Lucchesiite, CaFe32+Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3O, is a new mineral of the tourmaline supergroup. It occurs in the Ratnapura District, Sri Lanka (6°35'N, 80°35'E), most probably from pegmatites and in Mirošov near Strážek, western Moravia, Czech Republic, (49°27'49.38"N, 16°9'54.34"E) in anatectic pegmatite contaminated by host calc-silicate rock. Crystals are black with a vitreous lustre, conchoidal fracture and grey streak. Lucchesiite has a Mohs hardnessof ∼7 and a calculated density of 3.209 g/cm3 (Sri Lanka) to 3.243 g/cm3 (Czech Republic). In plane-polarized light, lucchesiite is pleochroic (O = very dark brown and E = light brown) and uniaxial (–). Lucchesiite is rhombohedral, space group R3m, a ≈ 16.00 Å, c ≈ 7.21 Å, V ≈ 1599.9 Å3, Z = 3. The crystal structure of lucchesiite was refined to R1 ≈ 1.5% using ∼2000 unique reflections collected with MoKα X-ray intensity data. Crystal-chemical analysis for the Sri Lanka (holotype) and Czech Republic (cotype) samples resulted in the empirical formulae, respectively: X(Ca0.69Na0.30K0.02)∑1.01Y(Fe1.442+Mg0.72Al0.48Ti0.334+V0.023+Mn0.013+Zn0.01)∑3.00Z(Al4.74Mg1.01Fe0.253+)∑6.00[T(Si5.85Al0.15)∑6.00O18](BO3)3V(OH)3W[O0.69F0.24(OH)0.07]∑1.00and X(Ca0.49Na0.45□0.05 K0.01)∑1.00Y(Fe1.142+Fe0.953+Mg0.42Al0.37Mn0.03Ti0.084+Zn0.01)∑3.00Z(Al5.11Fe0.383+Mg0.52)∑6.00[T(Si5.88Al0.12)∑6.00O18](BO3)3V[(OH)2.66O0.34]∑3.00W(O0.94F0.06)∑1.00.

Lucchesiite is an oxy-species belonging to the calcic group of the tourmaline supergroup. The closest end-member composition of a valid tourmaline species is that of feruvite, to which lucchesiite is ideally related by the heterovalent coupled substitution ZAl3++O1O2– ↔ ZMg2+ + O1(OH)1–. The new mineral was approved by the International Mineralogical Association Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (IMA 2015-043).

The compositions of trioctahedral micas from 51 samples of granitoids with different geochemical affiliations and grades of differentiation from the Bohemian Massif, Central Europe, were analysed using electron microprobe (major elements) and laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (Li, Sc, Ga, Ge, Nb, In, Sn, Cs, Ta, W, Tl). The micas form a continuous evolutionary series from phlogopite to zinnwaldite. The phlogopites and biotites from the I-type rocks are characterized by 5.5–5.7 Si, 2.4–2.6 Al, <0.1 Li atoms per formula unit [apfu] and Mg/(Mg + Fe) = 0.4–0.8. The biotites from the S-type granites usually contain 5.3–5.7 Si, 3.2–3.6 Al, 0.1–0.3 Li apfu and Mg/(Mg + Fe) = 0.15–0.4. The annites and zinnwaldites from the rare-metal granites contain 5.7–6.8 Si, 3.2–3.8 Al, 0.6–2.6 Li apfu and Mg/(Mg + Fe) < 0.1. The concentrations of F, Rb, Cs and Tl increase from the phlogopites and biotites to zinnwaldites: F 0.1 → 8 wt.%, Rb2O 0.05 → 1.7 wt.%, Tl 2 → 50 ppm and Cs 40 → 2000 ppm. The concentrations of Sn, Nb, Ta and W in phlogopites and biotites from the I- and S-type granitoids generally correlate with those of the parent rocks and reach values of (in ppm) 20–100 Sn, 20–250 Nb, 1–20 Ta and <5 W. The highest concentrations were found in the Li-annites in the relatively early facies of rare-metal granites (in ppm): 250–600 Sn, 400–600 Nb, 60–120 Ta and 50– 120 W. The zinnwaldites in the late rare-metal granites facies are impoverished in these elements, which is explained by contemporaneous crystallization of cassiterite and columbite. Lithium enters the crystal lattice of trioctahedral micas via the exchange vector Li3□Si3Fe–6Al–1 up to concentrations of ∼2.5 wt.% Li2O (1.5 apfu Li). At higher Li concentrations, Li is incorporated through the exchange vector Li3Si1□–1 Fe–2Al–1.

