Hostname: page-component-7c8c6479df-27gpq Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-03-29T15:52:09.654Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Arsenoflorencite-(Ce): a new arsenate mineral from Australia

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

E. H. Nickel
Affiliation:
Division of Minerals and Geochemistry, CSIRO, Private Bag PO, Wembley, WA, Australia 6014
J. E. Temperly
Affiliation:
CRA Exploration Pty Ltd, PO Box 175, Belmont, WA, Australia 6104

Abstract

Arsenoflorencite-(Ce) has been found at three localities in Australia—two in South Australia, and one in Queensland. It occurs as colourless to light brown scalenohedral crystals and crystal fragments in stream sediments. Electron microprobe analysis gave Ce2O3 12.97, La2O3 8.62, Pr2O3 3.35, Nd2O3 2.40, Gd2O3 1.38, Sm2O3 0.38, SrO 1.99, Al2O3 28.75, As2O5 27.02, P2O5 4.68, SO3 1.21%; calc, H2O 9.36%; total 102.11%. The simplified formula is REAl3(AsO4)2(OH)6, with Ce as the dominant RE element. Arsenoflorencite-(Ce) is rhombohedral, has space group R3m with αhex. 7.029 and chex. 16.517 Å, and Z = 3. Strongest X-ray powder diffraction lines are: 3.513(6)(110), 2.963(10)(113), 2.201(4)(107), 1.905(5)(303) and 1.753 Å(4)(220). Density is 4.096 (meas.) and 4.091 (calc.) g/cm3. Hardness is VHN10 170. Arsenoflorencite-(Ce) is brittle, breaks with a conchoidal fracture, and has no perceptible cleavage. The mineral is colourless in transmitted light, uniaxial positive, and has ω 1.739 and ɛ 1.745 (λ = 589 nm). Arsenoflorencite-(Ce) is the arsenate analogue of florencite-(Ce), and the name was chosen to indicate this relationship.

Type
Mineralogy
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 1987

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Colby, J.W. (1971) Proc. 6th Nat. Conf. Electron Anal., Pittsburgh, Penn., 27-30th July 1971.Google Scholar
Lefebvre, J.-J. and Gasparrini, C. (1980) Can. Minera. 18, 301-11.Google Scholar
Mandarino, J.A. (1976) Ibid. 14, 498-502.Google Scholar
Mandarino, J.A. (1979) Ibid. 17,71-6.Google Scholar
Radoslovich, E.W. and Slade, P.G. (1980) Neues Jahrb, Mineral. Mh. 157-70.Google Scholar
Roedder, P.L. (1985) Can. Mineral. 23, 263-71.Google Scholar
Walenta, K. (1981) Schweiz. Mineral. Petrog. Mitt. 61 23-35.Google Scholar
Walenta, K. andDunn,P.J. (1984) Ibid. 64,11-19.Google Scholar