Krystian Prusik

Elbrusite-(Zr)—A new uranian garnet from the Upper Chegem caldera, Kabardino-Balkaria, Northern Caucasus, Russia

Abstract Elbrusite-(Zr) Ca3(U6+Zr)(Fe3+2 Fe2+)O12, a new uranian garnet (Ia3̅d, a ≈ 12.55 Å, V ≈ 1977 Å3, Z = 8), within the complex solid solution elbrusite-kimzeyite-toturite Ca3(U,Zr,Sn,Ti,Sb,Sc,Nb...)2(Fe,Al,Si,Ti)3O12 was discovered in spurrite zones in skarn xenoliths of the Upper Chegem caldera. The empirical formula of holotype elbrusite-(Zr) with 25.14 wt% UO3 is (Ca3.040Th0.018Y0.001)Σ3.059(U6+0.658Zr1.040Sn0.230Hf0.009Mg0.004)Σ1.941(Fe3+1.575Fe2+0.559Al0.539Ti40.199Si0.099Sn0.025V5+0.004)Σ3O12. Associated minerals are spurrite, rondorfite, wadalite, kimzeyite, perovskite, lakargiite, ellestadite-(OH), hillebrandite, afwillite, hydrocalumite, ettringite group minerals, and hydrogrossular. Elbrusite-(Zr) forms grains up to 10-15 μm in size with dominant {110} and minor {211} forms. It often occurs as zones and spots within Fe3+-dominant kimzeyite crystals up to 20-30 μm in size. The mineral is dark-brown to black with a brown streak. The density calculated on the basis of the empirical formula is 4.801 g/cm3 The following broad bands are observed in the Raman spectra of elbrusite-(Zr): 730, 478, 273, 222, and 135 cm-1. Elbrusite-(Zr) is radioactive and nearly completely metamict. The calculated cumulative dose (α-decay events/mg) of the studied garnets varies from 2.50 × 1014 [is equivalent to 0.04 displacement per atom (dpa)] for uranian kimzeyite (3.36 wt% UO3), up to 2.05 × 1015 (0.40 dpa) for elbrusite-(Zr) with 27.09 wt% UO3.

Toturite Ca3Sn2Fe2SiO12—A new mineral species of the garnet group

Abstract A new Sn-rich garnet, toturite Ca3Sn2Fe2SiO12, occurs as an accessory mineral in high-temperature altered carbonate-silicate xenoliths in ignimbrite of the Upper Chegem structure in the Northern Caucasus, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia. The empirical formula of toturite from the holotype sample is (Ca2.989Fe2+0.011)Σ3(Sn4+1.463Sb5+0.325Ti4+0.193Zr0.013Mg0.003Nb5+0.002Cr0.001)Σ2(Fe3+1.633Al0.609Si0.552Ti4+0.166Fe2+0.039V5+0.001)Σ3O12. The mineral forms thin regular growth zones and irregular spots in the Fe3+-dominant analog of kimzeyite. Toturite is cubic, Ia3̅d, a ≈ 12.55 Å, as is confirmed by electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) data. The strongest lines of the calculated powder diffraction pattern are [d, Å (hkl) I]: 2.562 (422) 100, 1.677 (642) 91, 3.138 (400) 74, 4.437 (220) 67, 1.146 (10.4.2) 31, 1.046 (884) 25, 1.984 (620) 23. Raman spectra of toturite are analogous to those of kimzeyite and shows the following diagnostic bands (cm-1): 244, 301, 494, 497, 575, 734. The association of toturite with larnite, rondorfite, wadalite, magnesioferrite, lakargiite, and cuspidine indicates a high temperature (>800 °C) of formation. The mineral name is given after the Totur River situated in Eltyubyu village, also Totur is the name of a Balkarian god.

Bitikleite-(SnAl) and bitikleite-(ZrFe): New garnets from xenoliths of the Upper Chegem volcanic structure, Kabardino-Balkaria, Northern Caucasus, Russia

Abstract Two new antimonian garnets-bitikleite-(SnAl) Ca3SbSnAl3O12 and bitikleite-(ZrFe) Ca3SbZrFe3O12-have been found as accessory minerals in the cuspidine zone of high-temperature skarns in a carbonate-silicate xenolith at the contact with ignimbrites within the Upper Chegem structure in the Northern Caucasus, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia. The bitikleite series forms a solid solution with garnets of the kimzeyite-schorlomite and toturite type. Antimony-garnets form crystals up to 50 μm across containing kimzeyite cores and thin subsequent zones of complex lakargiite-tazheranitekimzeyite pseudomorphs after zircon. Bitikleite-(SnAl) has a = 12.5240(2) Å, V = 1964.40(3) Å3 and bitikleite-(ZrFe) has a = 12.49 Å, V = 1948.4 Å3 (Ia3d, Z = 8). The strongest powder diffraction lines of bitikleite-(SnAl) are [d, Å (hkl)]: 4.407 (220), 3.118 (440), 2.789 (420), 2.546 (422), 1.973 (620), 1.732 (640), 1.668 (642), and 1.396 (840). The strongest calculated powder diffraction lines of bitikleite-(ZrFe) are [d, Å (hkl)]: 4.416 (220), 3.123 (440), 2.793 (420), 2.550 (422), 1.975 (620), 1.732 (640), 1.669 (642), and 1.396 (840). The Raman spectra of bitikleite garnets are similar to the spectra of kimzeyite and toturite. Larnite, rondorfite, wadalite, magnesioferrite, tazheranite, lakargiite, kimzeyite, and toturite associated with bitikleite garnets are typical of high-temperature (>800 °C) formation

