Orthorhombic edingtonite has been found coexisting with tetragonal edingtonite in a specimen from Ice River, British Columbia, Canada.

We report data on the composition and crystal structure of the orthorhombic sample. Lattice parameters are: a = 9.5341(6), b = 9.6446(6), c = 6.5108(7)Å, V = 598.68(8)Å 3. The crystal structure was refined in space group P 21212 to R1 = 1.8% using 879 observed reflections. For the first time, evidence for splitting of the extra-framework Ba site in two different sites (Ba1, Ba2), ~0.37 Å apart, is demonstrated. A comparison with the published crystal structures of tetragonal and orthorhombic edingtonite is made.

The present result supports the suggestion that the two edingtonite phases are a consequence of different nucleation phenomena and not different physicochemical conditions.

The turquoise group has the general formula: A0–1B6(PO4)4−x(PO3OH)x(OH)8.4H2O, where x = 0–2, and consists of six members: planerite, turquoise, faustite, aheylite, chalcosiderite and an unnamed Fe2+-Fe3+ analogue. The existence of ‘coeruleolactite’ is doubtful. Planerite is revalidated as a species and is characterized by a dominant A-site vacancy. Aheylite is established as a new member of the group, and is characterized by having Fe2+ dominant in the A-site.

Chemical analyses of 15 pure samples of microcrystalline planerite, turquoise, and aheylite show that a maximum of two of the (PO4) groups are protonated (PO3OH) in planerite. Complete solid solution exists between planerite and turquoise. Other members of the group show variable A-site vacancy as well. Most samples of ‘turquoise’ are cation-deficient or are planerite. Direct determination of water indicates that there are 4 molecules of water.

Planerite, ideally ☐Al6(PO4)2(PO3OH)2(OH)8.4H2O, is white, pale blue or pale green, and occurs as mamillary, botryoidal crusts as much as several mm thick; may also be massive; microcrystalline, crystals typically 2–4 micrometres, luster chalky to earthy, H. 5, somewhat brittle, no cleavage observed, splintery fracture, Dm 2.68(2), Dc 2.71, not magnetic, not fluorescent, mean RI about 1.60. a 7.505(2), b 9.723(3), c 7.814(2) Å, α 111.43°, β 115.56°, γ 68.69°, V 464.2(1) Å3, Z = 1.

Aheylite, ideally Fe2+Al6(PO4)4(OH)8.4H2O, is pale blue or green, and occurs as isolated and aggregate clumps of hemispherical or spherical, radiating to interlocked masses of crystals that average 3 micrometres in maximum dimension; porcelaneous-subvitreous luster, moderate to brittle tenacity, no cleavage observed, hackly to splintery fracture, not magnetic, not fluorescent, biax. (+), mean RI is about 1.63, Dm 2.84(2), Dc 2.90. a 7.400(1), b 9.896(1), c 7.627(1) Å, α 110.87°, β 115.00°, γ 69.96°, V 460.62(9) Å3, Z = 1.

Heyite (see preceding paper) is so strikingly similar to brackebuschite that a close comparison of the two species seemed advisable. Topotype brackebuschite (B.M. 55819) was used for this purpose.

Brackebuschite is a vanadate of lead, manganese, and iron, heyite a vanadate of lead and iron. Both species are monoclinic with diffraction symmetry P21 or P21/m. The X-ray cells are remarkably close: a = 8·810, 8·910; b = 6·155, 6·017; c = 7·651, 7·734; β = 111° 30′, 111° 53′ (brackebuschite first). As might be expected, powder patterns are strikingly close as well.

Other than the similarities noted above, the minerals differ so fundamentally that they cannot be the same—they are valid and distinct species. Optic orientations show α: [001] 20° (in acute β) for brackebuschite, 36° (in obtuse β) for heyite. Indices are (brackebuschite first): α 2·28, 2·185; β 2·38, 2·219; γ 2·49, 2·266 for the sodium D line.

