Heyerdahlite, ideally Na3Mn7Ti2(Si4O12)2O2(OH)4F(H2O)2, is a new astrophyllite-supergroup mineral from the Larvik Plutonic complex, Norway. Heyerdahlite was found in a nepheline-syenite pegmatite with albite, aegirine, hastingsite/magnesio-hastingsite, kupletskite, lorenzenite and pyrophanite. Heyerdahlite is colourless to pale brown, transparent and has a vitreous lustre. Mohs hardness is 3, Dcalc. = 3.245 g/cm3. Heyerdahlite is biaxial (+), α = 1.694(2), β = 1.710(5), γ = 1.730(5), 2Vmeas. = 80(4)° and 2Vcalc. = 84.5°. Cleavage is perfect parallel to {001}. The empirical formula based on 32.18 (O + F) apfu is (Na1.18K0.68Rb0.12Cs0.01Pb0.01)Σ2Na1.00(Mn6.29Zn0.23Mg0.07Zr0.04${\rm Fe}_{{\rm 0}{\rm. 03}}^{{\rm 2 +}} $Ca0.01Na0.34)Σ7.01(Ti1.78Nb0.17 Mg0.03Zr0.02)Σ2(Si8.03O24)O2[(OH)3.92F0.08]Σ4F1.00[(H2O)1.18□0.82]Σ2, for Z = 1. Heyerdahlite is triclinic, space group P$\bar 1$, a = 5.392(2), b = 11.968(4), c = 11.868(4) Å, α = 112.743(8), β = 94.816(7), γ = 103.037(8)° and V = 675.6(7) Å3. The crystal structure was refined to R1 = 4.44% for 3577 unique (Fo > 4σF) reflections. In the crystal structure of heyerdahlite, there are four [4]T sites occupied by Si. The [6]D site is occupied mainly by Ti. The T4O12 astrophyllite ribbons composed of SiO4 tetrahedra and D octahedra constitute the H (Heteropolyhedral) sheet. In the O (Octahedral) sheet, there are four Mn-dominant [6]M(1–4) sites. Two H sheets and one central O sheet form the HOH block, and adjacent HOH blocks link via a common ${\rm X}_{\rm D}^{\rm P} $ anion of the two D octahedra. In the I (Intermediate) block between HOH blocks, there are two interstitial cation sites, A and B, and a WA site, partly occupied by H2O. The A site splits into two sites, [12]A(1) and [6]A(2), partly occupied by K and Na, respectively, with A(1)–A(2) = 0.754 Å. The aggregate content of the A site is ideally Na2 apfu. The [10]B site is occupied by Na. The WA site is ideally occupied by (H2O)2 pfu. The mineral is named after the Norwegian explorer Thor Heyerdahl (1914–2002), who was born in Larvik.

The new mineral saranchinaite, ideally Na2Cu(SO4)2, was found in sublimates of the Saranchinaitovaya fumarole, Naboko Scoria Cone, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka, Russia. Its discovery and study has enabled the characterization of the thermal decomposition of kröhnkite and provided an insight into the high-temperature behaviour of other kröhnkite-type materials. Saranchinaite is monoclinic, P21, a = 9.0109(5), b = 15.6355(8), c = 10.1507(5) Å, β = 107.079(2)°, V = 1367.06(12) Å3, Z = 8 and R1 = 0.03. Saranchinaite is a unique mineral in that two of its four independent Cu sites display a very unusual Cu2+ coordination environment with two weak Cu–O bonds of ~2.9–3.0 Å, resulting in [4+1+2] CuO7 polyhedra. Each of the Cu-centred polyhedra shares common corners with SO4 tetrahedra resulting in a [Cu4(SO4)8]8– framework with a complex channel system occupied by Na atoms. Saranchinaite is sensitive to moisture and transforms into kröhnkite within one week when exposed to open air at 87% relative humidity and 25°C. High-temperature X-ray diffraction studies were performed for both kröhnkite (from La Vendida mine, Antofagasta Region, Chile) and saranchinaite. During thermal expansion kröhnkite retains its strongly anisotropic character up to its full dehydration and the formation of saranchinaite at ~200°C, which then transforms back into kröhnkite after exposure to open air. The thermal expansion of saranchinaite is more complex than that of kröhnkite. Saranchinaite is stable up to 475°C with subsequent decomposition into tenorite CuO, thénardite Na2SO4 and unidentified phases.

