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Non-metamict betafite from Le Carcarelle (Vico volcanic complex, Italy): occurrence and crystal structure

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  05 July 2018

F. Cámara ,
C. T. Williams ,
G. Della Ventura ,
R. Oberti  and
E. Caprilli
F. Cámara*
Affiliation:
CNR-Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse, Sezione di Pavia, via Ferrata 1, I–27100 Pavia, Italy
C. T. Williams
Affiliation:
Department of Mineralogy, The Natural History Museum, Cromwell Road, London SW7 5BD, UK
G. Della Ventura
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze Geologiche, Università di Roma Tre, Largo S. Leonardo Murialdo 1, I–00146 Roma, Italy
R. Oberti
Affiliation:
CNR-Istituto di Geoscienze e Georisorse, Sezione di Pavia, via Ferrata 1, I–27100 Pavia, Italy
E. Caprilli
Affiliation:
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Modena, Largo S. Eufemia 19, I–41100 Modena, Italy
*
*E-mail: camara@crystal.unipv.it
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Abstract

Non-metamict betafite, a pyrochlore-group mineral with general formula A2−mB2XO6Y(O,OH,F)1−n·pH2O and 2 Ti > Nb+Ta and U > 20% at the A site, has been found at Le Carcarelle, (Latium, Italy). It occurs within miarolitic cavities of a foid-bearing syenitic ejectum enclosed within the pyroclastic formation known as “ignimbrite C”, which belongs to the main effusive phase of the Vico volcanic complex. The host rock is composed of K-feldspar, biotite, augitic clinopyroxene, magnetite and minor sodalite. Electron microprobe analyses gave the following crystal-chemical formula: (Ca1.24Na0.17U0.49REE0.03)Σ=1.93 (Ti1.05Nb0.76Zr0.14Fe0.04Ta0.01)Σ=2.00O6(O,OH). Compared with other occurrences reported in the mineralogical literature, betafite from Le Carcarelle is extremely enriched in U and depleted in Th. Due to its young age of formation (∼150 k.y.), this betafite sample is highly crystalline, thus allowing structure refinement of unheated material. Betafite from Le Carcarelle is cubic Fdm, with a = 10.2637(13) Å, and V = 1081.21(35) Å3, and has a smaller A site (consistent with the higher U content), and a larger and more distorted B site (consistent with the higher Ti content) than calciobetafite from Campi Flegrei, Italy (Mazzi and Munno, 1983). Analysis of the atomic displacement parameters provides evidence for static disorder at the X site.

Keywords

pyrochlorecrystal structurebetafiteelectron microprobe analysisLatiumItaly
Type
Research Article
Information
Mineralogical Magazine , Volume 68 , Issue 6 , December 2004 , pp. 939 - 950
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2004

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