Bohseite is an orthorhombic calcium beryllium aluminosilicate with variable Al content and an endmember formula Ca4Be4Si9O24(OH4), that was discovered in the Piława Górna quarry in the eastern part of the Góry Sowie Block, ∼50 km southwest of Wrocław, SW Poland. It occurs in a zoned anatectic pegmatite dyke in close association with microcline, Cs-rich beryl, phenakite, helvite, 'lepidolite', probably bertrandite and unidentified Be-containing mica as alteration products after a primary Be mineral, probably beryl. Bohseite forms fan-like or parallel aggregates (up to 0.7 cm) of white, platy crystals (up to 2 mm long) with characteristic striations. It is white with a white streak, is translucent and has a vitreous lustre; it does not fluoresce under ultraviolet light. The cleavage is perfect on {001} and fair on {010}, and neither parting nor twinning was observed. Bohseite is brittle with a splintery fracture and Mohs hardness is 5–6. The calculated density is 2.719 g cm–3. The indices of refraction are α= 1.579, β = 1.580,γ = 1.597, all ±0.002; 2Vobs = 24(3)°, 2Vcalc = 27°; the optic orientation is as follows: X ^ a = 16.1°, Y ^ b = 16.1°, Z // c Bohseite shows orthorhombic diffraction symmetry, space group Cmcm, a = 23.204(6), b = 4.9442(9), c = 19.418(6) Å, V = 2227.7(4) Å3, Z = 4. The crystal structure was refined to an R1 value of 2.17% based on single-crystal data, and the chemical composition was determined by electron-microprobe analysis. Bohseite is isostructural with bavenite. Bohseite was originally approved with an end-member composition of Ca4Be3AlSi9O25(OH)3, but subsequent discovery of compositions with Be > 3.0 apfu led to redefinition of its end-member composition, holotype sample and locality, as reported here. There is extensive solid solution in bavenite–bohseite according to the scheme O(2)OH– + T(4)Si4+ + T(3)Be2+ ↔ O(2)O2– + T(4)Al3++ T(3)Si4+, and a general formula for the bavenite–bohseite minerals may be written as Ca4BexSi9Al4–xO28–x(OH)x, where x ranges from 2–4 apfu: Ca4Be2Si9Al2O26(OH)2 (bavenite) to Ca4Be4Si9O24(OH)4 (bohseite).

Boscardinite, ideally TlPb4(Sb7As2)∑9S18, has been described recently as a new homeotypic derivative of baumhauerite, found at Monte Arsiccio mine, Apuan Alps, Tuscany, Italy. New findings of boscardinite in different mineral associations of this deposit have allowed the collection of new crystal-chemical data. Electron-microprobe analysis of the crystal used for the single-crystal X-ray diffraction study gave (in wt.%): Ag 1.81(5), Tl 12.60(21), Pb 17.99(12), Hg 0.14(5), As 9.36(12), Sb 33.60(27), S 23.41(30),Cl 0.06(1), total 98.97(100). On the basis of ∑Me = 14 apfu, it corresponds to Ag0.42Tl1.52Pb2.14Hg0.02 (Sb6.82As3.08)∑9.90S18.04Cl0.04. With respect to the type specimen, these new findings are characterized by a strong Pb depletion, coupled with higher Tl contents, and a significant As enrichment. The single-crystal X-ray diffraction study of this (Tl,As)-enriched boscardinite confirms the structural features described for the type sample. The unit-cell parameters are a = 8.1017(4), b = 8.6597(4), c = 22.5574(10) Å, α = 90.666(2), β = 97.242(2), γ = 90.850(2)°, V = 1569.63(12) Å3, space group P̄1. The crystal structure was refined down to R1 = 0.0285 on the basis of 6582 reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo). Arsenic is dominant in three MeS3 sites, compared to one in type boscardinite. The main As-enrichment is observed in the sartorite-type sub-layer. Owing to this chemical peculiarity, (Tl, As)-rich boscardinite shows alternation, along b, of Sb-rich sites and As-rich sites; this feature represents the main factor controlling the 8 Å superstructure. The chemical variability of boscardinite is discussed; the Ag increase observed here gets closer to stoichiometric AgTl3Pb4(Sb14As6)∑20S36 (Z = 1), against possible extension up to AgTl2Pb6(Sb15As4)∑19S36 for type boscardinite.

