Yury S. Polekhovsky

Allabogdanite, (Fe, Ni)2P, a new mineral from the Onello meteorite: The occurrence and crystal structure

Abstract Allabogdanite, (Fe,Ni)2P, is a new mineral from the Onello iron meteorite (Ni-rich ataxite). It occurs as thin lamellar crystals disseminated in plessite. Associated minerals are nickelphosphide, schreibersite, awaruite, and graphite. Crystals of the mineral, up to 0.4 × 0.1 × 0.01 mm, are flattened on (001) with dominant {001} faces, and other faces that are probably {110} and {100}. Mirror twinning resembling that of gypsum is common, with possible twin composition plane {110}. Crystals are light straw-yellow with bright metallic luster. Polished (001) sections look silverywhite against an epoxy background. In reflected light in air, the mineral has a creamy color, with distinct anisotropy from light to dark creamy tint. No bireflectance was observed. R1/R2 (λ, nm) in air: 48.4/37.2(440), 46.7/36.8(460), 47.0/37.6(480), 47.5/38.1(500), 47.6/38.8(520), 48.2/39.2(540), 49.0/39.9(560), 49.6/40.7(580), 50.1/41.6(600), 50.5/41.9(620), 51.9/43.0(640), 52.3/44.3(660), 53.3/ 45.0(680), 54.4/46.2(700). No cleavage or parting was observed. Moh’s hardness is 5-6; the mineral is very brittle, and its calculated density 7.10 g/cm3. Its chemical composition (determined by microprobe methods, average of nine analyses) is: Fe 57.7, Ni 20.7, Co 1.4, P 20.4, Total 100.2 wt%, corresponding to (Fe1.51Ni0.50Co0.03)2.04P0.96 (three atoms per formula unit). Crystal structure: R1 = 0.040 for 138 unique observed (|Fo|≥ 4σF) reflections. Orthorhombic, Pnma, unit-cell parameters refined from powder data: a = 5.748(2), b = 3.548(1), c = 6.661(2) Å, V = 135.8(1), Å3, Z = 4; unitcell parameters refined from single-crystal data: a = 5.792(7), b = 3.564(4), c = 6.691(8) Å, and V = 138.1(3) Å3. Strongest reflections in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern are [d in Å, (I) (hkl)]: 2.238(100)(112), 2.120(80)(211), 2.073(70)(103), 1.884(50)(013), 1.843(40)(301), 1.788(40)(113), 1.774(40)(020). The mineral is named for Alla Bogdanova, Geological Institute, Kola Science Centre of Russian Academy of Sciences

Earth's Phosphides in Levant and insights into the source of Archean prebiotic phosphorus

Natural phosphides - the minerals containing phosphorus in a redox state lower than zero – are common constituents of meteorites but virtually unknown on the Earth. Herein we present the first rich occurrence of iron-nickel phosphides of terrestrial origin. Phosphide-bearing rocks are exposed in three localities in the surroundings of the Dead Sea, Levant: in the northern Negev Desert, Israel and Transjordan Plateau, south of Amman, Jordan. Seven minerals from the ternary Fe-Ni-P system have been identified with five of them, NiP2, Ni5P4, Ni2P, FeP and FeP2, previously unknown in nature. The results of the present study could provide a new insight on the terrestrial origin of natural phosphides – the most likely source of reactive prebiotic phosphorus at the times of the early Earth.

Starovaite, KCu5O(VO4)3, a new mineral from fumarole sublimates of the Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka, Russia

