Barium-rich silicates were recently found in the lower Cambrian black shale sequence of Anhui Province, South China. The Ba silicates can be divided into Ba-poor K-feldspar, Ba-rich K-feldspar and cymrite, on the basis of occurrence and composition. The Ba-poor K-feldspar have low BaO contents (<1.00 wt.%) and occur as sporadic grains in mudstone. In contrast, the Ba-rich K-feldspar have higher BaO contents (1.36–20.51 wt.%) and occur mainly as rims around grains of Ba-poor K-feldspar in mudstone, as void fillings in dolostone, and as grains dispersed in chert. The cymrite is observed only in chert and occurs as dispersed euhedral tabular crystals. Analyses of the Ba-poor K-feldspar and Ba-rich K-feldspar provide compositions that total <100 wt.% and show non-stoichiometry characterized by (Na + K + Ba + Ca)apfu less than 1.00 and (Al + Si)apfu slightly higher than 4.00. Raman and infrared (IR) spectroscopy has revealed the presence of ${\rm NH}_{\rm 4}^{\rm +} $ and H2O in the Ba-rich K-feldspar, which accounts for the unusual composition of these feldspars. We suggest that the formation processes of the Ba-poor K-feldspar, Ba-rich K-feldspar and cymrite were closely associated with multi-stage hydrothermal fluids enriched in Ba and NH4, consistent with an extensional tectonic setting during the early Cambrian. The Ba-poor K-feldspars might have formed through interactions between pre-existing K-feldspars and hydrothermal fluids. The Ba-rich K-feldspars in mudstone and dolostone formed mainly by precipitation from hydrothermal fluids that infiltrated the sediments, and we suggest the Ba-rich K-feldspars and cymrite in the chert are of exhalative hydrothermal origin.

Itelmenite, ideally Na2CuMg2(SO4)4, was found in a fumarole of the Naboko scoria cone of the Tolbachik volcano Fissure Eruption (2012–2013), Kamchatka Peninsula, Russia. Itelmenite occurs as irregularly shaped grains as well as microcrystalline masses associated with anhydrite, saranchinaite, hermannjahnite, euchlorine, thénardite, aphthitalite and hematite. Itelmenite is orthorhombic, Pbca, a = 9.568(2) Å, b = 8.790(2) Å, c = 28.715(8) Å, V = 2415.0(11) Å3 and Z = 4 (from single-crystal diffraction data). The nine strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern are [d(I)(hkl)]: 7.9614(41)(102), 7.1803(32)(004), 5.9122(64)(112), 3.8455(87)(122), 3.6292(52)(214), 3.3931(62)(215), 3.0003(44)(027), 2.9388(100)(312) and 2.4975(56)(230). The chemical composition determined by the electron-microprobe analysis is (wt.%): Na2O 10.77, K2O 0.20, MgO 11.10, CuO 15.38, ZnO 5.61, SO3 56.42, total 99.48. The empirical formula based on O = 32 apfu is (Na3.93K0.05)Σ3.98Mg3.12(Cu2.19Zn0.78)Σ2.97S7.97O32. The simplified formula is Na2CuMg2(SO4)4 taking into account structural data. The crystal structure was solved by direct methods and refined to an agreement index R1 = 0.034 on the basis of 1855 independent observed reflections. The structure of itelmenite is based on a unique type of [A2+3(SO4)4]2– (A = Mg, Cu and Zn) heteropolyhedral framework with voids filled by Na+ cations.

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.

A reinvestigation of the type specimen of wadalite, ideally Ca12Al10Si4O32Cl6, from Tadano, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan, reveals that it has well-defined chemical sector zoning. The mineral occurs in skarn xenoliths in two-pyroxene andesite and forms tris-tetrahedral crystals up to 1 mm in size. The mineral is cubic, I¯43d, with a = 12.009(2) Å, V = 1731.8(8) Å3 and Z = 2. The zoning is divided into two sectors, {21¯1} and {211}, on the basis of back-scattered-electron images. The {21¯1} sector is more enriched in Fe3+, Si, Mg and Cl, and depleted in Al than the {211} sector. The empirical formulae yielded by the averaged compositions for the {21¯1} and {211} sectors are: Ca12.01(Al7.88$\hbox{Fe}_{{\rm 0}{\rm. 99}}^{{\rm 3 +}} $Si4.51Mg0.56Ti0.05)Σ13.99O32.22Cl5.55 and Ca12.05(Al8.42$\hbox{Fe}_{{\rm 0}{\rm. 85}}^{{\rm 3 +}} $Si4.20Mg0.44Ti0.04)Σ13.95O32.19Cl5.38, respectively. Compositional variations in the wadalite grains suggest that the Si contents are controlled mainly by the substitution T(Al,Fe3+) + W□ ↔ TSi + W(Cl,F). The presence of sector zoning suggests that the wadalite grew during rapid non-equilibrium crystallization.