Eleonorite, ideally Fe63+(PO4)4O(OH)4·6H2O, the analogue of beraunite Fe2+Fe53+(PO4)4O(OH)5·6H2O with Fe2+ completely substituted by Fe3+, has been approved by the International Mineralogical Association Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification as a mineral species (IMA 2015-003). The mineral was first described on material from the Eleonore Iron mine, Dünsberg, near Giessen, Hesse, Germany, but during this study further samples were required and a neotype locality is the Rotläufchen mine, Waldgirmes, Wetzlar, Hesse, Germany, where eleonorite is associated with goethite, rockbridgeite, dufrénite, kidwellite, variscite, matulaite, planerite, cacoxenite, strengite and wavellite. Usually eleonorite occurs as red-brown prismatic crystals up to 0.2 mm × 0.5 mm × 3.5 mm in size and in random or radial aggregates up to 5 mm across encrusting cavities in massive 'limonite'. The mineral is brittle. Its Mohs hardness is 3. Dmeas = 2.92(1), Dcalc = 2.931 g cm–3. The IR spectrum is given. Eleonorite is optically biaxial (+), α = 1.765(4), β = 1.780(5), γ = 1.812(6), 2Vmeas = 75(10)°, 2Vcalc = 70°. The chemical composition (electron microprobe data, H2O analysed by chromatography of products of ignition at 1200°C, wt.%) is: Al2O3 1.03, Mn2O3 0.82, Fe2O3 51.34, P2O5 31.06, H2O 16.4, total 99.58. All iron was determined as being trivalent from a Mössbauer analysis. The empirical formula (based on 27 O apfu) is (Fe5.763+Al0.18Mn0.093+)∑6.03(PO4)3.92O(OH)4.34·5.98H2O. The crystal structure (R = 0.0633) is similar to that of beraunite and is based on a heteropolyhedral framework formed by M(1–4)Ø6-octahedra (where M = Fe3+; Ø = O2–, OH– or H2O) and isolated PO4 tetrahedra, with a wide channel occupied by H2O molecules. Eleonorite is monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 20.679(10), b = 5.148(2), c = 19.223(9) Å, β = 93.574(9)°, V = 2042.5(16) Å3 and Z = 4. The strongest reflections of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, Å (I,%) (Hkl)] are 10.41 (100) (200), 9.67 (38) (002), 7.30 (29) (202̄), 4.816 (31) (111, 004), 3.432 (18) (600, 114, 404, 313), 3.197 (18) (510, 511̄, 006, 314̄, 602), 3.071 (34) (314, 115̄).

Zircon from two types of orthogneisses (inheritance-rich and inheritance-poor) from Sierra Nevada (Betic Cordillera, Spain) was investigated by integrating U–Pb geochronology, cathodoluminescence and back-scattered SEM imaging, laser-ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry analyses and Raman spectroscopy to examine the conditions of magmatic zircon growth and the variable extent and mechanisms of the Alpine modifications. Zircon from inheritance-rich gneiss consists of two main domains: inherited (Neoproterozoic-to-Early Paleozoic and Devonian) cores and magmatic overgrowths, which provided 206Pb/238U concordant ages of 286 ± 3 Ma. In inheritance-poor gneiss, zircons consist of magmatic cores and very altered rims defining a discordia with an upper intercept with the Concordia at 287 + 21 –22 Ma and a lower intercept at 20.8 + 48.6 –20.8 Ma. Magmatic domains of zircon from inheritance-rich gneiss have lower rare-earth element (REE) contents than magmatic domains from inheritance-poor gneiss, reflecting the less evolved nature of the melt. Altered domains in zircon from inheritance-poor gneisss how greater U concentrations, lower REE concentrations and lower Th/U ratios relative to the cores, interpreted as representing Pb loss from the U-rich magmatic domains during the Alpine event. Morphological changes within single grains and between populations reflects the evolution during magmatic cooling. We show that, whereas classic methods allow two different interpretations for the geodynamic setting of the two types of gneisses, a complete study of composition, morphology and structure of zircon can help to decide that a model based on a common source for the granitic melt better fits the zircon characteristics than a model based on melts generated in two different geotectonic settings.