The new mineral species starovaite, ideally KCu 5 O(VO 4 )3, has been found in the sublimates of the Yadovitaya fumarole at the Second scoria cone of the Northern Breach of the Great Tolbachik Fissure Eruption, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka, Russia. The mineral is associated with lammerite, hematite, palmierite, tenorite, piypite, rutile, orthoclase, lyonsite, pseudolyonsite, lammerite-β, langbeinite, calciolangbeinite, and cupromolybdite. Starovaite occurs as prismatic crystals up to 3 × 6 × 20 μm or divergent long-prismatic crystals up to 1 × 3 × 70 μm. The crystals are combined in sprays, sheaf-like aggregates or crusts up to 0.3 × 0.5 mm overgrowing lammerite. Starovaite is golden brown to reddish brown with a semi-metallic luster. The mineral is brittle, VHN is 182 (range 165–195) kg mm −2 . Cleavage and parting were not observed, fracture is uneven. D (calc.) = 4.54 g cm −3 . In reflected light, starovaite is grey with a brownish hue. Bireflectance is weak, internal reflections are distinct red-brown, anisotropy is weak. The reflectance values [ R 1 −R 2 , % (λ, nm)] are: 14.2–12.45 (470), 13.2–11.6 (546), 13.0–11.4 (589), 12.6–11.35 (650). The chemical composition (wt%, electron microprobe data) is: K 2 O 4.90, CaO 0.04, PbO 1.29, CuO 48.20, ZnO 5.59, Al 2 O 3 0.08, Fe 2 O 3 0.10, P 2 O 5 0.05, As 2 O 5 4.49, V 2 O 5 31.89, SO 3 0.19, MoO 3 2.34, total 99.16. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of 13 O apfu is: (K 0.76 Pb 0.04 Ca 0.01 ) Σ0.81 (Cu 4.45 Zn 0.51 Al 0.01 Fe 0.01 ) Σ4.98 (V 2.58 As 0.29 Mo 0.12 S 0.02 P 0.01 ) Σ3.02 O 13 . Starovaite is triclinic, P –1, a = 6.08(4), b = 8.26(5), c = 10.71(6) A, α = 97.8(1), β = 92.4(1), γ = 90.4(1)°, V = 532(2) A 3 , and Z= 2. The strongest reflections of the X-ray powder diffraction pattern [ d , A ( I , %) (hkl)] are: 10.62 (32) (001); 8.18 (46) (010); 3.047 (41) (022, 200,12-2); 2.745 (47) (2-1-1, 03-1); 2.526 (100) (031, 2-12, 2-1-2, 023, 1-31,13-1); 2.322 (98) (03-3, 21-3, 221, 22-2); 1.867 (23) (302); 1.410 (23) (24-5, 053,41-3, 03-7). Starovaite is a natural analogue of synthetic KCu 5 O(VO 4 )3. The mineral is named in honour of the Russian crystallographer and crystal chemist Galina L. Starova (b. 1946) for her contributions to the crystal chemistry of minerals from the Tolbachik fumaroles.

Koksharovite, CaMg2Fe3+ 4(VO4)6, and grigorievite, Cu3Fe3+ 2Al2(VO4)6, two new howardevansite-group minerals from volcanic exhalations

Two new howardevansite-group minerals were discovered in the exhalations of fumaroles related to two volcanoes in Kamchatka, Russia. Koksharovite, CaMg2Fe 3þ 4(VO4)6, is found at the Bezymyannyi volcano in association with bannermanite. Grigorievite, Cu3Fe 3þ 2Al2(VO4)6, associated with bannermanite, ziesite, hematite, etc., was found at the Second scoria cone of the NorthernBreakthroughoftheGreatTolbachikFissureEruption,Tolbachikvolcano.Koksharoviteoccursasequanttoprismaticcrystals upto30 � 70mm.Itistranslucent,yellowish-browntoreddish-brownwithanadamantinelustre.Grigorieviteformsprismatic totabular crystals up to 40 � 100 mm. It is opaque, black with a semi-metallic lustre. Both minerals are brittle. The VHN hardness is 368 and 489 kg mm � 2 , the calculated density (Dcalc) 3.39 and 3.67 g cm � 3 for koksharovite and grigorievite, respectively. In reflected light, koksharovite is light grey, grigorievite is grey; both minerals are weakly anisotropic. Reflectance values (koksharovite//grigorievite: Rmax-Rmin ,%( l, nm)) are: 15.3-14.4//16.8-16.4 (470), 14.1-13.2//15.9-15.5 (546), 13.8-13.0//15.3-14.9 (589), 13.4-12.7//14.8-14.1 (650). Chemical data (wt%, electron-microprobe analysis; first value is for koksharovite, second for grigorievite) are: Na2O 0.76, 0.00; K2O 0.05, 0.00; MgO 9.43,2.78; CaO 3.57, 0.95; MnO 0.46,0.04;CuO 0.00,17.70; NiO 0.11, 0.00;ZnO 0.00,0.14; Al2O3 3.04,11.76; Fe2O3 23.88, 10.10; TiO2 2.42, 1.47; SiO2 0.20, 0.00; P2O5 0.98, 0.13; V2O5 53.86, 54.97; total 98.76, 100.04. The empirical formulae, based on 24 O atoms per formula unit, are: Na0.24K0.01Ca0.63Mg2.30Mn0.06Ni0.01Al0.59Fe 3þ 2.94Ti0.30Si0.03P0.14V5.83O24 (koksharovite); Ca0.17Mg0.69Mn0.01Cu2.23Zn0.02Al2.31Fe 3þ 1.27Ti0.18P0.02V6.05O24(grigorievite).Bothmineralsaretriclinic,spacegroupP-1,Z ¼1.Unit-

