Permian basic/ultrabasic lavas from south-west England may be divided into a ‘basaltic’ and a K-rich group. Both groups have enrichment of large-ion lithophile (LIL) elements relative to high field strength (HFS) elements, and the K-rich group show large degrees of LIL enrichment (c.50–500 times primordial mantle) in association with varied transition element concentrations. Samples from both groups 87Sr/86Sri = 0.704–0.705 and 143Nd/144Ndi = 0.5123–0.5127 and plot close to the mantle array on an ɛSr−ɛNd diagram. These data are interpreted in terms of derivation of the lavas from magmas resulting from partial melting of mantle which had experienced less (for the basaltic group) or more (for the K-rich group) enrichment in LIL elements as a result of migration of mantle melts. Such enrichment accompanied or followed subduction of oceanic lithosphere below south-west England. The resultant magmas experienced fractional crystallization of olivine and pyroxene prior to eruption.

Laphamite, ideally As2(Se,S)3, is monoclinic, P21/n, with a = 11.86(1), b = 9.756(9), c = 4.265(9) Å, β = 90.17°, V = 493.5 Å3, Z = 4, D (calc.) = 4.60, D (meas.) = 4.5(1) g/cm3. Microprobe analysis yielded: As 47.0, Se 43.7, S 8.7, sum = 99.4 wt. %. In plane polarized light in polished section at about 3200 K laphamite is moderately bireflectant from white to grey. Reflection pleochroism is absent but fiery red internal reflections are characteristic as are golden yellow reflections along scratches. Anisotropy is moderate with grey rotation tints, masked in some sections by internal reflections. Reflectance spectra in air and oil between 400 and 700 nm are given. Colour values for the CIE illiminant C in air are, for R1 followed by R2: Y% 29.0, 33.5, λd 480, 478; Pe% 9.1, 8.7. Laphamite forms dark red crystals, up to 5.0 mm, associated with orpiment, arsenolite, and an unnamed phase, NH4AlF4, in a burning coal waste-dump at Burnside, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.

In the Artikutza area, near the contact with the southern Aya granite, skarns containing hedenbergite, grandite, epidote, quartz, calcite, actinolite, idocrase and magnetite occur and have been found to contain ilvaite layers. This is the second reported occurrence of ilvaite in Spain; spectral reflectances, colour values. Vickers hardness numbers and chemical composition are given. The monomineralic ilvaite lens intercalation developed by hydrothermal alteration of hedenbergite in a second stage of skarn formation.

Active metamorphism of fine grained sandstone in the c.16000 year old Salton Sea geothermal system has produced a suite of chemically equilibrated coexisting authigenic alkali feldspars and re-equilibrated detrital feldspars in the 250–360°C temperature range. At c.335°C the average compositions, 2 Vs, and (t1o+t1m) and Z ordering parameters of coexisting authigenic feldspars are [Or0.52Ab97.40An2.08, 2Vx = 91.3±4.8, (t1o + t1m) = 0.89±0.05, Z = 0.79±0.09], and [Or94.42 Ab5.10An0.48, 2Vx = 70, (t1o + t1m) = 0.90, Z = 0.81]. At c.360°C authigenic albite becomes more An-rich and less ordered [Or1.21Ab92.83An5.97, 2Vx = 87.5±3.4, (t1o + t1m) = 0.85±0.03, Z = 0.70±0.07] and K-feldspar is no longer stable. Detrital plagioclase (An up to 40%) is preserved metastably to temperatures up to c.190°C in strongly carbonate-cemented sandstone which forms part of a geothermally produced permeability cap. It undergoes rapid alkali exchange at temperatures near 200°C, and by 250°C no plagioclase with An-content over 12% is observed. At > 250°C authigenic and most detrital alkali feldspar compositions are in excellent agreement with the Bachinski and Muller (1971) microcline-low-albite solvus.