Embreyite from the Berezovskoe, Urals, Russia, was studied by the means of powder X-ray diffraction (XRD), single-crystal XRD, infrared spectroscopy and microprobe analysis. The empirical formula of embreyite obtained on the basis of microprobe analysis is Pb1.29Cu0.07Cr0.52P0.43O4 (without taking into account the presence of H2O). An examination of single-crystal XRD frames of the tested crystals cut from embreyite intergrowths revealed split reflection spots of weak intensities, even after a long exposure time. The crystal structure of embreyite (monoclinic, C2/m, a = 9.802(16), b = 5.603(9), c = 7.649(12) Å, β = 114.85(3)o and V = 381.2(11) Å3) has been solved by direct methods and refined to R1 = 0.050 for 318 unique observed reflections. The powder XRD patterns of the holotype embreyite and the fresh material studied are close in both d values and the intensities match the pattern calculated from the structural single-crystal XRD data. The unit-cell parameters were re-calculated for the holotype sample using a new cell setting and corresponding hkl indices. The crystal structure of embreyite is based on layers formed by corner-sharing mixed chromate-phosphate tetrahedra and PbO6 distorted octahedra. The interlayer space is filled by disordered Pb2+ and Cu2+ cations. Generally, the crystal structure of embreyite can be referred to the structural type of palmierite. {Pb[(Cr,P)O4]2]} layers in embreyite are similar in topology to those in yavapaiite-type compounds. The general formula of embreyite can be represented as (Pbx$M_y^{2 +} $□1–x–y)2{Pb[(Cr,P)O4]2}(H2O)n, where M2+ = Cu and Zn and 0.5 ≤ x + y ≤ 1, or, in the simplified form: (Pb,Cu,□)2{Pb[(Cr,P)O4]2}(H2O)n. The simplified formula of embreyite is similar in stoichiometry to vauquelinite and may explain the existence of the solid-solution series. The determination of the crystal structure of embreyite may also help to resolve the crystal chemical nature of cassedanneite. The XRD pattern of cassedanneite contains a distinct reflection with d = 13.9 Å, forbidden for the embreyite unit cell. This feature may indicate the doubling of the c unit-cell parameter of cassedanneite in comparison with embreyite. We assume that cassedanneite has structural similarity to embreyite with, presumably, a disordered distribution of Cr and V.

The crystal structures have been refined for the first time for the strunzite-group minerals ferristrunzite and ferrostrunzite. Structure refinements are also presented for strunzite from three different localities. A common feature of all refined structural models is the presence of zeolitic water in the interlayer region, displaced by 0.4–0.5 Å from an inversion centre at (½ 0 ½). The refined occupancy of the site ranged from 44% to 100% in the samples studied. H-bonding associated with the zeolitic water causes large displacements, up to 0.7 Å, of neighbouring coordinated water molecules, relative to the structure with no zeolitic water. A new formula is proposed for strunzite-group minerals with divalent interlayer cations as M2+ Fe23+(PO4)2(OH)2·(6.5–x)H2O where M = Mn, Fe or Zn, and 0 < x < 0.5 accounts for varying degrees of dehydration. For ferristrunzite and other potential strunzite-group members with trivalent cations in the interlayer octahedron, the formula is M3+ Fe23+ (PO4)2(OH)3·(5.5–x)H2O.

