1. Matioliite, the Mg-analog of burangaite, from Gentil mine, Mendes Pimentel, Minas Gerais, Brazil, and other occurrences.
- Author
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Atencio, Daniel, Coutinho, José M. V., Mascarenhas, Yvonne P., and Ellena, Javier A.
- Subjects
MINERALOGY ,HYDROTHERMAL deposits ,PEGMATITES ,GRANITE - Abstract
Matioliite, ideally NaMgAl
5 (PO4 )4 (OH)6 ·2H2 O, occurs as a secondary hydrothermal mineral in the Gentil mine granite pegmatite, Mendes Pimentel Co., Minas Gerais, Brazil. Some crystals are zoned to more Fe-rich compositions with an Fe2+ :Mg ratio of approximately 1:1, corresponding to an intermediate member of the burangaite-matioliite solid-solution series. Matioliite is intimately associated with fluorapatite, crandallite, and zoned gormanite-souzalite cystals. The mineral forms prismatic to tabular crystals, up to 1 mm long. Matioliite is transparent and displays a vitreous luster; it is blue to colorless with a white streak. It is non-fluorescent. Mohs hardness is about 5. Calculated density is 2.948 g/cm³. Matioliite is biaxial negative, ηα = 1.597(2), ηβ = 1.627(2), ηγ = 1.632(1) (white light), 2V (meas.) = 43(2)°, 2V (calc.) = 44°, dispersion r > v, orientation X = b, Z ∧ c = 6°. Pleochroism is Y > X > Z, X = light blue to colorless, Y = blue, Z = colorless. The empirical formula is (Na0.94 Ca0.01 )∑0.95 (Mg0.88 Fe0.11 2+ Mn0.01 )∑1.00 (Al4.84 Fe0.13 3+ )∑4.97 (PO4 )4.03 (OH)5.76 ·2H2 O. The mineral is monoclinic, space group C2/c, a = 25.075(1) Å, b = 5.0470(3) Å, c = 13.4370(7) Å, β = 110.97(3)°, V = 1587.9(4) ų, Z = 4. Crystal-structure determination was carried out and showed it is isostructural with burangaite, dufrénite, and natrodufrénite. Both the description and the name were approved by the CNMMN-IMA (Nomenclature Proposal 2005-011). The "magnesium analog of burangaite" described from the Gold Quarry mine, Carlin-trend, Eureka County, Nevada; "burangaite" from Hochgosch, Millstätter See-Rücken, Kärnten, Austria; and "burangaite" described from Córrego Pomarolli, Linópolis, Divino das Laranjeiras, Minas Gerais, Brazil, are probably matioliite. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]- Published
- 2006
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