Chemical differences are irreconcilable and reaffirm brackebuschite as Pb2(Mn,Fe,Zn)(VO4)2.H2O while heyite is Pb5Fe2(VO4)2O4.

A specimen of zirconolite, collected from the type locality of the mineral originally described as zirkelite at Jacupiranga, São Paulo, Brazil has been re-examined and its mineral chemistry more completely characterized. All crystals studied are metamict and display very fine lamellar oscillatory zoning (1–3 µm in width) superimposed on a sector zonation. Such zoning, observed in backscattered electron images, is primarily related to differences in the concentration of Th.

In comparison with other reported zirconolite samples from a variety of geological occurrences, Jacupiranga zirconolite has higher Ca, Th, (Nb + Ta) and lower Ti and REE, which is consistent with its occurrence in carbonatitic rocks. The compositional variation with respect to an ideal zirconolite is described by two main coupled substitutions:

Calzirtite, Ca2Zr5Ti2O16, although intergrown with zirconolite and with identical major components, shows much less compositional variability with only minor amounts of Nb and Ta substituting for Ti. Unlike zirconolite, the REE and actinide elements are not easily accommodated in the calzirtite structure.

The hydrothermal fahlore deposits of the Schwaz-Brixlegg district have been mined for silver and copper over many centuries and are famous as the type locality of the mercurian fahlore variety ‘schwazite’. The ore is dominantly monomineralic fahlore and occurs as stratabound, discordant vein, and breccia bodies over a 20 km belt hosted mostly by the Devonian Schwaz Dolomite. The structural style of the mineralization is similar to that of Mississippi Valley type deposits.

This study presents the first electron microprobe analyses of the ores and reveals wide variations in fahlore compositions, from 35 to 100 wt.% tetrahedrite end-member in the solid solution series with tennantite. Sb and Zn contents vary between 12.1–28.0 wt.% and 0.1–7.6 wt.%, respectively. Silver contents average 0.5 wt.% and range up to 2.0 wt.%. In the breccia-hosted ores these variations clearly result from a temporal evolution in the ore-forming hydrothermal system: main-stage tetrahedrite is replaced by assemblages of Sb-, Fe-, and Ag-enriched tetrahedrite + enargite, with minor sphalerite ± stibnite ± cuprian pyrite (≤ 25 wt.% Cu). These reactions are deduced to result from either increases in aqueous sulphur activity or falling temperature. Earlier workers recognized strong geographic zonation of fahlore compositions, but our microprobe analyses refute these contentions.

The 1167 new microprobe analyses of 51 fahlore samples collected underground or obtained from museum collections yield an average Hg content of 1.8 wt.%, and a maximum of 9.4 wt.%. According to modern nomenclature, not even the highest Hg value qualifies as ‘schwazite’. Moreover, it appears that the original and only analysis of ‘schwazite’, reporting 15.6 wt.% Hg (Weidenbusch, 1849), was erroneously performed on a polymineralic aggregate, rather than on a monomineralic fahlore. We conclude that the Schwaz-Brixlegg fahlores are in fact not unusually rich in mercury, and that in all probability there is not, and never has been, any ‘schwazite’ at Schwaz.

The chemical composition of unaltered biotites extracted from 18 Lower Palaeozoic metabentonites from Sweden, Norway and Scotland was determined. Discrimination based on FeO, MgO and TiO2 proved able to separate the metabentonites on the basis of their stratigraphical age. A triangular discrimination diagram using MgO, FeO and Al2O3 classified the biotites as calc-alkaline. Independent support for the discriminant power of FeO, MgO and TiO2 in biotite comes from Sr isotope ratios and Sr concentration data from cognate apatite crystals. Within this dataset Caradocian and Llandoverian metabentonites have unique biotite compositions, while Wenlockian samples can be characterized to a lesser degree. Biotite composition also supported the correlation of a pair of metabentonites from Norway known to form part of the same horizon. Biotite in metabentonites preserves the chemical signature of the host magmas in which it crystallized and can be used to discriminate between metabentonites of different ages and provenance.