Obradovicite, ideal formula H4CuFe2(AsO4) (MoO4)5 · 12H2O, occurs as fine pea-green clusters on quartz from Chuquicamata, Chile. Obradovicite is orthorhombic, space group Pcnm; a = 15.046, b = 14.848, c = 11.056 Å, Z = 4. The strongest powder pattern lines are (d Å, I, hkl) 10.565(8)(110), 8.906(10)(101), 7.424(8)(020), 5.733(5)(211), 3.761(3)(400), 3.686(4)(032), 3.466(3)(411), 3.344(4)(420). It is biaxial positive with α = 1.790, β = 1.798, γ = 1.811, 2Vz = 81°, a = Z, b = X, c = Y, with strong dispersion and pale yellow pleochroism. Specific gravity is 3.55 (meas.) or 3.68 (calc.) and the Mohs hardness is 2½ with no obvious cleavage. Obradovicite is similar to betpakdalite and sodium-betpakdalite except that it contains essential Cu and K (K > Na).

Babingtonite is a common constituent of calcareous volcanic detritus in the interstices of pillow lavas from an outcrop of the Takitimu Group, western Southland, New Zealand, Associated minerals include Fe-rich prehnite (Fe/(Fe+Al) = 0.12–0.33), Fe-rich epidote (Ps24–53), grandite garnet (av. Andradite70 Grossular30), quartz, calcite, chlorite, and pumpellyite. Babingtonite shows little departure from its ideal composition other than minor Mg, Mn, and Al and a trace of Na.

Textural evidence and microprobe data suggest that the babingtonite, Fe-rich epidote, calcite, and quartz formed from hydrothermal solutions by direct precipitation in open cavities and by replacement of higher temperature silicate phases (in particular plagioclase and basaltic glass) in a shallow marine volcanic environment. During subsequent burial and low-grade metamorphism babingtonite was partially replaced by prehnite, less Fe-rich epidote, grandite, and chlorite.

Chemically complex pyroxenes which occur in early Proterozoic tholeiitic dolerite dykes in southern West Greenland have been investigated using back-scattered electron (BSE) imagery, X-ray mapping and electron microprobe analysis. A wide variety of compositions occur within individual pyroxene grains in these rocks. They can be explained by simultaneous nucleation of different pyroxenes, the evolution of domains around these nucleii as a response to differential chemical gradients and the sequential precipitation of different pyroxenes at progressively lower temperatures. As an example, the individual grains in one dyke sample contain domains of bronzite, hypersthene, magnesium pigeonite, augite, and subcalcic augite. Olivine in this sample varies in composition from Fo70 to Fo33, although individual grains are only weakly zoned. The wide variation in pyroxene and olivine compositions suggests ranges of crystallization temperatures from c.1250° to as low as 825°C. Such compositionally variable pyroxenes are possibly characteristic of hypabyssal tholeiitic rocks.

Studies of the mafic mineralogy of the Mulanje granite-quartz-syenite-syenite Massif of southern Malawi delineate two mineralogically distinct complexes—the Main complex and the Chambe complex. Each complex is associated with its own trend of pyroxene evolution. The Main complex pyroxenes exhibit initial enrichment in hedenbergite before subsequent enrichment in acmite (i.e. sodic-salite-sodic-hedenbergite-aegirine-hedenbergite-aegirine), whereas the Chambe pyroxenes display constantly increasing acmite content with no significant enrichment in hedenbergite (i.e. sodic-salite-aegirine-augite-aegirine). This phenomenon is also reflected in the more Mg-rich amphiboles and biotites of the Chambe rocks when compared to those of the Main complex.

The general evolutionary trend of the Main complex amphiboles is katophorite → ferroricherite → arfvedsonite which broadly correlates with a change in rock type from syenite to granite. Superimposed on this trend is an essentially similar, yet less extensive trend of the more Mg-rich Chambe amphiboles. The micas of both complexes show a general evolution to more iron-rich compositions with relatively constant Al content. Those of the Main complex, however, display extreme iron enrichment with ultimate formation of essentially pure ferrous annite.

Aenigmatite, astrophyllite, fayalite, chevkinite, yttrofluorite, and unidentified RE minerals are characteristic of the Main complex rocks but totally absent from those of the Chambe complex. Ilmenite constitutes the only iron oxide phase in the Main complex rocks whereas titaniferous magnetite (now unmixed) and ilmenite are both present in the rocks of Chambe.

The differences between the two complexes are explained in terms of oxygen fugacity, silica activity, crystallization interval, and the relative rates of development of peralkalinity. In essence, the Chambe magmas are considered to have crystallized under high fO2 conditions with an earlier development of peralkaline tendencies when compared to those of the Main complex magmas. Moreover, a lower initial silica activity, a smaller alkali to alumina ratio, and a correspondingly smaller crystallization interval could account for the lack of highly evolved granitic magmas in the Chambe complex, whereas such magmas are integral in the evolution of the Main complex.