The crystal structure of vigrishinite, ideally NaZnTi4(Si2O7)2O3(OH)(H2O)4, a murmanite-group mineral of the seidozerite supergroup from the type locality, Mt. Malyi Punkaruaiv, Lovozero alkaline massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia, was refined in space group C$\bar 1$, a = 10.530(2), b = 13.833(3), c = 11.659(2) Å, α = 94.34(3), β = 98.30(3), γ = 89.80(3)°, V = 1675.5(2.1) Å3 and R1 = 12.52%. Based on electron-microprobe analysis, the empirical formula calculated on 22 (O + F), with two constraints derived from structure refinement, OH + F = 1.96 pfu and H2O = 3.44 pfu, is: (Na0.67Zn0.21Ca0.05□1.07)Σ2 (Zn0.86□1.14)Σ2(Zn0.14□0.36)Σ0.5(Ti2.60Nb0.62Mn0.30${\rm Fe}_{{\rm 0}{\rm. 23}}^{{\rm 2 +}} $Mg0.10Zr0.06Zn0.05Al0.03Ta0.01)Σ4(Si4.02O14) [O2.60(OH)1.21F0.19]Σ4[(H2O)3.44(OH)0.56]Σ4{Zn0.24P0.03K0.03Ba0.02} with Z = 4. It seems unlikely that constituents in the {} belong to vigrishinite itself. The crystal structure of vigrishinite is an array of TS blocks (Titanium Silicate) connected via hydrogen bonds. The TS block consists of HOH sheets (H = heteropolyhedral and O = octahedral) parallel to (001). In the O sheet, the Ti-dominant MO(1,2) sites, Na-dominant MO(3) and □-dominant MO(4) sites give ideally Na□Ti2 pfu. In the H sheet, the Ti-dominant MH(1,2) sites, Zn-dominant AP(1) and vacant AP(2) sites give ideally Zn□Ti2 pfu. The MH and AP(1) polyhedra and Si2O7 groups constitute the H sheet. The ideal structural formula of vigrishinite of the form ${\rm A}_{\rm 2}^{P} {\rm M}_{\rm 2}^{\rm H} {\rm M}_{\rm 4}^{\rm O} $(Si2O7)2(${\rm X}_{\rm M}^{\rm O} $)2(${\rm X}_{\rm A}^{\rm O} $)2(${\rm X}_{{\rm M,A}}^{P} $)4 is Zn□Ti2Na□Ti2(Si2O7)2O2O(OH)(H2O)4. Vigrishinite is a Zn-bearing, Na-poor and OH-rich analogue of murmanite, ideally Na2Ti2Na2Ti2(Si2O7)2O2O2(H2O)4. Murmanite and vigrishinite are related by the following substitution: H(${\rm Na}_{\rm 2}^{\rm +} $)mur + O(Na+)mur + O(O2–)mur ↔ H(Zn2+)vig + H(□)vig + O(□)vig + O[(OH)–]vig. The doubling of the t1 and t2 translations of vigrishinite compared to those of murmanite is due to the order of Zn and □ in the H sheet and Na and □ in the O sheet of vigrishinite.

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.

A fundamental difference exists between the textures of chromite crystals in chromitites in layered complexes and ophiolites. Those in layered complexes generally have euhedral octahedral shapes except where sintered, whereas those in ophiolites generally have rounded shapes accompanied commonly by nodular and more rarely dendritic chromite. Here we describe another texture characteristic of ophiolitic chromitite. The analysis of high-resolution X-ray computed tomography images of chromitite from Harold's Grave in the Shetland ophiolite has revealed 3D hopper structures on chromite grains. In 2D, these hopper structures appear at the surface of the chromite grain as stepped inward facing edges. A study of chromitites in 2D from ten ophiolite complexes has shown that all commonly contain chromite grains displaying these stepped edges. They occur mainly in protected enclaves surrounded by chromite grains that otherwise have rounded edges. The hopper crystals and the often associated clusters of inclusions represent periods of chromite crystal growth in a chromite supersaturated magma due to the presence of a more supercooled and more volatile-rich magma than that present in most layered complexes. Subsequent exposure of chromite crystals to chromite-undersaturated magma caused corrosion, resulting in the characteristic rounded shape of the ophiolitic chromite grains.

