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Philipsburgite, Cu5Zn((As,P)O4)2(OH)6·H2O, from the Middle Pit, Gold Hill Mine, Tooele Co., Utah, USA, was studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. The empirical formula of the studied sample is (Cu4.69Zn1.23)(As0.86P0.18O4)2(OH)5.61·H2O, which agrees well with the previous reports on the mineral. Philipsburgite is monoclinic, P21/c, a = 12.385(6), b = 9.261(4), c = 10.770(5) Å, β = 97.10(1)o, V = 1225.7(9) Å3 (at 100 K), and Z = 4. The crystal structure was refined to R1 = 0.046 for 2563 unique observed reflections with |Fo| ≥ 4σF. The crystal structure of philipsburgite is isotypic to that of kipushite and can be considered as a complex three-dimensional framework consisting of two types of layers stacked parallel to the a-axis. The A-type layer is formed by the edge-sharing Jahn-Teller-distorted Cuφ6 octahedra [φ = O2−, (OH)−, H2O]. Two adjacent octahedral layers are linked via (As2O4) tetrahedra. The B-type layer is built by corner-sharing (ZnO4) and (As1O4) tetrahedra and is formed by the four- and eight-membered tetrahedral rings. The A:B ratio of the A and B layers is equal to 2:1. The hydrogen bonding network in philipsburgite is rather complex and consists of two- and three-center hydrogen bonds. The As1 site accommodates ca. 18% of P and is a preferable position for the P substitution in philipsburgite. The observed selectivity of the As1 site for P may indicate that, for the intermediate compositions with the P:As ratios close to 1:1, there is a fully ordered species with P prevalent at the As1 site and As prevalent at the As2 site. The intermediate composition would, therefore, be Cu5Zn(AsO4)(PO4)(OH)6·H2O and such a mineral can be considered as a separate species, according to the rules of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA). Philipsburgite should be considered as structurally complex with the Shannon information contents of 4.954 bits/atom and 614.320 bits/cell. The obvious reason for the structural complexity of the mineral is its modularity, i.e., the presence of two structurally distinct modules, the octahedral-tetrahedral (A) and tetrahedral (B) layers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kurchatovite and clinokurchatovite, both of ideal composition CaMgB2O5, from the type localities (Solongo, Buryatia, Russia, and Sayak-IV, Kazakhstan, respectively) have been studied using electron microprobe and single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods. The empirical formulae of the samples are Ca1.01Mg0.87Mn0.11Fe2+0.02B1.99O5 and Ca0.94Mg0.91Fe2+0.10Mn0.04B2.01O5 for kurchatovite and clinokurchatovite, respectively. The crystal structures of the two minerals are similar and based upon two-dimensional blocks arranged parallel to the c axis in kurchatovite and parallel to the a axis in clinokurchatovite. The blocks are built up from diborate B2O5 groups, and Ca2+ and Mg2+ cations in seven- and six-fold coordination, respectively. Detailed analysis of geometrical parameters of the adjacent blocks reveals that symmetrically different diborate groups have different degrees of conformation in terms of the δ angles between the planes of two BO3 triangles sharing a common O atom, featuring two discrete sets of the δ values of ca. 55° (B' blocks) and 34° (B" blocks). The stacking of the blocks in clinokurchatovite can be presented as ...(+B')(+B")(+B')(+B")... or [(+B')(+B")], whereas in kurchatovite it is more complex and corresponds to the sequence ...(+B')(+B")(+B')(-B')(-B")(-B')(+B')(+B")(+B')(-B')(-B")(-B')... or [(+B')(+B")(+B')(-B')(-B")(-B')]. The B':B" ratios for clinokurchatovite and kurchatovite are 1:1 and 2:1, respectively. According to this description, the two minerals cannot be considered as polytypes and their mutual relationship corresponds to the term modular polymorphs. From the viewpoint of information-based measures of structural complexity, clinokurchatovite (IG = 4.170 bits/atom and IG, total = 300.235 bits/cell) is structurally simpler than kurchatovite (IG = 4.755 bits/atom and IG, total = 1027.056 bits/cell). The high structural complexity of kurchatovite can be inferred from the modular character of its structure. The analysis of structural combinatorics in terms of the modular approach allows to construct the whole family of theoretically possible "kurchatovite"-type structures that bear the same structural features common for kurchatovite and clinokurchatovite. However, the crystal structures of the latter minerals are the simplest and are the only ones that have been observed in nature. The absence of other possible structures is remarkable and can be explained by either the maximum-entropy of the least-action fundamental principles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Batagayite, CaZn2(Zn,Cu)6(PO4)4(PO3OH)3·12H2O, is a new secondary phosphate mineral from the