The new mineral, dyrnaesite-(La), is found in the Ilímaussaq alkaline complex, South Greenland. The holotype material originates from an arfvedsonite lujavrite sheet as an accessory mineral. Dyrnaesite-(La) is pale yellowish green, with no cleavage and an irregular fracture. Density is 3.68(2)/3.682 g/cm3 (measured/ calculated). It is biaxial, negative, 2Vα = 47(1)/48 (measured/calculated); α = 1.6226(5), β = 1.6852(10), γ = 1.6982(2); X = c, Y = a, Z = b. The average values of microprobe analyses are (wt.%) P2O5 37.17, SiO2 0.15, CaO 0.90, Na2O 20.06, La2O3 16.44, CeO2 20.23, Pr2O3 1.40, Nd2O3 3.47, Sm2O3 0.24, Dy2O3 0.06, Y2O3 0.06.

The crystal structure was solved from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. Dyrnaesite-(La) is orthorhombic, Pnma; a = 18.4662(7) Å, b = 16.0106(5) Å, c = 7.0274(2) Å, V = 2077.7(2) Å3, Z = 4. The structural formula calculated from the diffraction data and microprobe analysis is Na7.89(Ce0.94Ca0.06)∑1.00(Ca0.12La1.14Ce0.40Pr0.10Nd0.24)∑2.00(PO4)6, the simplified formula is Na8Ce4+REE2(PO4)6. The crystal structure is related closely to that of vitusite-(Ce), but is distinct from it in several aspects. The five strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern are (d Å, (I %), (hkl)); 6.57 (100) (101), 4.62 (40) (301, 230, 400), 3.50 (40) (331), 2.80 (86) (232, 402), 2.67 (54) (060,630).

Odigitriaite, a new Cs, Na, Ca borosilicate mineral, was discovered in moraine adjacent to the Darai-Pioz alkaline massif in the upper reaches of the Darai-Pioz river at the intersection of the Turkestansky, Zeravshansky and Alaisky mountain ridges, Tajikistan. It occurs as irregular thin flakes associated with quartz, pectolite, baratovite, fluorite, pekovite, polylithionite, aegirine, leucosphenite, pyrochlore, neptunite, reedmergnerite, mendeleevite-(Ce), zeravshanite and sokolovaite. It is colourless with a white streak, is translucent and has a vitreous lustre; it does not fluoresce under ultraviolet light. Odigitriaite is brittle with an uneven fracture and a Mohs hardness of 5. The calculated density is 2.80(2) g/cm3. The indices of refraction are α = 1.502, β = 1.564, γ = 1.576; 2Vobs = 46(2)°, dispersion is weak r > v, and there is no pleochroism. The chemical composition is as follows (electron microprobe, H2O calculated from structure): SiO2 55.30, Al2O3 0.09, Y2O3 0.44, MnO 0.94, FeO 0.10, PbO 0.21, K2O 0.01 Cs2O 8.36, B2O3 4.75, H2O 0.37, F 1.74, O = F2 –0.74, total 99.43 wt.%. The empirical formula of odigitriaite is Cs0.90Na5.12Ca4.68Mn0.20Y0.06Fe0.02Pb0.01[Si13.92Al0.03B2.06O38]F1.39(OH)0.62. The end-member formula is CsNa5Ca5[Si14B2O38]F2. The strong reflections in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern are: [(d, Å), (I, %), (hkl)]: 5.45 (25) (1 1 3), 4.66 (33) (3 1 1), 4.40 (26) (0 2 2), 4.10 (36) (3 1 3), 3.95 (25) (3̄ 1 3), 2.85 (31) (2 2 2), 2.68 (40) (0 0 6), 3.62 (45) (0 2 4), 3.35 (100) (2̄ 2 4), 3.31 (30) (3̄ 1 5), 3.25 (35) (4 0 4), 3.04 (60) (4̄ 2 2), 2.925 (22) (4̄ 2 3), 1.813 (23) (9 1 0). Odigitriaite is monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 16.652(5), b = 9.598 (3), c = 22.120(7) Å, β= 92.875(14)°, V = 3530.9(1.9) Å3, Z = 4. The crystal structure of odigitriaite was solved by direct methods and refined to an R 1 value of 2.75% based on single-crystal X-ray data. It is a double-layer sheet-borosilicate mineral; Cs and Na are intercalated within the double-layer sheet, and the double layers are linked by interstitial Ca and Na atoms.