Crystallite Size Determination of MgO Nanopowder from X-Ray Diffraction Patterns Registered in GIXD Technique

The problem of the crystallite size determination for nanomaterials from X-ray diffraction data obtained in asymmetrical GIXD geometry was analyzed. The studies were performed on nanocrystalline MgO powder prepared by sol-gel synthesis. The nanopowder was preliminary characterized from X-ray diffraction pattern registered in classical Bragg-Brentano geometry and electron microscope observation. The estimated crystallite size, calculated form Williamson-Hall method, equals to 5 nm whereas the lattice distortion is negligible (0.1%). The X-ray diffraction patterns were registered in 30-135º 2θ range using tunnel GIXD technique for the incident α angle: 0.25; 0.5; 1; 2.5 and 5 degrees, respectively. Additional broadening of diffraction lines originated from applied geometry was observed. The calculated crystallite size deviate significantly in comparison to results obtained from classical Bragg-Brentano data. Corrections for additional line broadening were determined, which should be applied for accurate crystallite size calculation in studies of thin nanocrystalline layers using GIXD technique.

Megawite, CaSnO3: a new perovskite-group mineral from skarns of the Upper Chegem caldera, Kabardino-Balkaria, Northern Caucasus, Russia

Abstract Megawite is a perovskite-group mineral with an ideal formula CaSnO3 that was discovered in altered silicate-carbonate xenoliths in the Upper Chegem caldera, Kabardino-Balkaria, Northern Caucasus, Russia. Megawite occurs in ignimbrite, where it forms by contact metamorphism at a temperature >800ºC and low pressure. The name megawite honours the British crystallographer Helen Dick Megaw (1907-2002) who did pioneering research on perovskite-group minerals. Megawite is associated with spurrite, reinhardbraunsite, rondorfite, wadalite, srebrodolskite, lakargiite, perovskite, kerimasite, elbrusite-(Zr), periclase, hydroxylellestadite, hydrogrossular, ettringite-group minerals, afwillite, hydrocalumite and brucite. Megawite forms pale yellow or colourless crystals up to 15 μm on edge with pseudo-cubic and pseudo-cuboctahedral habits. The calculated density and average refractive index are 5.06 g cm-3 and 1.89, respectively. Megawite is Zr-rich and usually crystallizes on lakargiite, CaZrO3. The main bands in the Raman spectrum of megawite are at: 159, 183, 262, 283, 355, 443, 474, 557 and 705 cm-1. The unit-cell parameters and space group of megawite, derived from electron back scattered diffraction, are: a = 5.555(3), b = 5.708(2), c = 7.939(5) Å, V = 251.8(1) Å3, Pbnm, Z = 4; they are based on an orthorhombic structural model for the synthetic perovskite CaSn0.6Zr0.4O3.

Texture Analysis of Hot Rolled Ni-Mn-Ga Alloys

The studies were carried out on three Ni-Mn-Ga polycrystalline alloys with the 10M martensite and the L21 parent phase. The specimens were cut along the [001] and [110] directions of the columnar grains from the ingots of either round or flat shape. The samples were heated up to 10000C and rolled in one direction in several steps. The final reduction of the samples thickness was: 28%, 36%, 57% and 69%. The texture of the initial [001] orientation rolled with the highest deformation 60% shows the following orientation components: {111}<112>, {112}<011>, {111}<011> which are typical for deformed and recrystallized metals of the A2 structure. The texture of the specimen with the initial [110] orientation rolled with 69% can be described as a fibre texture scattered around the <110> direction.

Formation and Properties of Amorphous/Crystalline Ductile Composites in Ni-Ag-P Immiscible Alloys

The aim of the work was to investigate the influence of silver as a modifying constituent on structure formation in Ni-P based glass forming matrix. Nickel-phosphorus-based Ni80P20, Ni78Ag2P20 and Ni76Ag4P20 alloys were prepared from 99.95 wt % Ni, 99.95 wt % Ag, and Ni-P master alloy. The alloys were melt-spun in helium. The microstructure of the melt-spun ribbons was investigated by XRD, a light microscope and a transmission electron microscope. Then the tensile tests were performed. The alloys with silver show lower tensile strength with respect to the fully amorphous Ni80P20 ribbon. The ductility of the amorphous matrix melt-spun Ni78Ag2P20 and Ni76Ag4P20 alloys was improved by addition of silver forming fcc-Ag precipitates in comparison with Ni80P20amorphous alloy. SEM observations of the fracture surfaces show different character of the fractured samples. The pattern and the number of the crack lines changes, depending on the silver content. For the fully amorphous Ni80P20 alloy simple brittle cracks are observed, however the alloys with silver content show more developed surfaces near the fractured regions and form crack lines arranged 60° with loading direction.