The crystal structure of ‘minasgeraisite-(Y)’, triclinic P1, a = 9.994(4), b = 7.705(3), c = 4.764(2) Å, α = 90.042(9), β = 90.218(14), γ = 90.034(9) (°), V = 366.8(5) Å3 and Z = 1, has been refined to an R1 index of 2.86% for 4170 observed (|Fo| > 4σF) reflections. Significant observed (|Fo| > 40–60 σF) reflections violate the presence of a 21-screw axis and an a-glide plane, negating the space group P21/a previously found for minerals of the gadolinite–datolite group. Averaging of the X-ray data in Laue groups 2/m and $\bar 1$ gives the following agreement indices: 2/m (9.68%) and $\bar 1$ (5.68%). The internal agreement index from averaging of identical reflections collected at multiple positions along the diffraction vector is significantly lower than that for the Laue group $\bar 1$: Rpsi = 2.40%, where 13,109 reflections were collected, 4288 are unique for P1 symmetry, and Rpsi is based on a mean data redundancy factor of > 3. Both the data merging and an |E2–1| value of 0.773 indicate that P1 is the correct space group. The general formula for the gadolinite–datolite group is W2XZ2T2O8V2 (Z = 2) which we have expanded to 20 anions (Z = 1) to show the W-site cation ordering present in ‘minasgeraisite-(Y)’. Bismuth, Ca and REE are ordered over four W sites, with Bi dominant at W1, Ca dominant at W2, and Y dominant at W3 and W4. The dominant constituent at the X sites is a vacancy, and Ca does not occur at the X sites. Significant B and Si are assigned to the Be-dominant Z sites, and the T sites are occupied by Si. The simplified ‘minasgeraisite-(Y)’ formula (Z = 1) is BiCa(Y,Ln)2(□,Mn)2(Be,B,Si)4Si4O16 [(OH),O]4. ‘Minasgeraisite-(Y)’ should be assigned to a triclinic subgroup of the gadolinite–datolite group, and its lower symmetry suggests that Ca-substituted gadolinites and hingganites should be examined for evidence of triclinic symmetry associated with cation order at the W sites.

Thalénite-(Y), ideally Y3Si3O10F, is a heavy-rare-earth-rich silicate phase occurring in granite pegmatites that may help to illustrate rare-earth element (REE) chemistry and behaviour in natural systems. The crystal structure and mineral chemistry of thalénite-(Y) were analysed by electron microprobe analysis, X-ray diffraction and micro-Raman spectroscopy from a new locality in the peralkaline granite of the Golden Horn batholith, Okanogan County, Washington State, USA, in comparison with new analyses from the White Cloud pegmatite in the Pikes Peak batholith, Colorado, USA. The Golden Horn thalénite-(Y) occurs as late-stage sub-millimetre euhedral bladed transparent crystals in small miarolitic cavities in an arfvedsonite-bearing biotite granite. It exhibits growth zoning with distinct heavy-rare-earth element (HREE) vs. light-rare-earth element (LREE) enriched zones. The White Cloud thalénite-(Y) occurs in two distinct anhedral and botryoidal crystal habits of mostly homogenous composition. In addition, minor secondary thalénite-(Y) is recognized by its distinct Yb-rich composition (up to 0.8 atoms per formula unit (apfu) Yb). Single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis and structure refinement reveals Y-site ordering with preferential HREE occupation of Y2 vs. Y1 and Y3 REE sites. Chondrite normalization shows continuous enrichment of HREE in White Cloud thalénite-(Y), in contrast to Golden Horn thalénite-(Y) with a slight depletion of the heaviest REE (Tm, Yb and Lu). The results suggest a hydrothermal origin of the Golden Horn miarolitic thalénite-(Y), compared to a combination of both primary magmatic followed by hydrothermal processes responsible for the multiple generations over a range of spatial scales in White Cloud thalénite-(Y).