Natural samples of the substituted basic Cu(II) chloride series, Cu4–xMx2+(OH)6Cl2(M = Zn, Ni, or Mg) were investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction in order to elucidate compositional boundaries associated with paratacamite and its congeners. The compositional ranges examined are Cu3.65Zn0.35(OH)6Cl2 – Cu3.36Zn0.64(OH)6Cl2 and Cu3.61Ni0.39(OH)6Cl2 – Cu3.13Ni0.87(OH)6Cl2, along with a single Mg-bearing phase. The majority of samples studied have trigonal symmetry (R3̄m) analogous to that of herbertsmithite (Zn) and gillardite (Ni), with a ≈ 6.8, c ≈ 14.0 Å. Crystallographic variations for these samples caused by composition are compared with both published and new data for the R3̄m sub-cell of paratacamite, paratacamite-(Mg) and paratacamite-(Ni). The observed trends suggest that the composition of end-members associated with the paratacamite congeners depend upon the nature of the substituting cation.

Mendeleevite-(Nd), (Cs,□)6(□,Cs)6(□,K)6(REE,Ca)30(Si70O175)(OH,H2O,F)35 is a new mineral from the Darai-Pioz alkaline massif, Tajikistan. Mendeleevite-(Nd) was found in a pectolite aggregate in silexites (quartz-rich rocks) which consist of fine to medium pectolite grains, quartz, aegirine and fluorite, with minor khvorovite, mendeleevite-(Ce), sokolovaite, hyalotekite, orlovite, kirchhoffite, pekovite, neptunite, zeravshanite, senkevichite, nordite-(Nd), alamosite, pyrochlore-group minerals and baratovite. Mendeleevite-(Nd) forms colourless cubic crystals 10–40 μm in size; it has a vitreous lustre and a Mohs hardness of 5–5.5; Dmeas. = 3.20(2) g/cm3, Dcalc. = 3.155 g/cm3. Mendeleevite-(Nd) is optically isotropic, with the refractive index n = 1.582(2). Mendeleevite-(Nd) is cubic, space group Pm3̄, a = 21.9106(4) Å; Z = 2. The six strongest reflections in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern are [d (Å), I (%), (h k l)] are: 11.01, 100, (0 0 2); 15.63, 55, (0 1 1); 3.47, 42, (2 0 6); 3.099, 42, (3 4 5); 2.192, 42, (0 0 10); 1.819, 41, (3 6 10). Chemical analysis by electron microprobe gave SiO2 42.30, Ce2O3 10.12, La2O3 3.60, Nd2O3 16.19, Pr2O3 2.79, Sm2O3 4.19, Gd2O3 1.69, Eu2O3 0.47, SrO 2.99, CaO 2.20, Cs2O 8.50, K2O 0.85, H2O 3.85, F 1.25, –O = F2 –0.53, sum 100.46 wt.%, with H2O calculated by analogy with mendeleevite-(Ce). The empirical formula based on 210 (O + F) apfu, with F + OH + H2O = 35 pfu, is Cs6(□4.20K1.80)∑6{[(Nd9.57Ce6.13Sm2.39La2.20Pr1.68Gd0.93Eu0.27)∑23.17(Ca3.90Sr2.87)∑6.77]∑29.94□0.06}∑30(Si70.03O175)(OH14.47F6.54)∑21.01 (H2O)14, Z = 2. The simplified and ideal formulae are (Cs,□)6 (□,Cs)6(□,K)6 (REE,Ca)30 (Si70O175)(OH, H2O,F)35 and Cs6(REE23Ca7)(Si70O175)(OH,F)19(H2O)16, respectively. The compatibility index (from measured density) = – 0.039 (excellent). Mendeleevite-(Nd) is a Nd analogue of mendeleevite-(Ce), (Cs,□)6(□,Cs)6(□,K)6(REE,Ca,□)30(Si70O175)(H2O,OH,F,□)35. Both minerals are named after Dmitri Mendeleev (1834–1907), the great Russian chemist, author of the periodic table of chemical elements, who has had a significant impact on the development of natural sciences and industry, both in Russia and around the world.