The borate mineral satimolite, which was first described in 1969 and remained poorly-studied until now, has been re-investigated (electron microprobe analysis, single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction studies, crystal-structure determination, infrared spectroscopy) and redefined based on the novel data obtained for the holotype material from the Satimola salt dome and a recently found sample from the Chelkar salt dome, both in North Caspian Region, Western Kazakhstan. The revised idealized formula of satimolite is KNa2(Al5Mg2)[B12O18(OH)12](OH)6Cl4·4H2O (Z = 3). The mineral is trigonal, space group R$\bar{3}$m, unit-cell parameters are: a = 15.1431(8), c = 14.4558(14) Å and V = 2870.8(4) Å3 (Satimola) and a = 15.1406(4), c = 14.3794(9) Å and V = 2854.7(2) Å3 (Chelkar). The crystal system and unit-cell parameters are quite different from those reported previously. The crystal structure of the sample from Chelkar was solved based on single-crystal data (direct methods, R = 0.0814) and the structure of the holotype from Satimola was refined on a powder sample by the Rietveld method (Rp = 0.0563, Rwp = 0.0761 and Rall = 0.0667). The structure of satimolite is unique for minerals. It contains 12-membered borate rings [B12O18(OH)12] in which BO3 triangles alternate with BO2(OH)2 tetrahedra sharing common vertices, and octahedral clusters [M7O6(OH)18] with M = Al5Mg2 in the ideal case, with sharing of corners between rings and clusters to form a three-dimensional heteropolyhedral framework. Each borate ring is connected with six octahedral clusters: three under the ring and three over the ring. Large ellipsoidal cages in the framework host Na and K cations, Cl anions and H2O molecules.

The hydrocerussite-related phase, NaPb5(CO3)4(OH)3, has been found as colourless lamellar crystals in cavities within a pebble of the ancient marine slag collected in the Pacha Limani area of the Lavrion mining district, Attiki, Greece. This phase of anthropogenic origin was characterized by electron microprobe, infrared spectroscopy, powder and single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The unique crystal structure (P63/mmc, a = 5.2533(11), c = 29.425(6) Å, V = 703.3(3) Å3 and R1 = 0.047) is based upon structurally and chemically different electroneutral blocks. Each of the blocks can be split into separate sheets. The outer sheets in each block are topologically identical and have the composition [PbCO3]0. The [Pb(OH)2]0 lead hydroxide sheet is sandwiched between the two [PbCO3]0 sheets resulting in the formation of the first block [Pb3(OH)2(CO3)2]0 structurally and compositionally identical to that one in hydrocerussite Pb3(OH)2(CO3)2. Similarly the [Na(OH)]0 sheet is sandwiched between another two [PbCO3]0 sheets thus forming the [NaPb2(OH)(CO3)2]0 block described previously in the structure of abellaite NaPb2(OH)(CO3)2. Stereochemically active lone electron pairs on Pb2+ cations are located between the blocks. There are two blocks of each type per unit cell, which corresponds to the following formula: [Pb3(OH)2(CO3)2][NaPb2(OH)(CO3)2] or NaPb5(CO3)4(OH)3 in the simplified representation. The formation of NaPb5(CO3)4(OH)3 in Lavrion slags is by the contact of lead-rich slags with the sea water over the last two thousand years.