Rare earth minerals in ankeritic ferrocar-bonatite and associated magnetite ore, as well as in hematite-calcite-(dolomite) carbonatite (rødberg) derived from the ferrocarbonatite by post-magmatic alteration, have been studied by electron microprobe. The minerals found are monazite, parisite, and bastnäsite (identifications confirmed by X-ray diffraction) as well as an aluminous silicate with allanite composition, and possibly, synchysite. The rare earth element (REE) distribution patterns of the minerals change from light rare earth (LREE)-enriched in magnetite ore and ferrocarbonatite to less LREE-enriched, or middle REE-enriched in the most strongly re-equilibrated carbonatites. Two distinct mineral varieties, monazite-(Ce,Nd) and a Nd-fluorocarbonate, have been found in rødberg. The LREE were leached from their host minerals during re-equilibration of the carbonatite, most likely because of the influence of fluoride-bearing hydrothermal solutions.

Erlianite was found in the Harhada iron deposit along the Jining-Erlian railway, Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China. The occurrence formed at a high pressure and low temperature and the mineral occurs sparingly, mainly on fracture surfaces on which there is evidence of movement. It is associated with quartz, magnetite, siderite, albite, stilpnomelane, minnesotaite, deerite, etc.

Erlianite is black with a brownish streak, silky lustre and occur as fibres, flakes, and lath-like aggregates. The grain size is 1–2 cm. It is not fluorescent. H = 3.7, D = 3.11. Cleavages on {001} and {100} are perfect; orthorhombic Pmmn or Pm21n with a = 23.20, b = 9.20, c = 13.18, Å and Z = 1. Strongest lines are 11.5(100)(200, 101), 3.05(50)(223,130), 2.89(60)(603,800,231,621), 2.61(60) (523,105,332,224), 2.52(50)(901,115,033,531), and 1.560(50) (12.0.5,14.2.0). Biaxial negative with α = 1.667, β = 1.674, γ = 1.679, 2V = 56–59°. Analysis gave SiO2 38.80, FeO 26.67, Fe2O3 21.26, V2O5 1.15, MgO 1.00, CaO 0.83, MnO 0.55, P2O5 0.051, K2O 0.079, Na2O 0.09, Al2O3 0.19, TiO2 0.38, H2O+ 7.65, H2O- 0.90, total 99.60%, leading to (Fe19.962+Fe2.193+Mg1.33Mn0.42)Σ23.90(Fe11.323+V0.68)Σ12(Si34.73Ti0.26Al0.20Fe0.813+)Σ36O90(OH,O)48 (one unit cell content for O = 138).

The sample of the new mineral was discovered in 1977 during an investigation of an iron deposit which has been named ‘M14’. The methods used for studying this mineral included optical microscopy, X-ray powder diffraction, selected area electron diffraction analysis, wet chemical analysis, DTA, TGA, infra-red absorption and Mosbauer spectroscopy.

The Hällefors silver deposit is regarded as a volcanogenic-exhalative iron ore deposit with dispersed amounts of Ag-Pb-Zn (±Cu) which has undergone secondary remobilization leading to the concentration of sulphides and sulphosalts. Based on data from the iron oxides and sulphides, the sulphide-sulphosalt mineralization is believed to have been formed in two stages. The first is characterized by the ranges 573-473 K and 2.25–1.5 kbar, higher gradient of changes of log aS2 with temperature and mostly sulphide precipitation; the second by the ranges 473–443 K, lower gradient of changes of log aS2 and mainly sulphosalt deposition. Assuming the precipitation was from fluids and aqueous solutions, possible conditions of formation of some of the iron minerals have been determined.

Johninnesite, ideally Na2Mg4Mn12As5+2 Si12043(OH)6,, is triclinic, P1 or P1̄, with a = 10.44(2), b = 11.064(6), c = 9.62(1) Å, α = 107.43(7), β = 82.7(1), γ = 111.6(1)°, V = 894(2) Å3, and Z = 1. It occurs as yellow-brown fibrous aggregates, associated with rhodonite, kentrolite, and richterite, from the Kombat Mine in Namibia. Johninnesite has cleavages on {100} and {010}, density of 3.48 (meas.), 3.51 (calc.) g/cm3. It is biaxial negative, with 2Vx = 41.9°, α = 1.6742(4), β = 1.6968(3), γ = 1.6999(3); dispersion r > υ, distinct.