Here we report a nomenclature and classification for the astrophyllite-supergroup minerals. The HOH block is the main structural unit in all astrophyllite-supergroup structures; it consists of three H–O–H sheets where the T4O12 astrophyllite ribbons occur in the H sheets. In each structure, HOH blocks alternate with I (Intermediate) blocks along [001]. The twelve minerals of the astrophyllite supergroup are divided into three groups based on (1) the type of self-linkage of HOH blocks, i.e. (a) HOH blocks link directly where they share common vertices of D octahedra, or (b) HOH blocks do not link directly; and (2) the dominant cation of the O sheet (the C group: C7 apfu). In the astrophyllite group (HOH blocks connect via D– XDP–D bridges, Fe2+ is dominant at C7), there are six minerals: astrophyllite, niobophyllite, zircophyllite, tarbagataite, nalivkinite and bulgakite. In the kupletskite group (HOH blocks connect via D–XDP–D bridges, Mn2+ is dominant at C7), there are three minerals: kupletskite, niobokupletskite and kupletskite-(Cs). In the devitoite group (HOH blocks do not connect via D–XDP–D bridges), there are three minerals: devitoite, sveinbergeite and lobanovite. The general formula for the astrophyllite-supergroup minerals is of the form A2pBrC7D2(T4O12)2IXD2OXA4OXDnPWA2, where C [cations at the M(1–4) sites in the O sheet] = Fe2+, Mn, Na, Mg, Zn, Fe3+, Ca, Zr, Li; D (cations in the H sheets) = [6,5]Ti, Nb, Zr, Sn4+ , [5]Fe3+, Mg, Al; T = Si, minor Al; A2pBrIWA2 (I block) where p = 1,2; r = 1,2; A = K, Cs, Ba, H2O, Li, Rb, Pb2+, Na,□; B = Na, Ca, Ba, H2O,□; I represents the composition of the central part of the I block, excluding peripheral layers of the form A2pBrWA2, e.g. (PO4)2(CO3) (devitoite); XDO = O; XAO = OH, F; XDP = F, O, OH, H2O,□, where n = 0, 1, 2 for (XDP)n; WA = H2O,□.

The new mineral joanneumite was found at Pabellón de Pica Mountain, Iquique Province, Tarapacá Region, Chile, where it occurs as violet microcrystalline aggregates up to 2 mm in size in small cracks in a gabbroic rock, which is covered by a guano deposit. Associated minerals are salammoniac, dittmarite, möhnite and gypsum. Joanneumite is non-fluorescent and the Mohs hardness is 1. The calculated density is 2.020 g cm–3. The infrared spectrum of joanneumite shows the frequencies of NH3 and isocyanurate groups and the absence of absorptions of H2O molecules and OH– ions. The chemical composition (electron microprobe data, the hydrogen was calculated from the structural formula, wt.%) is C 20.33, N 31.11, O 28.34, Cu 17.27, Zn 0.24, H 2.82, total 100.11. The empirical formula is Cu0.96Zn0.01N7.84C5.98O6.25H9.96 and the idealized formula is CuN8C6O6H10 with the structural formula Cu(C3N3O3H2)2(NH3)2. Due to the lack of suitable single crystals the synthetic analogue of joanneumite was prepared for the single-crystal structure refinement. The crystal structure was solved and refined to R = 0.025 based upon 1166 unique reflections with I > 2σ (I). Joanneumite is triclinic, space group P1̄, a = 4.982(1), b = 6.896(1), c = 9.115(2) Å, α = 90.53(3), β = 97.85(3), γ = 110.08(3)°, V = 290.8(1) Å3, Z = 1 obtained from single-crystal data at 100 K, which are in good agreement with cell parameters from powder diffraction data of joanneumite at 293 K: a = 5.042(1), b = 6.997(1), c = 9.099(2) Å, α = 90.05(3), β = 98.11(2), γ = 110.95(3)° and V = 296.3(1) Å3. The eight strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern are [d, Å (I,%) (hkl)] 6.52 (68) (010), 5.15 (47) (011), 4.66 (21) (100, 110), 4.35 (9) (1̄11), 3.29 (6) (1̄20), 3.22 (7) (1̄1̄1), 3.140 (100) (1̄21), 2.074 (7) (1̄32). The crystal structure of joanneumite is identical with the structure of synthetic bis(isocyanurato) diamminecopper(II).