The new mineral wrightite, K2Al2O(AsO4)2, was found in 1983 at a fumarole on the Second scoria cone, Northern Breakthrough, Great Fissure eruption, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka peninsula, Russia, where it occurs as light yellow aggregates of transparent tabular crystals, with an average size of 0.05 mm × 0.03 mm × 0.005 mm. Wrightite is orthorhombic, space group Pnma, with the unit-cell parameters a = 8.230(5), b = 5.555(4), c = 17.584(1) Å, V = 803.9(6) Å3 and Z = 4 (from powder data). The empirical formula is (K1.69Na0.38)Σ2.07(Al1.80Fe0.24)Σ2.04As1.96O9. The crystal structure (R1 = 0.043) consists of Al2O(AsO4)2 layers in the ab plane with clusters of edge-sharing AlO6 octahedra. Each layer contains two independent isolated AsO4 tetrahedra and two AlO6 octahedra. AlO6 octahedra are linked by edges, forming zigzag chains along the b axis inside the Al–As layer. Eight- and six-coordinated K atoms are located in the interlayer space between Al2O(AsO4)2 layers. The mineral is biaxial (−), α =1.679(2), β =1.685(2), γ (calc.) =1.687; 2V(meas.) = 62(10)° (λ = 589 nm). The strongest lines in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d,Å(I)(hkl)] are: 8.77(36)(002); 4.458(17)(111); 4.010(19)(201,013); 3.875(19)(104) and 2.972(100)(015). The mineral was named in honour of Adrian Carl Wright, Emeritus Professor at the University of Reading, UK.

Overgrowths of whiskers of hedenbergite (Ca(Fe2+,Mg)Si2O6) on the hydrous pyroxenoid babingtonite (Ca2Fe2+Fe3+[Si5O14(OH)]) have been observed at Arvigo in Switzerland and Kreimbach/Kaulbach in Germany, and we have studied them with transmission electron microscopy in order to understand their structural relationships and formation. The boundaries between babingtonite and hedenbergite are sharply defined, and the two minerals are in direct contact with no additional phases present. The relationships of babingtonite (Bab) and hedenbergite (Hd) were determined as Bab[100]//Hd[112] in the Arvigo specimen and Bab[$\bar 1$00]//Hd[1$\bar 1$2] in the Kreimbach/Kaulbach specimen. Diffraction derived from Bab(031) and Hd(02$\bar 1$) in the Arvigo samples and Bab(031) and Hd(021) in the Kreimbach/Kaulbach samples were observed in identical positions. The reciprocity between the babingtonite and hedenbergite structures is governed by the direction of the SiO4-tetrahedral chains, and the related configuration of octahedra. Thus, hedenbergite is apparently an epitaxial phase grown on a base of {010} plates of babingtonite. The defined orientation relationship is also consistent with that shown in topotaxial intergrowths of other clinopyroxenes and pyroxenoids. The topotaxial intergrowths may result from diffusion-controlled solid-state reactions, whereas rapid whisker growth is characteristic of supersaturated solutions or a vapour medium. The epitaxial growth of hedenbergite whiskers on babingtonite with an abrupt but coherent change of structure at the interface represents an ideal example where the similar chemical compositions of host and guest contribute strongly to the close structural relationship.

High concentrations of indium (In) and selenium (Se) have been reported in the Neves-Corvo volcanic-hosted massive sulfide deposit, Portugal. The distribution of these ore metals in the deposit is complex as a result of the combined effects of early ore-forming processes and late tectonometamorphic remobilization. The In and Se contents are higher in Cu-rich ore types, and lower in Zn-rich ore types. At the deposit scale, both In and Se correlate positively with Cu, whereas their correlations with Zn are close to zero. This argues for a genetic connection between Cu, In and Se in terms of metal sourcing and precipitation. However, re-distribution and re-concentration of In and Se associated with tectonometamorphic deformation are also processes of major importance for the actual distribution of these metals throughout the whole deposit. Although minor roquesite and other In-bearing phases were recognized, it is clear that most In within the deposit is found incorporated within sphalerite and chalcopyrite. When chalcopyrite and sphalerite coexist, the In content in sphalerite (avg. 1400 ppm) is, on average, 2–3 times higher than in chalcopyrite (avg. 660 ppm). The In content in stannite (avg. 1.3 wt.%) is even higher than in sphalerite, but the overall abundance of stannite is subordinate to either sphalerite or chalcopyrite. Selenium is dispersed widely between many different ore minerals, but galena is the main Se-carrier. On average, the Se content in galena is ~50 times greater than in either chalcopyrite (avg. 610 ppm) or sphalerite (avg. 590 ppm). The copper concentrate produced at Neves-Corvo contains very significant In (+Se) content, well above economic values if the copper smelters recovered it. Moreover, the high In content of sphalerite from some Cu-Zn ores, or associated with shear structures, could possibly justify, in the future, a selective exploitation strategy for the production of an In-rich zinc concentrate.

