Gheorghe Damian

Graţianite, MnBi2S4, a new mineral from the Bǎi̧a Bihor skarn, Romania

Abstract The new mineral graţianite, MnBi2S4, is described from the Bǎiţa Bihor skarn deposit, Bihor County, Romania. Graţianite occurs as thin lamellae, intimately intergrown with cosalite and bismuthinite, or as flower-shaped blebs within chalcopyrite, where it is associated with cosalite and tetradymite. Graţianite displays weak to modest bireflectance in air and oil, respectively, and strong anisotropy. The mean empirical composition based on 20 electron probe microanalyses is: (Mn0.541Fe0.319Pb0.070Cu0.040 Cd0.009 Ag0.001)S0.980(Bi1.975Sb0.018)S1.993(S4.008Se0.012Te0.007)S4.027, corresponding to the ideal formula MnBi2S4. Graţianite crystallizes in the monoclinic system (space group C2/m). Single-crystal X-ray studies of material extracted by the focused ion beam-scanning electron microscopy (FIB-SEM) technique, and carried out on the MX2 macromolecular beamline of the Australian Synchrotron determined the following cell dimensions: a = 12.6774(25) Å, b = 3.9140(8) Å, c = 14.7581(30) Å, b = 115.31(3)°, V = 662.0(2) Å3, and Z = 4. The six strongest X-ray reflections and their relative intensities are: 3.448 Å (100), 2.731 Å (77), 2.855 Å (64), 3.637 Å (55), 3.644 Å (54), and 3.062 Å (51). Graţianite is the monoclinic analog of berthierite (FeSb2S4), garavellite [Fe(Bi,Sb)2S4] and clerite [Mn(Sb,As)2S4] (Nickel-Strunz class 02.HA.20). It is isostructural with synthetic sulfides and selenides in the MnBi2S4-MnSb2S4 and MnBi2Se4-MnSb2Se4 series, and with grumiplucite (HgBi2S4) and kudriavite, [(Cd,Pb)Bi2S4], 3P members of the pavonite homologous series. The mineral is named for Graţian Cioflica (1927-2002), formerly Professor in Mineralogy and Ore Deposits at the University of Bucharest, Romania. The Băiţa Bihor skarn, like others within the same belt, is geochemically complex. The availability of Cu, Zn, and Pb, but also Ag, Bi, Mo, and B, as well as a wide range of minor elements, has created an environment allowing for crystallization of an unusually diverse range of discrete minerals. Graţianite is part of the peculiar associations of Bi-Pb-sulfosalts and Bi-chalcogenides that are genetically related to Au-enrichment. This study demonstrates the versatility of FIB-SEM techniques for in situ extraction of small volumes of well-characterized material, coupled with single-crystal X-ray analysis using synchrotron radiation, for the characterization of new minerals

Erosion Assessment Modeling Using the Sateec Gis Model on the Prislop Catchment

Abstract The Sediment Assessment Tool for Effective Erosion Control (SATEEC) acts as an extension for ArcView GIS 3, with easy to use commands. The erosion assessment is divided into two modules that consist of Universal Soil Loss Equation (USLE) for sheet/rill erosion and the nLS/USPED modeling for gully head erosion. The SATEEC erosion modules can be successfully implemented for areas where sheet, rill and gully erosion occurs, such as the Prislop Catchment. The enhanced SATEEC system does not require experienced GIS users to operate the system therefore it is suitable for local authorities and/or students not so familiar with erosion modeling.

Unusual acid melts in the area of the unique Rosia Montana gold deposit, Apuseni Mountains, Romania: Evidence from inclusions in quartz

Crystalline and melt inclusions were studied in large (up to 2 cm across) dipyramidal quartz phenocrysts from Miocene dacites in the area of the Rosia Montana Au-Ag deposit in Romania. Data were obtained on the homogenization of fluid inclusions and the composition of crystalline inclusions and glasses in more than 40 melt inclusions, which were analyzed on a electron microprobe. The minerals identified in the crystalline inclusions are plagioclase (An 51–62), orthoclase, micas (biotite and phengite), zircon, magnetite (TiO2 = 2.8 wt %), and Fe sulfide. Two types of the melts were distinguished when studying the glasses of the melt inclusions. Type 1 of the melts is unusual in composition. The average composition of 20 inclusions is as follows (wt %): 76.1 SiO2, 0.39 TiO2, 6.23 Al2O3, 4.61 FeO, 0.09 MnO, 1.64 MgO, 3.04 CaO, 2.79 Na2O, 3.79 K2O (Na2O/K2O = 0.74), 0.07 P2O5, 0.02 Cl. The composition of type 2 of the melts is typical of acid magmas. The average of 23 inclusion analyses is (wt %) 79.3 SiO2, 0.16 TiO2, 10.27 Al2O3, 0.63 FeO, 0.08 MnO, 0.29 MgO, 1.83 CaO, 3.56 Na2O, 2.79 K2O (Na2O/K2O = 1.28), 0.08 P2O5, 0.05 Cl. The compositions of these melts significantly differ in concentrations of Ti, Al, Fe, Mg, Ca, Na, and K. The high analytical totals of the analyses (close to 100 wt %, more specifically 98.9 and 99.0 wt %, respectively) testify that the melts were generally poor in water. Two inclusions of type 1 and two inclusions of type 2 were analyzed on an ion probe, and their analyses show remarkable differences in the concentrations of certain trace elements. These concentrations (in ppm) are for the melts of types 1 and 2, respectively, as follows: 10.0 and 0.69 for Be, 29.3 and 5.7 for B, 6.4 and 1.4 for Cr, 146 and 6.9 for V, 74 and 18 for Cu, 92 and 29 for Rb, 45 and 15 for Zr, 1.7 and 0.6 for Hf, 10.3 and 2.3 for Pb, and 52 and 1.3 for U. The Th/U ratio of these two melt types are also notably different: 0.04 and 0.19 for type 1 and 2.0 and 2.9 for type 2. These data led us to conclude that the magmatic melts were derived from two different sources. Our data on the melts of type 1 testify that the magmatic chamber was contaminated with compositionally unusual crustal rocks (perhaps, sedimentary, metamorphic, or hydrothermal rocks enriched in Si, Fe, Mg, U, and some other components). This can explain the ore-forming specifics of magmatic chambers in the area.