Ranciéite occurs as stalactites coated with 10 Å halloysite in an open fissure crossing the Mazzano Romano Mn-impregnated tuffs. Chemical analysis (by EMPA) gave: MnO2 71.9, CaO 6.11, BaO 2.85, MgO 1.53, K2O 0.86, Na2O 0.53 plus minor oxides, total 85.07% (average of sixteen spots). Thermal analysis gave a total loss of ∼ 20 wt% of which 13.9% can be attributed to bonded water. The resulting formula contains 4H2O rather than 3H2O, as in most published references. The loss of water leads to the formation of hausmannite plus unidentified phases, after a complex sequence of reactions. Dehydration is directly followed by an X-ray amorphous stage. The X-ray pattern and IR spectrum indicate a poor structural order, in agreement with the likely formation conditions of the Mazzano ranciéite at atmospheric pressure and very low temperatures (less than 50 °C), from cold water percolating through the main Mn deposit.

Two compounds with the chemical composition Ca2.32Mn0.68Si2.00O7 were synthesized from a molten carbonating silicate with the melilite composition. The synthetic samples were subsequently characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, IR absorption and EPMA, and they proved to be the anhydrous phases isomorphous with kilchoanite Ca3Si2O7 and åkermanite Ca2MgSi2O7 respectively, and to be polymorphous with each other. Their crystallochemical properties suggest that Mn-åkermanite is a high-temperature structure type of Mn-kilchoanite. Substitution of Mn2+ with an intermediate ionic radius between those of Mg2+ and Ca2+ cations establishes the polymorphic relationship between åkermanite Ca2MgSi2O7 and kilchoanite Ca3Si2O7.

Orthopyroxene and clinopyroxene, with biotite, are widespread in the high-level Cheviot granite, while amphibole is rare. The pyroxene compositions are very close to (Mg,Fe)2Si2O6 and Ca(Mg,Fe)Si2O6. Biotite compositions, with low Si and Al, are characteristic of biotites coexisting with pyroxenes. Geothermometric estimates based on oxide and pyroxene compositions show that present mineral compositions result from post-consolidation equilibration.

Spheniscidite is a new phosphate mineral occurring in a soil profile in an area of nesting penguins on Elephant Island. It is the NH4-dominant analogue of leucophosphite and has the formula (NH4,K)(Fe3+,Al)2 (PO4)2(OH) · 2H2O. It is monoclinic, P21/n with unit cell parameters a = 9.75, b = 9.63, c = 9.70 Å, β = 102° 34′, and Z = 4. The strongest X-ray lines are 6.79(100), 5.99(90), 3.05(45), 7.62(40) Å. Spheniscidite is thought to have formed by the interaction of ammonium phosphate solutions from penguin guano with micaceous and chloritic minerals in the soil. The name is for Sphenisciformes, the order name for penguins, and has been approved by the IMA Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names.

Moolooite, a naturally occurring hydrated copper oxalate has been identified in a sulphide-bearing quartz outcrop 12 km east of Mooloo Downs station homestead (25° 01′ 30″ S., 116° 06′ 30″ E.), Western Australia. It has apparently formed by the interaction of solutions derived from bird guano and weathering copper sulphides. Partial microchemical analysis indicates a composition corresponding to CuC2O4 · 0.44H2O. The infra-red spectrum is similar to that of the artificial compound with diagnostic absorption bands at 3490, 2975, 2935, 1980, 1940, 1660, 1365,1320, 830, 510, 390, and 315 cm−1. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns indicate a disordered structure with orthorhombic symmetry; a 5.35, b 5.63, c 2.56 Å, Z = 1. The strongest lines of the powder pattern are [d Å, I, hkl]: 3.88, 100, (110); 2.50, 30, (120); 2.33, 18, (011); 2.31, 25,(101); 2.14, 20, (111); 1.938, 18, (220); 1.787, 25, (121); 1.753, 30, (211); 1.216, 15, (112). Unindexed very weak diffuse lines on some patterns can be indexed assuming a supercell with a′ = a, b′ = 2b, c′ = 2c indicating the presence of ordered crystallites.