New arsenate minerals from the Arsenatnaya fumarole, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka, Russia. VI. Melanarsite, K3Cu7Fe3+O4(AsO4)4

Abstract The newmineralmelanarsite,K3Cu7Fe3+O4(AsO4)4,was found in the sublimates of theArsenatnaya fumarole at the Second scoria cone of the Northern Breakthrough of the Great Tolbachik Fissure Eruption, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. It is associated with dmisokolovite, shchurovskyite, bradaczekite, hematite, tenorite, aphthitalite, johillerite, arsmirandite, As-bearing orthoclase, hatertite, pharmazincite, etc. Melanarsite occurs as tabular to prismatic crystals up to 0.4 mm, separate or combined in clusters up to 1 mm across or in interrupted crusts up to 0.02 cm× 1 cm× 1 cm covering basalt scoria. The mineral is opaque, black, with a vitreous lustre. Melanarsite is brittle.Mohs’ hardness is ~4 and the mean VHN = 203 kg mm-2. Cleavage was not observed and the fracture is uneven. Dcalc is 4.39 g cm-3. In reflected light, melanarsite is dark grey. Bireflectance is weak, anisotropism is very weak. Reflectance values [R1-R2, % (λ, nm)] are 10.5- 9.4 (470), 10.0-8.9 (546), 9.7-8.7 (589), 9.5-8.6 (650). The Raman spectrum is reported. Chemical composition (wt.%, electron microprobe) is K2O 10.70, CaO 0.03, CuO 45.11, ZnO 0.24, Al2O3 0.32, Fe2O3 6.11, TiO2 0.12, P2O5 0.07, As2O5 36.86, total 99.56. The empirical formula, based on 20 O apfu, is (K2.81Ca0.01)Σ2.82(Cu7.02Fe3+0.95Al0.08Zn0.04Ti0.02)Σ8.11(As3.97P0.01)Σ3.98O20. Melanarsite is monoclinic, C2/c, a = 11.4763(9), b = 16.620(2), c = 10.1322(8) Å, β = 105.078(9)°, V = 1866.0(3) Å3 and Z = 4. The strongest reflections of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d,Å(I)(hkl)] are 9.22(100)(110), 7.59(35)(1̄11), 6.084(17) (111), 4.595(26)(1̄31, 220, 2̄21), 3.124(22)(3̄31,1̄51), 2.763(20)(400, 1̄52), 2.570(23)(043) and 2.473(16) (260, 2̄61, 350). Melanarsite has a novel structure type. Its crystal structure, solved from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data (R = 0.091), is based upon a heteropolyhedral pseudo-framework built by distortedCu(1-3)O6 and (Fe,Cu)O6 octahedra and As(1-3)O4 tetrahedra. Two crystallographically independent K+ cations are located in the tunnels and voids of the pseudo-framework centring eight- and seven-fold polyhedra. The name reflects the mineral being an arsenate and its black colour (from the Greek μέλαν, black).