Properties and microstructure of the (Fe, Ni)-Cu-(P, Si, B) melt-spun alloys.

The work presents the microstructure characterization of the new (Fe, Ni)–Cu–(P, Si, B) melt‐spun glass forming alloys investigated by means of transmission electron microscope. The results are compared with the data obtained by other complementary methods such as XRD and Mössbauer spectroscopy. The phases occurring during the crystallization of the glassy matrix are identified and characterized in terms of a long‐range order and a short‐range order. The thermal stability of the alloy is characterized by differential scanning calorimetry. The study describes the mechanical and magnetic properties of the new alloys at room temperature as well as characteristics resulting from heating the as‐cast melt‐spun alloy at elevated temperatures. The changes of the properties of the alloy at elevated temperatures are correlated with the microstructural changes.

Eltyubyuite, Ca12Fe3+10Si4O32Cl6 – the Fe3+ analogue of wadalite: a new mineral from the Northern Caucasus, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia

Eltyubyuite (IMA2011-022), ideally Ca 12 Fe 3+ 10 Si 4 O 32 Cl 6 i.e . the Fe 3+ analogue of wadalite, Ca 12 Al 10 Si 4 O 32 Cl 6 , was discovered in altered silicate-carbonate xenoliths in the diatreme facies of ignimbrites in the Upper Chegem caldera, Kabardino-Balkaria, Northern Caucasus, Russia. Eltyubyuite forms light-brown or yellow crystals with tetrahedral habit up to 10 μm across in rondorfite or larnite grains and commonly overgrows wadalite. Associated minerals are hydroxylellestadite, edgrewite-hydroxyledgrewite, chegemite-fluorchegemite, cuspidine, lakargiite, perovskite, kerimasite, srebrodolskite and dovyrenite. Eltyubyuite formed by contact metamorphism of calcareous sediments under sanidinite-facies conditions ( T > 800°C, P 2 9.57(0.32), TiO 2 0.48(0.27), Al 2 O 3 3.45(1.81), MgO 0.08(0.07), CaO 36.84(0.91), Fe 2 O 3 , Cl 9.60(0.48); O = Cl −2.13, Sum 98.26, and an empirical formula based on 26 cations, Ca 12.12 Mg 0.04 Ti 0.11 Fe 9.41 Al 1.26 Si 2.98 O 31.89 Cl 5.04 , which simplifies to Ca 12 (Fe 3+ , Al) 11 Si 3 O 32 Cl 5 . Electron-back-scattered diffraction yields isometric symmetry, space group I 4 d (no. 220), a = 12.20(3) A, V = 1815.85(9) A 3 , Z = 2. Calculated density and refractive index are 3.349 g/cm 3 and 1.85, respectively. The main bands in Raman spectra of eltyubyuite are attributed to [Fe 3+ O 4 ] 5− : 700–710 cm −1 (stretching vibrations), 460–470 cm −1 (bending vibrations), whereas bands −1 are assigned to Ca-O and Ca-[Fe 3+ O 4 ] 5− vibrations. The mineral is named for the Balkarian village Eltyubyu, which is situated near the type locality. Eltyubyuite has subsequently been found in altered xenoliths within volcanic rocks of Eifel, Germany and Kel’ Highland (volcano Shadil-Khokh), Southern Ossetia.

Eringaite, Ca 3 Sc 2 (SiO 4 ) 3 , a new mineral of the garnet group

Abstract Eringaite, Ca3Sc2(SiO4)3, a new mineral of the garnet group, is an accessory mineral in metasomatic rodingite-like rocks from the Wiluy River, Sakha-Yakutia Republic, Russia. Eringaite forms regular growth zones and irregular spots in complex garnet crystals containing a kimzeyite core. An electron back-scatter diffraction pattern with an excellent match to a garnet model with a = 12.19 Å was obtained for a grain with the largest Sc2O3 content having the crystal chemical formula (Ca2.98Y0.01Mg0.01)∑3(Sc0.82Ti4+0.44Fe3+0.30Zr0.21Mg0.10Al0.09Cr3+0.08Fe2+0.05V3+0.01)∑2.01(Si2.48Al0.30Fe3+0.22)∑3O12. Eringaite is light brown to yellow with a creamy white streak. The crystals are transparent with a vitreous lustre. The calculated density of eringaite is 3.654 g cm−3. The following main modes of the Raman spectrum are characteristic of eringaite: 335, 511, 735, 880 and 937 cm−1. The strongest lines of the calculated powder diffraction data are as follows [(hkl) dhkl (I)] (400) 3.064 (69), (420) 2.740 (100), (422) 2.502 (68), (640) 1.670 (30), (642) 1.638 (82), (840) 1.370 (20), (842) 1.137 (19), (10.4.2) 1.119 (29).