Ag, coupled with As or Sb on specific sites, appears to be the main criterion for the distinction between the three species of this sub-group

Could incommensurability in sulfosalts be more common than thought? the case of meneghinite, CuPb13Sb7S24

The structure of meneghinite (CuPb13Sb7S24), from the Bottino mine in the Apuan Alps (Italy), has been solved and refined as an incommensurate structure in four-dimensional superspace. The structure is orthorhombic, superspace group Pnma(0β0)00s, cell parameters a = 24.0549 (3), b = 4.1291 (6), c = 11.3361 (16) Ã\u85, modulation vector q = 0.5433 (4)bâ\u88\u97. The structure was refined from 6604 reflections to a final R = 0.0479. The model includes modulation of both atomic positions and displacement parameters, as well as occupational waves. The driving forces stabilizing the modulated structure of meneghinite are linked to the occupation modulation of Cu and some of the Pb atoms. As a consequence of the Cu/[] and Pb/Sb modulations, three-to sevenfold coordinations of the M cations (Pb/Sb) occur in different parts of the structure. The almost bimodal distribution of the occupation of Cu/[] and Pb/Sb at M5 conforms with the coupled substitution Sb3+ + [] â\u86\u92 Pb2+ + Cu+, thus corroborating the hypothesis deduced previously for the incorporation of copper in the meneghinite structure. The very small departure (~0.54 versus 0.50) from the commensurate value of the modulation raises the question of whether other sulfosalts considered superstructures have been properly described, and, in this light, if incommensurate modulation in sulfosalts could be much more common than thought.The crystal structure of the mineral meneghinite, CuPb13Sb7S24, has been solved and refined as an incommensurate structure from X-ray single-crystal diffraction data in four-dimensional superspace. The very small departure from the commensurate value of the modulation raises the question of whether incommensurability in sulfosalts could be much more frequent than previously thought

Merelaniite, Mo4Pb4VSbS15, a New Molybdenum-Essential Member of the Cylindrite Group, from the Merelani Tanzanite Deposit, Lelatema Mountains, Manyara Region, Tanzania

This is an open access publicationThis is an open access article distributed under the Creative Commons Attribution License which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. (CC BY 4.0). The attached file is the published version of the article.© 2016 The Author(s). Published by Taylor & Francis. This is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/Licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. The attached file is the published version of the article

Palaeozoic oolitic ironstone of the French Armorican Massif: a chemical and structural trap for orogenic base metal-As-Sb-Au mineralization during Hercynian strike-slip deformation.

In the Saint-Aubin-des-Châteaux quarry (Armorican Hercynian belt, western France), an epigenetic hydrothermal alteration affects an oolitic ironstone layer intercalated within the Lower Ordovician Grès armoricain Formation. The hydrothermal overprint produced pervasive and massive sulphidation with stratoid pyritized lenticular bodies within the oolitic ironstone layer. These sulphide lenses are spatially associated with strike-slip faults and extend laterally from them. Following the massive sulphidation stage (Fe-As, stage 1), subsequent fracturing allowed the deposition of base metals (stage 2) and Pb-Sb-Au (stage 3) parageneses in veins. The dominant brittle structures are vertical extension veins, conjugate shear veins and strike-slip faults of various orders. All these structures are filled with the same paragenetic sequence. Deformation analysis allows the identification of structures that developed incrementally via right lateral simple shear compatible with bulk strain affecting the Central Armorican Domain. Each increment corresponds to a fracture set filled with specific parageneses. Successive hydrothermal pulses reflect clockwise rotation of the horizontal shortening direction. Geothermometry on chlorite and arsenopyrite shows an input of hot hydrothermal fluids (maximum of 390-350°C) during the main sulphide stage 1. The subsequent stages present a marked temperature drop (300-275°C). Lead isotopes suggest that the lead source is similar for all hydrothermal stages and corresponds to the underlying Neo-proterozoic basement. Lead isotope data, relative ages of deformation and comparison with neighbouring deposits suggest large-scale fluid pulses occurred during the whole Hercynian orogeny rather than pulses restricted to the late Hercynian period. The vicinity of the Hercynian internal domain appears as a key-control for deformation and fluid flow in the oolitic ironstones which acted as a chemical and structural trap for the hydrothermal fluids. The epigenetic mineralization of Saint-Aubin-des-Châteaux appears to be very similar to epigenetic sulphidation described in BIF-hosted gold deposits

Oscarkempffite, Ag10Pb4(Sb17Bi9)∑ 26S48, a new Sb-Bi member of the lillianite homologous series

Published by the Mineralogical Society. This is a 'preproof' accepted article for Mineralogical Magazine. This version may be subject to change during the production process.10.1180/minmag.2016.080.024. You are advised to consult the publisher's version if you wish to cite from it