Two quintinite polytypes, 3R and 2T, which are new for the Kovdor alkaline-ultrabasic complex, have been structurally characterized. The crystal structure of quintinite-2T was solved by direct methods and refined to R1 = 0.048 on the basis of 330 unique reflections. The structure is trigonal, P$\bar 3$c1, a = 5.2720(6), c = 15.113(3) Å and V = 363.76(8) Å3. The crystal structure consists of [Mg2Al(OH)6]+ brucite-type layers with an ordered distribution of Mg2+ and Al3+ cations according to the $\sqrt 3 $ × $\sqrt 3 $ superstructure with the layers stacked according to a hexagonal type. The complete layer stacking sequence can be described as …=Ab1C = Cb1A=…. The crystal structure of quintinite-3R was solved by direct methods and refined to R1 = 0.022 on the basis of 140 unique reflections. It is trigonal, R$\bar 3$m, a = 3.063(1), c = 22.674(9) Å and V = 184.2(1) Å3. The crystal structure is based upon double hydroxide layers [M2+,3+(OH)2] with disordered distribution of Mg, Al and Fe and with the layers stacked according to a rhombohedral type. The stacking sequence of layers can be expressed as …=АB = BC = CA=… The study of morphologically different quintinite generations grown on one another detected the following natural sequence of polytype formation: 2H → 2T → 1M that can be attributed to a decrease of temperature during crystallization. According to the information-based approach to structural complexity, this sequence corresponds to the increasing structural information per atom (IG): 1.522 → 1.706 → 2.440 bits, respectively. As the IG value contributes negatively to the configurational entropy of crystalline solids, the evolution of polytypic modifications during crystallization corresponds to the decreasing configurational entropy. This is in agreement with the general principle that decreasing temperature corresponds to the appearance of more complex structures.

A natural olivenite single crystal was submitted to in situ high-temperature single-crystal X-ray diffraction from room temperature (RT) to 500°C. Unit-cell parameters were measured at regular intervals of 25°C, and complete datasets collected at T = 25, 50, 100, 150, 200, 250, 300, 400 and 500°C. Evolution of unit-cell parameters and structure refinements indicates that olivenite undergoes a structural phase transition from P21/n to Pnnm at ~200°C, and eventually becomes isostructural with the other members of the olivenite-mineral group. Volume expansion with temperature is larger in the monoclinic phase – where it follows a non-linear trend – than in the orthorhombic one. Axial and volume expansion coefficients of the orthorhombic olivenite phase are positive and linear and similar to those of the other Cu-bearing member of the mineral family, namely libethenite, but rather different from those of the Zn-analogue arsenate adamite.

Distortion of Cu polyhedra is quite high in the olivenite monoclinic phase at RT and goes towards a relative regularization with increasing T until the phase transition occurs. In the orthorhombic phase, no significant variation of the polyhedral distortion parameters is observed with increasing temperature, and maximum expansion is along the b direction and governed by corner-sharing. Landau potential provides a good representation of the macroscopic changes associated with the phase transition, coupling between the strains and the order parameter is responsible for the nearly tricritical character of the transition.