The ~492 Ma Shetland Ophiolite Complex contains an extensive mantle section, within which numerous podiform chromitite bodies formed during melt percolation in a supra-subduction zone setting. One of the Shetland ophiolite chromitite localities has an unusual style of platinum-group element (PGE) mineralization. Specifically, the Cliff chromitite suite has relatively high (>250 ppm) Pt plus Pd, compared to other chromitites in the Shetland Ophiolite Complex. In this study, we apply petrographic observation, mineral chemistry and novel X-ray microtomography data to elucidate the petrogenesis of PGE-bearing phases at Cliff. The combined datasets reveal that the PGE at Cliff have probably been fractionated by an As-rich fluid, concentrating Pt and Ir into visible (0.1–1 µm) platinum-group minerals (PGM) such as sperrylite and irarsite, respectively. The high (>1 ppm) bulk-rock concentrations of the other PGE (e.g. Os) in the Cliff chromitites suggests the presence of abundant fine-grained unidentified PGM in the serpentinized groundmass. The spatial association of arsenide phases and PGM with alteration rims on Cr-spinel grains suggests that the high Pt and Pd abundances at Cliff result from a late-stage low-temperature (e.g. 200–300°C) hydrothermal event. This conclusion highlights the potential effects that secondary alteration processes can have on modifying and upgrading the tenor of PGE deposits.

Polymetallic quartz veins, with up to 1500 ppm indium, have been discovered recently in the Sarvlaxviken area within the 1.64 Ga anorogenic multiphase Wiborg rapakivi batholith and adjacent 1.90 Ga Svecofennian crust in SE Finland. Evidence from primary fluid inclusions in the Sarvlaxviken area provides new information on the hydrothermal transport and depositional processes of metals in anorogenic granites. Fluid inclusions with variable aqueous liquid and vapour proportions (5–90 vol.% vapour) occur in quartz, cassiterite and fluorite belonging to three generations of polymetallic quartz veins. Microthermometry indicates that the veins were deposited at temperatures that range from ~500°C down to <100°C and salinities from 0 to 16 eq. mass% NaCl. Fluid inclusion data show that the depositional conditions were similar regardless of vein generation. The interpreted depositional processes involve phase separation with a combination of condensation, cooling and boiling of an initially low-salinity (<3 eq. mass% NaCl) aqueous magmatic vapour phase enriched in CO2-F-Cl-S and metals. Fluid inclusions with low salinities dominate, but higher salinities are recorded in metal-rich parts of the veins. The turbulent fluid flow, with complex geometry and temperature-salinity patterns, may explain why sulfide and/or oxide opaque minerals occur irregularly, and are locally the dominating vein minerals, but disappear completely into barren parts of the quartz veins. All fluids are considered to have been generated by the F-rich Marviken granite (and related granite dykes), which show all geochemical criteria for an ore-fertile granite. The quartz veins investigated in the adjacent Svecofennian country rocks are considered to represent the very last stage of a fluid with similar characteristics to the fluid responsible for the ore formation in the Sarvlaxviken area, but that had cooled to <100°C.

Folvikite, Sb5+Mn3+(Mg,Mn2+)10O8(BO3)4, is a new oxyborate mineral from the Kitteln mine, Värmland, Sweden, where it occurs as a primary skarn mineral embedded in calcite. It forms striated prismatic crystals up to 0.3 mm, and is black to dark reddish-brown with submetallic lustre and a reddish-brown streak. It is brittle, has a Mohs hardness of 6, and the calculated density is 4.14 g/cm3. Folvikite is biaxial with indeterminate optic sign due to pervasive twinning. The optic axial angle is 68.9(4)°. Refractive indices were not measured; the calculated mean refractive index is 1.85. Strong pleochroism was observed in plane-polarized light: AB = brown (intermediate), OB = dark brown (maximum) and ON = honey brown (minimum). Folvikite is monoclinic, space group P2, a = 5.3767(10), b = 6.2108(10), c = 10.9389(18) Å, β = 94.399(9)°, V = 364.22(16) Å3 and Z = 1. Chemical analysis by electron microprobe gave Sb2O5 18.15, MgO 24.11, MnO 29.73, Mn2O3 11.62, Al2O3 0.27, Fe2O3 0.45, B2O3 15.27, sum 99.60 wt.%. The B2O3 content was assigned as B = 4 apfu and the Mn2O3 / (MnO + Mn2O3) ratio was determined from the crystal structure. The empirical formula was normalized on the basis of 20 anions pfu: (Sb5+1.02Mn3+1.34Al0.05Fe3+0.05Mg5.46Mn2+3.82□0.26)Σ12O8(BO3)4. A simplified formula may be written as Sb5+Mn3+(Mg,Mn2+)10O8(BO3)4 with Z = 1. The crystal structure was solved by direct methods and refined to an R1 index of 4.1%. Folvikite is a member of the (3 Å) zigzag wallpaper-borate structures in which chains of edge-sharing octahedra extend along the c axis and are cross-linked by BO3 groups. There are five X sites partly occupied by Mn2+ > Mg, one octahedrally coordinated M-site occupied by Sb5+ > Mg, two M sites occupied by Mg ≥ Mn > Sb5+, two M sites occupied by Mn3+ > Mn2+, two M sites occupied by Mg > Mn2+, and one M-site occupied by Mg > □; plus two [3]-coordinated B sites occupied by B. As with the other zigzag borates, the polyhedra are arranged in F-walls, C-walls and S-columns.