In the manganesiferous ores associated with the metacherts of the ophiolitic sequences at the Cerchiara mine, Eastern Liguria (Italy), a new Mn-bearing mineral belonging to the mica group has been recently found and characterized. High resolution transmission electron microscopy and electron diffraction tomography studies confirm that the mineral belongs to the mica group. Unit-cell parameters from the powder diffraction pattern are: a = 5.149(1), b = 8.915(1), c = 10.304(1) Å, β = 102.03(1)°, space group C2 or C2/m. On the basis of the electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopic results, the Mn4+ content represents a very subordinate fraction of the total Mn, the remaining occurring as Mn3+. The Raman spectrum clearly indicates the presence of OH groups in the structure. Laser-ablation inductively-coupled-plasma mass-spectrometry measurements assess the presence of considerable amounts of Li.

Assuming all Mn as Mn3+ and 22 negative charges, the empirical formula can be expressed as: (K0.83□0.17)(Mn1.143+Mg0.80Li0.20Fe0.023+)(Si3.89Al0.10)O10[(OH)1.92F0.08] with the sum of the octahedral cations indicating a 'transitional' character between a di- and a tri-octahedral structure. This formula corresponds ideally to the Mn3+ analogue of celadonite, thus expanding the range of solid solution in the celadonite family. The ideal end-member formula KMn3+MgSi4O10(OH)2 can be easily related to celadonite by the homovalent substitution VIMn3+ → VIFe3+. The mineral and its name have been approved by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification of the International Mineralogical Association, (IMA 2015-052).

Lobanovite, K2Na(Fe42+Mg2Na)Ti2(Si4O12)2O2(OH)4, is a new mineral of the astrophyllite supergroup from Mt. Yukspor, the Khibiny alkaline massif, Kola Peninsula Russia. It has been known previously under the following names: monoclinic astrophyllite, magnesium astrophyllite, magnesiumastrophyllite and magnesioastrophyllite but has never been formally proposed and approved as a valid mineral species by the Commission on new Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification of the International Mineralogical Association. It has now been revalidated and named lobanovite after Dr. Konstantin V. Lobanov, a prominent Russian ore geologist who worked in the Kola Peninsula for more than forty years (Nomenclature voting proposal 15-B). Lobanovite has been described from pegmatitic cavities on Mt. Yukspor where it occurs as elongated bladed crystals, up to 0.04 mm wide and 0.2 mm long, with a straw yellow to orange colour. Associated minerals are shcherbakovite, lamprophyllite, delindeite, wadeite, umbite and kostylevite. Lobanovite is biaxial (–) with refractive indices (λ = 589 nm) α = 1.658, βcalc. = 1.687, γ = 1.710; 2Vmeas. = 81.5– 83°. Lobanovite is monoclinic, space group C2/m, a = 5.3327(2), b = 23.1535(9), c = 10.3775(4) Å, β = 99.615(1)°, V = 1263.3 (1) Å 3, Z = 2. The six strongest reflections in the powder X-ray diffraction data [d (Å), I, (hkl)] are: 3.38, 100, (003); 2.548, 90, (063); 10.1, 80, (001); 3.80, 60, (042,131); 3.079, 50, (132,062); 2.763, 90, (1̄71). The chemical composition of lobanovite was determined by electron-microprobe analysis and the empirical formula (K1.97Ba0.01)∑1.98(Na0.65Ca0.14)∑0.79 (Fe3.182+Mg2.02Na1.00Mn0.72)∑6.92(Ti1.99Nb0.06)∑2.05[(Si8.01Al0.06)∑8.07O24]O2(OH)4.03F0.19 was calculated on the basis of 30.2 (O + OH + F) anions, with H2O calculated from structure refinement, Dcalc. = 3.161 g cm–3. In the structure of lobanovite, the main structural unit is the HOH block, which consists of one close-packed O (Octahedral) and two H (Heteropolyhedral) sheets. The M(1–4) octahedra form the O sheet and the T4O12 astrophyllite ribbons and [5]-coordinated Ti-dominant D polyhedra link through common vertices to form the H sheet. The HOH blocks repeat along [001], and K and Na atoms occur at the interstitial A and B sites. The simplified and end-member formulae of lobanovite are K2Na [(Fe2+,Mn)4Mg2Na]Ti2(Si4O12)2O2(OH)4 and K2Na(Fe42+Mg2Na)Ti2(Si4O12)2O2(OH)4, respectively.