Uranium as a possible criterion for the hydro-chemical alteration of betafite

Hydro-chemical processes significantly alter the original composition of metamict minerals. In the work presented here, an attempt was made to reconstruct the chemical composition of betafite in the earlier stages of its geological history. The time scale is determined by the leaching rate of the isotope 238U, a process that takes its course in line with first-order kinetics, or something close to it. The leaching rate constant of this uranium isotope was assessed. Based on available data in the literature, the hydro-chemical behavior of various atoms in group A of betafite was analyzed. The chemical composition of the mineral was calculated taking into account the total charge of the cations that the betafite had at the time it was formed, or possibly the last time it was completely reformed as a result of diverse endogenic processes.

Abiotic and Biotic Processes of Mineral Weathering in Tundra Soils on Ultramafic and Mafic Rocks of the Polar Urals, Russia

The weathering of mafic and ultramafic rocks in soil environment was investigated in weakly developed soil profiles in order to determine the origin of phyllosilicate association in the soils formed in humid cold climate of the mountainous tundra of the Polar Urals. The objects of the study are represented by soils formed (i) on and underlain by the ultramafic rock and (ii) on the moraine composed of the mafic rock with an admixture of the ultramafic rock fragments. The minerals found in the clay fraction (<1 µm) of the profiles are the same, characterized by the presence of smectite (saponite), which is absent in both mafic and ultramafic rocks; serpentine and talc identified in ultramafic rock; and chlorite. Chlorite was found in both types of rocks. It was shown that the appearance of smectite (saponite) in the weakly developed soil is not related to pedogenesis. But these soil profiles illustrate the possibility of soil formation on “mature” fine earth formed from a high-sensitive ultramafic rock due to chemical weathering. In cold soil environment the more weatherable ultramafic material plays the more important role as a prerequisite for the weathering trends and soil formation than a mafic rock. The admixture of ultramafic materials mitigates the development of Entic Podzols which were earlier found in the Polar Urals on the pure mafic materials. So, the presence of ultramafic materials either predominating or even in admixture results in the “extreme lithological environment” for a pedogenesis and in the formation of weakly developed soils—Regosols and Leptosols.

Yeomanite, Pb2O(OH)Cl, a new chain-structured Pb oxychloride from Merehead Quarry, Somerset, England

Abstract Yeomanite, Pb2O(OH)Cl, is a new Pb-oxychloride found in the manganese pod mineral assemblage at Merehead (Torr Works) Quarry, near Cranmore, Somerset, England. Yeomanite is named in joint recognition of Mrs Angela Yeoman (1931-) and her company, Foster Yeoman, who operated Merehead Quarry for aggregate until 2006. The mineral is normally white, occasionally grey, with a white streak and a vitreous to transparent lustre. Invariably intimately associated with mendipite, yeomanite appears to be formed of small, twisted, rope-like fibres growing from the end of columnar mendipite masses, forming loose mats and strands resembling asbestos. Individual fibres are generally <8 mm long, but exceptionally may reach up to 15 mm. There is a perfect cleavage parallel to the long axis of the fibres but this is masked by the fibrous nature, especially as individual fibres break easily. The Dcalc for the ideal formula is 7.303 g/cm3. The mean RI in air at 589 nm is 2.27. The eight strongest reflections in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [(d in Å) (Intensity) (hkl)] are: 2.880(100)(113); 2.802(78)(006); 3.293(61)(200); 3.770(32)(011); 2.166(22)(206); 1.662(19)(119); 2.050(18)(303); 3.054(17)(105) Yeomanite is orthorhombic, Pnma, a = 6.585(10), b = 3.855(6), c = 17.26(1) Å, V = 438(1) Å3, Z = 4. Yeomanite is a new example of the growing family of lead oxychloride minerals that have a structure based upon oxocentred OPb4 tetrahedra, which, in this mineral, jointly with OHPb3 triangles, form [O(OH)Pb2]+ chains similar to those observed in synthetic Pb2O(OH)I. Yeomanite is structurally related to sidpietersite, penfieldite and laurionite.

