Reinvestigation of the crystal structure of lautite, CuAsS

The crystal structure of the mineral lautite (copper arsenic sulfide), CuAsS, previously described as either centrosymmetric [Pnma; Marumo & Nowacki (1964 ▶). Schweiz. Miner. Petro. Mitt. 44, 439–454] or noncentrosymmetric [Pna21; Craig & Stephenson (1965 ▶). Acta Cryst. 19, 543–547], was reinvestigated by means of single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The centrosymmetric structural model reported previously was confirmed, although with improved precision for the atomic coordinates and inter­atomic distances. Lautite shows a sphalerite-derivative structure with a linking of Cu[AsS3], As[CuAs2S] and S[Cu3As] tetra­hedra. All atoms lie on special positions (Wyckoff position 4c, site symmetry m)

Manganiakasakaite-(La) and Ferriakasakaite-(Ce), Two New Epidote Supergroup Minerals from Piedmont, Italy

Two new monoclinic (P21/m) epidote supergroup minerals manganiakasakaite-(La) and ferriakasakaite-(Ce) were found in the small Mn ore deposit of Monte Maniglia, Bellino, Varaita Valley, Cuneo Province, Piedmont, Italy. Manganiakasakaite-(La) occurs as subhedral grains embedded in pyroxmangite. Its empirical formula is A(1)(Ca0.62Mn2+0.38) A(2)(La0.52Nd0.08Pr0.07Ce0.07Y0.01Ca0.25) M(1)(Mn3+0.52Fe3+0.28Al0.18V3+0.01) M(2)Al1.00 M(3)(Mn2+0.60Mn3+0.27Mg0.13) T(1−3)(Si2.99Al0.01) O12 (OH), corresponding to the end-member formula CaLaMn3+AlMn2+(Si2O7)(SiO4)O(OH). Unit-cell parameters are a = 8.9057(10), b = 5.7294(6), c = 10.1134(11) Å, β = 113.713(5)°, V = 472.46(9) Å3, Z = 2. The crystal structure of manganiakasakaite-(La) was refined to a final R1 = 0.0262 for 2119 reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo) and 125 refined parameters. Ferriakasakaite-(Ce) occurs as small homogeneous domains within strongly inhomogeneous prismatic crystals, where other epidote supergroup minerals coexist [manganiandrosite-(Ce), “androsite-(Ce)”, and epidote]. Associated minerals are calcite and hematite. Its empirical formula is A(1)(Ca0.64Mn2+0.36) A(2)(Ce0.37La0.17Nd0.06Pr0.03Ca0.35□0.02) M(1)(Fe3+0.61Al0.39) M(2)Al1.00 M(3)(Mn2+0.64Mn3+0.33Fe3+0.02Mg0.01) T(1−3)Si3.01 O12 (OH), the end-member formula being CaCeFe3+AlMn2+(Si2O7)(SiO4)O(OH). Unit-cell parameters are a = 8.9033(3), b = 5.7066(2), c = 10.1363(3) Å, β = 114.222(2)°, V = 469.66(3) Å3, Z = 2. The crystal structure of ferriakasakaite-(Ce) was refined to a final R1 = 0.0196 for 1960 unique reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo) and 124 refined parameters