Vymazalováite, Pd3Bi2S2 is a new platinum-group mineral discovered in the Komsomolsky mine of the Talnakh deposit, Noril'sk district, Russia. It forms small (from a few μm to 20–35 µm) inclusions or euhedral grains in intergrowths of polarite, sobolevskite, acanthite and unnamed (Pd,Ag)5BiS2 in aggregates (up to ~200 µm) in galena and rarely in chalcopyrite. It occurs with telargpalite, cooperite, braggite, vysotskite, sopcheite, stibiopalladinite, sobolevskite, moncheite, kotulskite, malyshevite, insizwaite, Au-bearing silver and the newly described mineral kravtsovite (PdAg2S) in association with pyrite, chalcopyrite and galena in vein-disseminated mineralization in skarn rocks. Synthetic vymazalováite is brittle; it has a metallic lustre and a grey streak. In plane-polarized reflected light, vymazalováite is creamy grey and appears slightly brownish against galena in the assemblage with chalcopyrite. It exhibits no internal reflections. Average reflectance values in air for natural and synthetic vymazalováite are (R natural, R synthetic in %) are: 46.35, 45.7 at 470 nm, 47.65, 47.45 at 546 nm, 48.5, 48.2 at 589 nm and 49.5, 49.0 at 650 nm. Seven electron probe micro-analyses of vymazalováite give an average composition: Pd 40.42, Bi 49.15, Ag 0.55, Pb 1.02, S 7.77 and Se 0.26, total 99.17 wt.%, corresponding to the empirical formula Pd3.05(Bi1.89Ag0.04Pb0.04)Σ1.97(S1.95Se0.03)Σ1.98 based on a total of 7 atoms per formula unit. The simplified formula is Pd3Bi2S2. The mineral is cubic, space group I213, with a = 8.3097(9) Å, V = 573.79(1) Å3 and Z = 4. The density calculated on the basis of the empirical formula and cell dimensions of synthetic vymazalováite is 9.25 g/cm3. The strongest lines in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern of synthetic vymazalováite [d in Å (I) (hkl)] are: 4.15(32)(200), 2.93(78)(220), 2.40(100)(220), 2.08(53)(400), 1.695(34)(422), 1.468(35)(440) and 1.252(31)(622). The structural identity of natural vymazalováite with synthetic Pd3Bi2S2 was confirmed by electron back-scatter diffraction measurements on the natural sample. This new mineral honours Dr Anna Vymazalová of the Czech Geological Survey, Prague.

Eudialyte-group minerals (EGM) are very common in highly evolved SiO2-undersaturated syenites and are characteristic minerals of agpaitic rocks. Conversely, they are extremely rare in peralkaline granites, with only a handful of EGM occurrences reported worldwide. Here, we study two new examples of EGM occurrence in two types of peralkaline pegmatitic granites from the Cenozoic Ambohimirahavavy complex, and assess the magmatic conditions required to crystallize EGM in peralkaline SiO2-oversaturated rocks. In the transitional granite (contains EGM as accessory minerals) EGM occur as late phases and are the only agpaitic and major rare-earth element (REE) bearing minerals. In the agpaitic granite (contains EGM as rock-forming minerals) EGM are early-magmatic phases occurring together with two other agpaitic minerals, nacareniobsite-(Ce) and turkestanite. In these granites, EGM are partly-to-completely altered and replaced by secondary assemblages consisting of zircon and quartz in the transitional granite and an unidentified Ca-Na zirconosilicate in the agpaitic granite. Ambohimirahavavy EGM, as well as those from other peralkaline granites and pegmatites, are richer in REE and poorer in Ca than EGM in nepheline syenites. We infer that magmatic EGM are rare in SiO2-oversaturated rocks because of low Cl concentrations in these melts. At Ambohimirahavavy, contamination of the parental magma of the agpaitic granite with Ca-rich material increased the solubility of Cl in the melt promoting EGM crystallization. In both granite types, EGM were destabilized by the late exsolution of a fluid and by interaction with an external Ca-bearing fluid.

The new mineral greenlizardite (IMA2017-001), (NH4)Na(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2·4H2O, was found in the Green Lizard mine, Red Canyon, San Juan County, Utah, USA, where it occurs as a secondary alteration phase. It is associated with ammoniozippeite, boussingaultite and dickite. It forms as light green-yellow blades up to ~0.3 mm long. The mineral is vitreous and transparent with a white streak. It fluoresces greenish blue in 405 nm light. Mohs hardness is ~2. Crystals are brittle with irregular fracture and two cleavages: perfect {001} and good {2$\bar 1$0}. Greenlizardite is easily soluble in room-temperature H2O. The calculated density is 3.469 g cm–3. Optically, it is biaxial (+) with α = 1.559(1), β = 1.582(1) and γ = 1.608(1) (measured in white light). The measured 2V is 88(1)°; the calculated 2V is 87.8°. Dispersion is moderate, r < v. Pleochroism is X = very pale yellow green, Y = pale yellow green and Z = light yellow green; X < Y < Z. The optical orientation is X ≈ c, Y ≈ a and Z ≈ b*. The Raman spectrum exhibits bands attributable to both sulfate and uranyl groups. Electron probe microanalyses (with H2O based on the crystal structure) yielded (NH4)0.98Na1.00U1.96S2.04O18.00H10.02. Greenlizardite is triclinic, P$\bar 1$, a = 6.83617(17), b = 9.5127(3), c = 13.8979(10) Å, α = 98.636(7), β = 93.713(7), γ = 110.102(8)°, V = 832.49(8) Å3 and Z = 2. The crystal structure (R1 = 2.39% for 2542 I > 2σI) contains edge-sharing dimers of UO7 pentagonal bipyramids. The dimers link by sharing corners with SO4 groups to form a [(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2]2– sheet based on the phosphuranylite anion topology. Zig-zag edge-sharing chains of NaO6 octahedra link adjacent [(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2]2– sheets, forming thick slabs. NH4 bonds to O atoms in adjacent slabs linking them together. H2O groups occupy channels in the slabs and space between the slabs.