A zeolite found in a soil profile developed in Danian chalk was studied. The results showed that it is a heulandite, temperature-stable to above 600°C with a Si/Al ratio of 2.88 and almost completely K-exchanged. The mineral probably formed under burial diagenetic conditions in the chalk formation.

Optical microscopy of doubly polished thin sections of North Pennine sphalerite has revealed a range of previously unrecognised textures for the Alston Block mineralisation. Delicate growth zoning, interrupted by numerous solution disconformities, was seen in transmitted light. Two principal varieties of growth-banded sphalerite are recognised; the earlier (Type 1) is characterised by the development of thin opaque bands. Type 2 has colour bands between yellow and brown, correlated with iron content. In Type 1, iron levels (up to 3 wt.%) are not sufficient to account for the observed opacity. Ultra-violet and infra-red techniques failed to detect any organic inclusions. Electron microscopy revealed locally high concentrations of sub-micrometre inclusions, both beam-stable and beam-unstable, and a variety of growth-related crystal defects.

Fluid inclusion thermometry in both sphalerite varieties and the accompanying quartz gangue implies a saline mineralising fluid (20–25 wt.% equiv. NaCl) at a relatively low temperature (100° to 140°C). Tubular inclusions are conspicuous. A deformation-induced lamelliform optical anisotropy is superimposed on a growth-related grid-iron anisotropy. Growth band offset is apparent where the deformation fabric cross-cuts the growth banding. Deformation on {111} twin and slip planes was indicated by electron microscopy.

Hectorite was synthesized from a Eu(III)-bearing brucite precursor in a multistep procedure. In a separate experiment, Eu(III) ions were adsorbed onto hectorite in suspension. Colloids were extracted from both samples. The size distributions in the colloidal fractions were characterizedby application of the asymmetrical flow field-flow fractionation (AsFlFFF) method and the corresponding elemental compositions were obtained by ICP-MS. Extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) spectroscopy was used to characterize the local chemical environment surrounding Eu in thebulk samples and in the colloidal fractions.

The EXAFS results show that Eu is associated with hectorite upon co-precipitation or adsorption. Results from AsFlFFF suggest that Eu is structurally associated with the colloidal fraction extracted from bulk Eu-bearing co-precipitated hectorite.The AsFlFFF data are different for the colloidal fraction containing Eu(III) adsorbed on hectorite; in this sample they are consistent with a surface retention mechanism. These small but significant differences enable surface sorbed Eu to be distinguished from co-precipitated Eu. Eu is verylikely located in a clay-like environment in the co-precipitation experiment, and it forms inner-sphere surface complexes in the adsorption experiment. The results obtained using the different experimental techniques agree, and show the benefits of using multiple methods of analysis.

Trivalent europium was used as non-radioactive chemical homologue for trivalent actinides. Similar retention mechanisms are expected for the trivalent actinides if they are co-precipitating with or adsorbing onto sheet silicates. The present study provides information which can be usefullyadded to the safety assessments required for deeply buried nuclear waste disposal sites.

Backscattered electron imaging of cordierite-muscovite intergrowths near the margin of a schist xenolith in trachytic tephra of the Wehr Volcano, East Eifel area, Germany, show that they have undergone disequilibrium melting to form spinel + biotite + sillimanite/?mullite + peraluminous melt. Textures indicate that in the initial stage of reaction, spinel, biotite and sillimanite/?mullite formed with melt produced in cordierite and spinel + ?mullite with melt after muscovite, providing evidence of two different reaction pathways. Fe-Mg distributions between biotite/spinel, cordierite/spinel, cordierite/ biotite suggest a melting temperature of ∼770°C, implying overstepping of various calculated and experimentally determined mineral breakdown curves of between 30 and 170°C during short-term heating before the xenolith was quenched on eruption.