Masayuki Ohnishi

Imayoshiite, Ca3Al(CO3)[B(OH)4](OH)6·12H2O, a new mineral of the ettringite group from Ise City, Mie Prefecture, Japan

Abstract Imayoshiite, Ca3Al(CO3)[B(OH)4](OH)6 ·12H2O, occurs in cavities in the altered gabbro xenolith in the sepentinized dunite exposed at Suisho-dani, Ise City, Mie Prefecture, Japan. Imayoshiite is colourless and transparent with a vitreous lustre and its aggregates are white with a silky lustre. Imayoshiite has a white streak. Its Mohs hardness is 2-3. It is brittle, the cleavage is distinct on {100} and the fracture is uneven. The mineral is uniaxial (-) with the indices of refraction ω = 1.497(2) and ε = 1.470(2) in white light. Imayoshiite is hexagonal, P63, a = 11.0264(11), c = 10.6052(16) Å by powder diffraction and a = 11.04592(2), c = 10.61502(19) Å by single-crystal diffraction. The structural refinement converged to R1 = 2.35%. Imayoshiite is the first member of the ettringite group with both CO3 and B(OH)4 anions.

Iyoite, MnCuCl(OH)3 and misakiite, Cu3Mn(OH)6Cl2: new members of the atacamite family from Sadamisaki Peninsula, Ehime Prefecture, Japan

Abstract Two new members of the atacamite family were discovered recently in the Sadamisaki Peninsula, Ehime Prefecture, Japan. Iyoite, MnCuCl(OH)3, is an Mn-Cu ordered analogue of botallackite, while misakiite, Cu3Mn(OH)6Cl2, is an Mn-rich analogue of kapellasite. Both minerals occur in manganese ore crevices in close association with one another. Iyoite forms radial and dendritic aggregates consisting of pale green, bladed crystals. Misakiite commonly exists in emerald green, tabular, hexagonal crystals. The densities of iyoite and misakiite were calculated to be 3.22 and 3.42 g cm−3 based on their empirical formulae and powder X-ray diffraction data. Under the same axial setting of botallackite, iyoite is monoclinic, space group P21/m, a = 5.717(2), b = 6.586(2), c = 5.623(3) Å, β = 88.45(3)° and V = 211.63(15) Å3. Misakiite is trigonal, space group P3̅m1, with a = 6.4156(4), c = 5.7026(5) Å and V = 203.27(3) Å3. The structures of both minerals are classified as layer type and the two are closely related. These new minerals were formed by the reaction between seawater and naturally-occurring manganese ores including native copper. These minerals are challenging to produce synthetically. Misakiite was synthesized successfully using a hydrothermal method, while iyoite could not be made.

Minohlite, a new copper-zinc sulfate mineral from Minoh, Osaka, Japan

Abstract Minohlite, a new copper-zinc sulfate mineral related to schulenbergite, was found in the oxidized zone of the Hirao mine at Minoh (Minoo) City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. The mineral occurs in cracks in altered shale as rosette aggregates up to 100 m m in diameter, composed of hexagonal platy crystals up to 50 μm m in diameter and 10μm m in thickness. The associated minerals are chamosite, muscovite, smithsonite, serpierite, ramsbeckite, ‘limonite’ and chalcopyrite. Minohlite has hexagonal (or trigonal) symmetry with unit-cell parameters of a = 8.2535(11), c = 8.1352(17) Å, V = 479.93(16) Å3 and Z = 1, and possible space groups P6, P6̅, P6/m, P622, P6mm, P6̅2m and P6/mmm (or P3, P3̅, P321, P3m1, P3̅m1, P312, P31m and P3̅1m). The six strongest reflections in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d in Å (I) hkl] are 8.138 (20) 001; 4.128 (24) 110; 2.702 (100) 120; 2.564 (76) 121; 1.560 (43) 140; and 1.532 (24) 141. Electron microprobe analyses gave the following values (wt.%): CuO 37.18, ZnO 21.08, FeO 0.49, SO3 16.78, SiO2 0.44, and H2O 24.03 (by difference). The empirical formula, calculated on the basis of Cu + Zn + Fe + S + Si = 9 atoms per formula unit, is (Cu4.43Zn2.45Fe0.06)Σ6.94[(SO4)1.99(SiO4)0.07]Σ2.06(OH)9.64·7.81H2O, which leads a simplified formula of (Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10·8H2O where Cu > Zn. The mineral is bluish-green and transparent with a pearly to vitreous lustre. The streak is pale green. Cleavage is perfect on {001}. The Mohs hardness number is less than 2. The calculated density is 3.28 g cm−3. The mineral is named after Minoh City, where it was discovered.