The mineralogy of nine recently discovered dykes (VL1:VL8 and VL10) in the vicinity of Vattikod village, Nalgonda district in Telangana State is described. The mineral assemblage present and their compositions are comparable to those of bona fide lamproites in terms of the presence of phlogopite (Ti-rich, Al-poor phlogopite and tetraferriphlogopite); amphiboles (potassic-arfvedsonite, potassic-richterite, potassic-ferro-richterite, potassic-katophorite, Ti-rich potassic-katophorite, Ti-rich potassic-magnesio-katophorite); Al-poor clinopyroxenes; feldspars (K-feldspar, Ba-K-feldspar and Na-feldspar) and spinels (chromite-magnetite and qandilite-ulvöspinel-franklinite). These dykes have undergone diverse and significant degrees of deuteric alteration as shown by the formation of secondary phases such as: titanite, allanite, hydro-zircon, calcite, chlorite, quartz and cryptocrystalline SiO2. On the basis of their respective mineralogy: the VL4 and VL5 dykes are classified as pseudoleucite-phlogopite lamproite; VL2 and VL3 dykes as pseudoleucite-amphibole-lamproite; and VL6, VL7 and VL8 as pseudoleucite-phlogopite-amphibole-lamproite. VL10 is extensively altered but contains fresh euhedral apatite microphenocrysts together with pseudomorphs after leucite and is classified as a pseudoleucite-apatite-(phlogopite?) lamproite. The mineralogy of the Vattikod lamproite dykes is compared with that of the Ramadugu, Somavarigudem and Yacharam lamproite dykes which also occur in the Ramadugu lamproite field. The lamproites from the Eastern Dharwar Craton are considered as being possible expressions of ancient subduction-related alkaline magmatism along the Eastern Ghats mobile belt.

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.

This study presents a complete characterization of kenoplumbomicrolite, (Pb,□)2Ta2O6[□,(OH),O], occurring in an amazonite pegmatite from Ploskaya Mountain, Western Keivy Massif, Kola Peninsula, Murmanskaja Oblast, Northern Region, Russia.

Kenoplumbomicrolite occurs in yellowish brown octahedral, cuboctahedral and massive crystals, up to 20 cm, has a white streak, a greasy lustre and is translucent. The Mohs hardness is ~6. Attempts to measure density (7.310–7.832 g/cm3) were affected by the ubiquitous presence of uraninite inclusions. Reflectance values were measured in air and immersed in oil. Kenoplumbocrolite is optically isotropic. The empirical formula is (Pb1.30□0.30Ca0.29Na0.08U0.03)Σ2.00(Ta0.82Nb0.62Si0.23Sn4+0.15Ti0.07Fe3+0.10Al0.01)Σ2.00O6[□0.52(OH)0.25O0.23]Σ1.00 (from the crystal used for the structural study) and (Pb1.33□0.66Mn0.01)Σ2.00(Ta0.87Nb0.72Sn4+0.18Fe3+0.11W0.08Ti0.04)Σ2.00O6[□0.80(OH)0.10O0.10]Σ1.00 (average including additional fragments). The mineral is cubic, space group Fd$\overline 3 $m. The unit-cell parameters refined from powder X-ray diffraction data are a = 10.575(2) Å and V = 1182.6(8) Å3, which are in accord with those obtained previously from a single crystal of a = 10.571(1) Å, V = 1181.3(2) Å3 and Z = 8. The mineral description and its name have been approved by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA2015-007a).