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The crystal structure of a novel natural uranyl sulfate, Ca(UO2)6(SO4)2O2(OH)6·12H2O (CaUS), has been determined using data collected under ambient conditions at the Swiss–Norwegian beamline BM01 of the European Synchrotron Research Facility (ESRF). The compound is monoclinic, P21/c, a = 11.931(2), b = 14.246(6), c = 20.873(4) Å, β = 102.768(15), V = 3460.1(18) Å3, and R1 = 0.172 for 3805 unique observed reflections. The crystal structure contains six symmetrically independent U6+ atoms forming (UO7) pentagonal bipyramids that share O...O edges to form hexamers oriented parallel to the (010) plane and extended along [1–20]. The hexamers are linked via (SO4) groups to form [(UO2)6(SO4)2O2(OH)6(H2O)4]2− chains running along the c-axis. The adjacent chains are arranged into sheets parallel to (010). The Ca2+ ions are coordinated by seven O atoms, and are located in between the sheets, providing their linkage into a three-dimensional structure. The crystal structure of CaUS is closely related to that of uranopilite, (UO2)6(SO4)O2(OH)6·14H2O, which is also based upon uranyl sulfate chains consisting of hexameric units formed by the polymerization of six (UO7) pentagonal bipyramids. However, in uranopilite, each (SO4) tetrahedron shares its four O atoms with (UO7) bipyramids, whereas in CaUS, each sulfate group is linked to three uranyl ions only, and has one O atom (O16) linked to the Ca2+ cation. The chains are also different in the U:S ratio, which is equal to 6:1 for uranopilite and 3:1 for CaUS. The information-based structural complexity parameters for CaUS were calculated taking into account H atoms show that the crystal structure of this phase should be described as very complex, possessing 6.304 bits/atom and 1991.995 bits/cell. The high structural complexity of CaUS can be explained by the high topological complexity of the uranyl sulfate chain based upon uranyl hydroxo/oxo hexamers and the high hydration character of the phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dobrovolskyite, Na4Ca(SO4)3, is a new sulfate mineral from the Great Tolbachik fissure eruption, Kamchatka peninsula, Russia. It occurs as aggregates of tabular crystals up to 1–2 mm in maximum dimension, with abundant gas inclusions. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of O = 12 is (Na3.90K0.10)Σ4(Ca0.45Mg0.16Cu0.12Na0.10)Σ0.83S3.08O12. The crystal structure of dobrovolskyite was determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data as: trigonal, R3, a = 15.7223(2), c = 22.0160(5) Å, V = 4713.1(2) Å3, Z = 18 and R1 = 0.072. The Mohs' hardness is 3.5. The mineral is uniaxial (+), with ω = 1.489(2) and ɛ = 1.491(2) (λ = 589 nm). The seven strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, Å (I, %)(hkl)] are: 11.58(40)(101); 5.79(22)(202); 4.54(18)(030); 3.86(88)(033); 3.67(32)(006); 2.855(50)(306); and 2.682(100)(330). The mineral is named in honour of Prof. Dr. Vladimir Vitalievich Dolivo-Dobrovolsky (1927–2009), one of the leading Russian scientists in the field of petrology, crystal optics and crystal chemistry. The crystal structure of dobrovolskyite can be described as composed of three symmetrically independent rods running parallel to the c axis. The rods consist of six octahedral–tetrahedral [Na(SO4)6]11– or [Ca(SO4)6]10– clusters of central octahedra sharing common corners with six adjacent SO4 tetrahedra. Alternatively, the crystal structure of the mineral can be described as a 12-layer ABACABACABAC eutactic array of Na+ and Ca2+ cations, and vacancies with disordered (SO4) tetrahedra in interstices. Dobrovolskyite and similar minerals probably formed upon cooling of a high-temperature phase with disordered cation and anion arrangements. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Petrovite, Na10CaCu2(SO4)8, is a new sulfate mineral discovered on the Second scoria cone of the Great Tolbachik fissure eruption. The mineral occurs as globular aggregates of tabular crystals up to 0.2 mm in maximal dimension, generally with gaseous inclusions. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of O = 32 is Na6(Na1.80K0.20)Σ2Na(Ca0.82Na0.06Mg0.02)Σ0.90(Cu1.84Mg0.16)Σ2(Na0.52□0.48)Σ1S8.12O32. The crystal-chemical formula is CuNa6−2xCax(SO4)4, which, for x ≈ 0.5, results in the idealised formula Na10CaCu2(SO4)8. The crystal structure of petrovite was determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data; the space group is P21/c, a = 12.6346(8), b = 9.0760(6), c = 12.7560(8) Å, β = 108.75(9)°, V = 1385.1(3) Å3, Z = 2 and R1 = 0.051. There are one Cu and six Na sites, one of which is also occupied by the essential amount of Ca. The Cu atom forms five Cu–O bonds in the range 1.980–2.180 Å and two long bonds ≈ 2.9 Å resulting in the formation of the CuO7 polyhedra, which share corners with SO4 tetrahedra to form isolated [Cu2(SO4)8]12− clusters. The clusters are surrounded by Na sites, which provide their linkage into a three-dimensional framework. The Mohs' hardness is 4. The mineral is biaxial (+), with α = 1.498(3), βcalc = 1.500, γ = 1.516(3) and 2V = 20(10) (λ = 589 nm). The seven strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, Å (I, %) (hkl)] are: 7.21(27)(110); 6.25(38)(102); 4.47(31)(212); 3.95(21)(30 $\bar{2}$); 3.85(17)(121); 3.70(36)(202); and 3.65(34)(22 $\bar{1}$). The mineral is named in honour of Prof Dr Tomas Georgievich Petrov (b. 1931) for his contributions to mineralogy and crystallography and, in particular, for the development of technology for the industrial fabrication of jewellery malachite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The crystal structure of magnesian halotrichite has been refined for two samples collected as white efflorescences from the surface of geothermal fields associated with the Koshelevsky (sample VK4-09) and Centralny Semyachik (sample SC2-20) volcanoes (both Kamchatka peninsula, Russia). Halotrichite and its Mg-rich varieties are common products of the acid leaching of rocks, both volcanic and technogenic. The crystal structures of two halotrichite crystals were refined in the P21/n space group (vs. P21/c used previously) with the unit-cell parameters a = 6.1947(2)/6.1963(5) Å, b = 24.2966(8)/24.2821(14) Å, c = 21.0593(8)/21.063(2) Å, β = 96.512(4)/96.563(9) º, V = 3149.2(2)/3148.3(5) Å3, Z = 4 to R1 = 0.055 and 0.067 for 5673 and 3936 reflections with I > 2σI reflections, respectively. The crystal structure consists of isolated Al(H2O)6 octahedra, SO4 tetrahedra, H2O molecules and [X(SO4)(H2O)5]0 clusters (X = Fe, Mg). The chemical analyses of both samples show their enrichment of Mg at the Fe2+ site. The analysis of geometrical parameters of the crystal structures of halotrichite and its Mg-analogue pickeringite suggests that the localization of O atoms carried out in this work is more accurate and the single-crystal X-ray diffraction data for the first time allowed localization of hydrogen atom positions. The refined number of H2O molecules agrees with the ideal chemical formula. The crystal structure complexity of halotrichite is estimated as IG, total = 2305 bits/cell, which belongs to the family of very complex mineral structures. The contribution of hydrogen bonding system plays a significant role in the overall bonding scheme and the overall complexity of the crystal structure, increasing the Shannon information amount more than twice from IG, total(noH) = 988 bits/cell (no hydrogen atoms) to IG, total = 2305 bits/cell (all atoms including hydrogen). The comparative distribution of halotrichite relative to other Fe-Al hydrated sulfates from the standpoint of structural complexity is considered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Phase formation in the mixed sulfate-selenate aqueous system of uranyl nitrate and cesium nitrate has been investigated. Two types of crystalline compounds have been obtained and characterized using a number of experimental (single crystal