Nolzeite, Na(Mn,□)2[Si3(B,Si)O9(OH)2]·2H2O, is a new mineral found in altered sodalite syenite at the Poudrette quarry, La Vallée-du-Richelieu, Montérégie (formerly Rouville County), Québec, Canada. Crystals are colourless to pale green and are acicular with average dimensions of 5 μm × 8 μm × 55 μm. They occur as radiating to loose, randomly oriented groupings within vugs associated with aegirine, nepheline, sodalite, eudialyte-group minerals, analcime, natron, pyrrhotite, catapleiite, steedeite and the unidentified mineral, UK80. Nolzeite is non-pleochroic, biaxial, with nmin = 1.616(2) and nmax = 1.636(2) and has a positive elongation. The average of six chemical analyses gave the empirical formula: Na1.04(Mn1.69□0.24Fe0.05Ca0.02)∑=2.00(Si2.96S0.04)∑=3.00(B0.70Si0.30)∑=1.00O9(OH)2·2H2O based on 13 anions. The Raman spectrum shows six distinct bands occurring at ∼3600–3300 cm–1 and 1600–1500 cm–1 (O–H and H–O–H bending), 1300–1200 cm–1 (B–OH bending), 1030–800 cm–1 (Si–O–Si stretching) as well as 700–500 cm–1 and 400–50 cm–1 (Mn–O and Na–O bonding, respectively). The FTIR spectrum for nolzeite shows bands at ∼2800 –3600 cm–1(O–H) stretching, a moderately sharp band at 1631 cm –1(H–O–H) bending, strong, sharp bands at ∼650 –700 cm–1, ∼800 –840 cm–1, and ∼900–1100 cm–1(Si–O and B –O) bonds. Nolzeite is triclinic, crystallizing in space group P with a = 6.894(1), b = 7.632(2), c = 11.017(2) Å, α= 108.39(3), β= 99.03, γ = 103.05(3)°, V = 519.27 Å3, and Z = 2. The crystal structure was refined to R = 12.37% and wR2 = 31.07% for 1361 reflections (Fo > 4σFo). It is based on chains of tetrahedra with a periodicity of three (i.e. a dreier chain) consisting of three symmetrically independent SiO4 tetrahedra forming C-shaped clusters closed by BO2(OH)2 tetrahedra, producing single loop-branched dreier borosilicate chains. The chains are linked through shared corners to double chains of edge-sharing MnO5(OH) octahedra. Nolzeite is a chain silicate closely related to steedeite and members of the sérandite–pectolite series. Paragenetically, nolzeite is late-stage, probably forming under alkaline conditions and over a narrow range of low pressures and temperatures.

Dyrnaesite-(La), Na7.89(Ce0.94Ca0.06)∑1.00(La1.14Ce0.40Pr0.10Nd0.24Ca0.12)∑2.00(PO4)6 is orthorhombic, Pnma, a = 18.4662(7), b= 16.0106(5), c = 7.0274(2) Å, V = 2077.7(1) Å3, Z = 4. The crystal structure is related to the group of Na3REE(XO4)2 compounds (with X = P, V, As), based on the aphthitalite/glaserite structural type. Dyrnaesite is distinct in having ordered Na vacancies, and a rare-earth element (REE) site occupied preferentially by Ce4+. This also distinguishes it from closely related vitusite-(Ce) [Na3REE(PO4)2]. The relation of their unit cells is: ad= bv, bd = 3av, cd = 1/2 cv. The distinct Ce4+ site in dyrnaesite-(La) has smaller coordination with shorter bond lengths than the other REE site in the same structure or the REE sites in vitusite-(Ce). It is adjacent to the predominately vacant Na site, which in its turn has the largest coordination of all Na sites in the structure. REE sites, or Na sites in a [010] row (similar to [100] in vitusite(Ce)) assume two types of coordinations with and without mirror symmetry and two different configurations of surrounding PO4 tetrahedra. This summarizes the topological difference to vitusite-(Ce) where the corresponding coordinations are similar in the same row and intermediate in character to the two types in dyrnaesite-(La).