Ekplexite (Nb,Mo)S2·(Mg1−xAlx)(OH)2+x, kaskasite (Mo,Nb)S2·(Mg1−xAlx)(OH)2+x and manganokaskasite (Mo,Nb)S2·(Mn1−xAlx)(OH)2+x, three new valleriite-group mineral species from the Khibiny alkaline complex, Kola peninsula, Russia

Abstract Three new valleriite-group minerals, ekplexite (Nb,Mo)S2·(Mg1-xAlx)(OH)2+x, kaskasite (Mo,Nb)S2·(Mg1-xAlx)(OH)2+x and manganokaskasite (Mo,Nb)S2·(Mn1-xAlx)(OH)2+x are found at Mt Kaskasnyunchorr, Khibiny alkaline complex, Kola Peninsula, Russia. They occur in fenite consisting of orthoclase-anorthoclase and nepheline with fluorophlogopite, corundum, pyrrhotite, pyrite, rutile, monazite-(Ce), graphite, edgarite, molybdenite, tungstenite, alabandite, etc. Ekplexite forms lenticular nests up to 0.2 mm × 1 mm × 1 mm consisting of near-parallel, radiating or chaotic aggregates of flakes. Kaskasite and manganokaskasite mainly occur as flakes and their near-parallel ‘stacks’ (kaskasite: up to 0.03 mm × 1 mm × 1.5 mm; manganokaskasite: up to 0.02 mm × 0.5 mm × 1 mm) epitaxially overgrow Ti-bearing pyrrhotite partially replaced by Ti-bearing pyrite. All three new minerals are opaque, ironblack, with metallic lustre. Cleavage is {001} perfect and mica-like. Flakes are very soft, flexible and inelastic. Mohs hardness is ~1. D(calc.) = 3.63 (ekplexite), 3.83 (kaskasite) and 4.09 (manganokaskasite) g cm-3. In reflected light all these minerals are grey, without internal reflections. Anisotropism and bireflectance are very strong and pleochroism is strong. The presence of OH groups and an absence of H2O molecules are confirmed by the Raman spectroscopy data. Chemical data (wt.%, electron probe) for ekplexite, kaskasite and manganokaskasite, respectively, are: Mg 6.25, 5.94, 0.06; Al 4.31, 3.67, 3.00; Ca 0.00, 0.04, 0.00; V 0.86, 0.16, 0.15; Mn 0.00, 0.23, 11.44; Fe 0.44, 1.44, 2.06; Nb 18.17, 13.39, 14.15; Mo 15.89, 23.18, 20.08; W 8.13, 7.59, 9.12; S 27.68, 27.09, 24.84; O 16.33, 15.66, 13.36; H (calc.) 1.03, 0.99, 0.89; total 99.09, 99.08, 99.15. The empirical formulae calculated on the basis of 2 S a.p.f.u. are: ekplexite: (Nb0.45Mo0.38W0.10V0.04)Σ0.97S2· (Mg0.60Al0.37Fe0.02)Σ0.99(OH)2.36; kaskasite: (Mo0.57Nb0.34W0.10V0.01)Σ1.02S2· (Mg0.58Al0.32Fe0.06Mn0.01)Σ0.97(OH)2.32; manganokaskasite: (Mo0.54Nb0.39W0.13V0.01)Σ1.07S2· (Mn0.54Al0.29Fe0.10Mg0.01)Σ0.94(OH)2.28. All three minerals are trigonal, space groups P3̄m1, P3m1 or P321, one-layer polytypes (Z = 1). Their structures are non-commensurate and consist of the MeS2-type (Me = Nb, Mo, W) sulfide modules and the brucite-type hydroxide modules. Parameters of the sulfide (main) sub-lattices (a, c in Å, V in Å3) are: 3.262(2), 11.44(2), 105.4(4) (ekplexite); 3.220(2), 11.47(2), 102.8(4) (kaskasite); 3.243(3), 11.61(1), 105.8(3) (manganokaskasite). Parameters of the hydroxide sub-lattices (a, c in Å, V in Å3) are: 3.066(2), 11.52(2), 93.8(4) (ekplexite); 3.073(2), 11.50(2), 94.0(4) (kaskasite); 3.118(3), 11.62(1), 97.9(2) (manganokaskasite). Ekplexite was named from the Greek word έκπληξη meaning surprise, for its exotic combination of major chemical constituents, kaskasite after the discovery locality and manganokaskasite as a Mn analogue of kaskasite.