XRD, FTIR, SEM) and theoretical (information-based complexity calculations, topological analysis) techniques. No miscibility gaps have been observed for Cs 2 [(UO 2 ) 2 ( T O 4 ) 3 ] ( T = S, Se), which crystallizes in tetragonal system, P -42 1 m , a =9.616(1)–9.856(2), c =8.105(1)–8.159(1) Å, V =749.6(2)–792.5(3) Å 3 . Nine phases with variable amount of S and Se have been structurally characterized. The structures of the Cs 2 [(UO 2 ) 2 ( T O 4 ) 3 ] ( T = S, Se) compounds are based upon the [(UO 2 ) 2 ( T O 4 ) 3 ] 2- layers of corner-sharing uranyl pentagonal bipyramids and T O 4 tetrahedra. The layers contain two types of tetrahedral sites: T 1 (3-connected, i.e. having three O atoms shared by adjacent uranyl polyhedra) and T 2 (4-connected). The Se-for-S substitution in tetrahedral sites is highly selective with smaller S 6+ cation showing a strong preference for the more tightly bonded T 2 site. Crystallization in the pure Se system starts with the formation of Cs 2 [(UO 2 )(SeO 4 ) 2 (H 2 O)](H 2 O) crystals, its subsequent dissolution and formation of Cs 2 [(UO 2 ) 2 (SeO 4 ) 3 ]. The information-based structural complexity calculations for these two phases support the rule that more topologically complex structures form at the latest stages of crystallization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three novel uranyl selenate and sulfate oxysalts templated by protonated azetidine molecules, [ Az H] + , and its ring-opened counterpart 1-azetidinepropanamine, [ Az H(CH 2 ) 3 NH 3 ] 2+ , have been prepared and studied by X-ray structural analysis. Conformations of azetidinium cations were analysed by means of infrared vibrational assignments supported by the DFT calculations. Crystallization of [ Az H] 2 [(UO 2 ) 2 (SeO 4 ) 3 (H 2 O)] ( I ) from highly acidic solutions suggests that low pH does not necessarily result in the opening of azetidine ring. [ Az H(CH 2 ) 3 NH 3 ][(UO 2 ) 2 (SeO 4 ) 3 (H 2 O)](H 2 O) ( II ) and [ Az H(CH 2 ) 3 NH 3 ](H 5 O 2 )[(UO 2 ) 2 (SO 4 ) 3 (HSO 4 )] ( III ) are the first structurally characterized crystalline compounds bearing isolated ring-opened azetidine moiety. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cs 2 [(An O 2) 2 (T O 4) 3 ] (where An ​= ​U, Np; T ​= ​S, Se, Cr, Mo) is a remarkable family of actinide-bearing compounds due to the surprising persistence of its structure type despite the substitutions in actinide and oxyanion sites. Cesium uranyl sulfate and selenate compounds have been analysed using high-temperature powder X-ray diffraction, Raman and luminescence spectroscopy techniques; in addition, high-temperature oxide-melt calorimetry studies had been carried out to derive the enthalpies of formation of both compounds. The crystal structures of all six known isotypic compounds have been compared to reveal specific geometric parameters, which results in differences of thermal behavior and spectra. Chemical alteration in the An and T sites results in changes of the Cs+ coordination environment, which in turn leads to an increase of its influence on the layered structural units and the stability of the structure itself. These substitution mechanisms may be regarded as an example of the chemical composition selectivity for the preparation of compounds with the desired properties. The crystal chemistry review and properties of probably the most outstanding family of actinyl-bearing isotypic compounds Cs 2 [(An O 2) 2 (T O 4) 3 ] (where An ​= ​U, Np and T ​= ​S, Se, Cr, Mo), which is the only known to date example of structural type preservation with such a large diversity in chemical composition. Image 1 • Thermal behaviour of Cs uranyl sulfate and selenate was analysed. • Enthalpy of formation and luminescence properties of Cs uranyl sulfate and selenate were determined. • Crystal-chemical review of a family of Cs 2 [(An O 2) 2 (T O 4) 3 ] (An ​= ​U, Np; T ​= ​S, Se, Cr, Mo) compounds was prepared. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]