A comparison of Rietveld refinement results for a bauxite-bearing regolith and its clayey cover in the Amazon region was made with stoichiometric calculations from chemical analysis and partly from thermogravimetric results. For this investigation a profile in the bauxite-bearing regolith occurrence in the ALCOA bauxite mine at Juruti, Brazil was studied. The different minerals, their compositions and their low crystallinity in the different horizons were investigated and the contents determined. It is evident that some minerals show several generations and some chemical composition changes that must be included in the Rietveld refinement. Al-rich hematites and goethites are common along the bauxite profile. Amorphous contents were determined with rutile added as an internal standard and shown to have gibbsite- or kaolinite-like composition. The minerals could be quantified in the different horizons and the difficulties were mainly related to variable crystalline aspects of the phases. Rietveld refinement can be a powerful tool in bauxite prospecting, quality control and during mining and beneficiation of ore minerals using the adapted refinement strategies.

Millsite, CuTeO3·2H2O, is a new mineral from Gråurdfjellet in Oppdal, Norway. It occurs as a minor secondary phase alongside teineite, other copper secondaries and relict primary tellurides in a boulder of quartz-rich granite, which is probably a glacial erratic. Millsite is bright cyan to royal blue in colour. The mineral is transparent to slightly translucent with a vitreous lustre and has a perfect (100) cleavage. It is brittle, has a conchoidal fracture and a pale green streak. Millsite is optically biaxial (+), α = 1.756(5), β = 1.794(5), γ = 1.925calc and 2Vmeas = 60(1)°. Millsite has monoclinic space group P21/c, with a = 7.4049(2) Å, b = 7.7873(2) Å, c = 8.5217(2) Å, β = 110.203(3)°, V = 461.17(2) Å3 and Z = 4. The empirical formula is Cu0.99(Te0.98Se0.02)O3(H2O)2. The five strongest reflections in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern are [dhkl in Å (hkl, Irel%)]: 6.954 (100, 100), 3.558 (012, 64), 2.838 (12$\bar 2$, 47), 2.675 (211, 43) and 3.175 (210, 39). The crystal structure has been determined to R1 = 0.016, wR2 = 0.036 and GooF = 1.049. The diagnostic structural unit of millsite consists of a Cu2O6(H2O)4 dimer that is decorated with four TeO3 groups connecting adjacent dimers and defining (100) heteropolyhedral sheets. These heteropolyhedral sheets are only connected by layers of structurally significant hydrogen bonds and correlate with the (100) cleavage. Millsite is a polymorph of teineite with a unique configuration of the M2O6(H2O)4 dimer that leads to a sheet topology. No isostructural selenium or tellurium analogue exists. The monoclinic polymorph (P21/c) of chalcomenite ‘monoclinic-CuSeO3·2H2O’ hereafter, ahlfeldite and MgSeO3·2H2O have M2O6(H2O)4 dimers, but their configuration differs significantly from that of millsite and leads to a framework topology rather than a sheet. Teineite does not have a dimeric structure and so is fundamentally different from millsite. The sheet topology of millsite appears to be unique among tellurites.