Moolooite occurs as micro-concretionary crusts and powder in cracks and solution cavities resulting from sulphide oxidation. It is found associated with opaline silica, gypsum, broehantite, antlerite, atacamite, whewellite, sampleite, and libethenite. It is turquoise-green in colour with similar streak, lustre dull to waxy, calculated density 3.43 g/cm3. Moolooite is composed of aggregates of generally sub-micrometre sized equidimensional crystallites with α ∼ 1.57 and γ ∼ 1.95.

By analogy with artificial copper oxalate, moolooite is constructed from infinite ribbon-like elementary structural units consisting of alternating Cu2+ and (C2O4)2− ions. These units are arranged en echelon in layers which are stacked with displacements so that octahedral coordination of copper ions is completed by oxygen atoms in adjacent layers. The minimal role played by water in the structure and composition of moolooite distinguish it from other oxalate minerals. Because of the zeolitic character of the water a general formula CuC2O4 · nH2O (0 ⩽ n ⩽ 1) appears to be appropriate.

Ganophyllite has been shown to have alkali cation exchange capability. Partial cesium exchange for K + Na in large (> 0·3 mm) grains shows that the exchangeable cations migrate parallel to X, the crystallographic direction for the ‘interlayer’ tunnels. Such exchange capability supports the suggestion that the alkali elements are located in zeolite-like sites attached to the sides of the tunnels. Exchange experiments show that complete sodium substitution for potassium is possible also. Eggletonite, the Na analogue of ganophyllite, is shown to have an identical superlattice to ganophyllite, indicating that eggletonite differs from ganophyllite only by the exchangeable cation.

Baghdadite, a new calcium zirconium silicate mineral has been found in melilite skarn in contact with banded diorite, from the Qala-Dizeh region, NE Iraq. Electron microprobe analysis yielded: SiO2 = 29.26, ZrO2 = 27.00, TiO2 = 2.11, Fe2O3 = 0.11, Al2O3 = 0.03, MgO = 0.05, CaO = 41.44, Na2O = 0.02, sum = 100.02 wt. %. The mineral contains about 0.16% HfO2. This analysis calculates to Ca3.00(Zr0.89Ti0.11)(Si1.98Fe0.01)O9 which leads to the ideal formula Ca3Zr[O2|Si2O7]. X-ray single crystal study showed it to be monoclinic with space group P21/a. The unit cell dimensions are: a = 10.42(2), b = 10.16(2), c = 7.36(1) Å, β = 91.1°, Z = 4 and cell volume = 779.04 Å3. The seven strongest lines in the powder diffraction pattern are (d,I,hkl): 7.30 (45)(110), 3.23 (80)(130), 3.04 (75)(2̄02), 2.98 (85)(202), 2.88 (70)(320,212), 2.84 (100)(230), 1.702 (40)(522). It is colourless, lustre vitreous, no cleavage and VHN50 = 725–783 kg mm−2 with H ∼ 6. Calculated density = 3.48 g cm−3 which is very close to 3.46 measured density of a synthetic Ca3ZrSi2O9. It is optically biaxial, positive, 2 V ∼ 72°, dispersion indiscernible. The cathodoluminescence colour is dull grey with a greenish tint. Refractive indices: α= 1.652, β = 1.658, γ = 1.670. The crystal habit is stumpy prismatic and a contact twin with b as twinning axis is observed. Optic orientation: α = c, β//b, γ = a.

The second occurrence of the asbestiform silicate carlosturanite is reported. The mineral occurs in Taberg, Sweden, and it was previously reported as ‘picrolite’, that is fibrous antigorite. Carlosturanite from Taberg is non-pleochroic, green in colour and has positive optical elongation. The unit cell parameters are a = 36.55, b = 9.31, c = 7.27Å, β = 101.05°. Based on the determined formula, (Mg20.47Fe0.59Mn0.06Cr0.01Ti0.01) (Si11.68Al0.28)O27.81(OH)34.19H2O carlosturanite can be expected to crystallize within the pure MgO-SiO2-H2O system as a low-grade metamorphic mineral.

Because there are close similarities in structure and properties of carlosturanite and the picrolite variety of antigorite, their distinction requires careful attention to X-ray and electron diffraction patterns and chemical compositions. The present identification of the Taberg specimen as carlosturanite puts a lower limit of 33.7 Å to the known range of a parameters of antigorite.