Këster deposit, Arga-Ynnykh-Khai massif, NE Yakutia, Russia. It is monoclinic, P21, a = 8.4264(4), b = 12.8309(6), c = 14.6928(9) Å, β = 98.514(6)o, V = 1571.05(15) Å3 and Z = 2 (from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data). Batagayite crystals are blades up to 2 mm long, flattened on {001} and elongated on [100]; blades often grow in radial aggregates. Associated minerals are arsenolite, native copper, epifanovite, fluorapatite, libethenite, Na-analogue of batagayite, pseudomalachite, quartz, sampleite, tobermorite, and Mg-analogue of hopeite. The streak is white and the luster is vitreous. The mineral is brittle and has a perfect cleavage on {001}, no parting was observed. The Mohs hardness is 3. Density, determined by the float-sink method in Clerici solution, is 2.90(3) g/cm3, and the calculated density is 3.02 g/cm3 (using the empirical formula and single-crystal unit-cell parameters). Batagayite is biaxial, optically negative, α = 1.566 ± 0.002, β = 1.572 ± 0.002, γ = 1.573 ± 0.002 at 589 nm. 2Vmeas. = 40(5)°, 2Vcalc = 44.3°. Optical orientation: Z is perpendicular to (001), further details unclear. No dispersion or pleochroism were observed. The mean chemical composition determined by electron microprobe is: Na2O 0.31, MgO 1.39, Al2O3 0.55, SiO2 0.48, P2O5 34.37, K2O 0.17, CaO 2.76, MnO 1.03, CuO 5.80, ZnO 35.62, CdO 0.24 wt%. The H2O content estimated from the crystal-structure refinement is 16.83 wt%, giving a total of 99.55 wt%. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of P + Si = 7 is (Zn6.22Cu1.04Ca0.70Mg0.49Mn0.21Al0.15Na0.14K0.05Cd0.03)Σ9.03(P6.89Si0.11)Σ7.00O24.91(OH)3.09·12.10H2O. The mineral easily dissolves in 10% room-temperature HCl. The eight diagnostic lines in the X-ray powder-diffraction pattern are (I-d[Å]-hkl): 100-14.59-001, 25-6.34-012, 11-6.02-111, 37-4.864-003, 13-4.766-112, 20-3.102-1 2¯4¯, 11-2.678-2 3¯3¯, 16-2.411-044. The crystal structure of batagayite was solved by direct methods and refined to R1 = 0.069 for 3847 independent reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo). It is based upon complex heteropolyhedral [M8(PO4)4(PO3OH)3(H2O)9]2− layers parallel to the (001) plane. The layer can be considered as consisting of three sublayers, one A and two B. The central A layer has the composition [M4(PO4)4(H2O)4]4− and consists of the zigzag chains of edge-sharing (MO6) octahedra running parallel to the a axis and linked into layers by sharing peripheral O atoms. The (PO4) tetrahedra are attached above and below the holes created by the linkage of zigzag octahedral chains. The B sublayer consists of chains of (ZnO4) and (PO3OH) tetrahedra. The interlayer space is occupied by the Ca2+ cations and H2O molecules. Batagayite is a secondary low-temperature mineral formed as a result of alteration of primary minerals such as native copper and fluorapatite. On the basis of its structural complexity calculated as 1058.257 bits/cell (taking into account contributions from H atoms), batagayite should be considered as a very complex mineral. The high complexity of batagayite is due to its high hydration state and the modular character of its structure, which contains both octahedral-tetrahedral layers and tetrahedral chains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel polymorph of RbCuCl3 (rubidium copper trichloride), denoted ϵ‐RbCuCl3, has been prepared by chemical vapour transport (CVT) from a mixture of CuO, CuCl2, SeO2 and RbCl. The new polymorph crystallizes in the orthorhombic space group C2221. The crystal structure is based on an octahedral framework of the 4H perovskite type. The Rb+ and Cl− ions form a four‐layer closest‐packing array with an ABCB sequence. The Cu2+ cations reside in octahedral cavities with a typical [4 + 2]‐Jahn–Teller‐distorted coordination, forming four short and two long Cu—Cl bonds. ϵ‐RbCuCl3 is the most structurally complex and most dense among all currently known RbCuCl3 polymorphs, which allows us to suggest that it is a high‐pressure phase, which is unstable under ambient conditions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Three novel copper compounds, Rb4Cu4OCl10 (I), Rb[Cu3O](SeO3)2Cl (II), and RbCu3(OH)(SeO3)Cl4(H2O)3 (III) were prepared by chemical vapor transport (CVT) reactions method from mixtures of CuO, SeO2, RbCl, and CuCl2. The crystal structures of the three compounds were determined by direct methods. Compound I is a Rb analogue of ponomarevite, K4Cu4OCl10. Its crystal structure contains {[OCu4]Cl10}4- clusters with oxocentered [OCu4]6+ tetrahedra as cores. The clusters are linked by the Rb+ cations. The crystal structure of II contains complex {[O2Cu6](SeO3)4Cl2}2- layers formed by dimers of edge-sharing [OCu4]6+ tetrahedra interlinked via selenite groups and Cl- anions. The crystal structure of III is based upon {[(OH)Cu3](SeO3)}3+ layers formed by the [(OH)Cu3]5+ tetrahedra attached to (SeO3)2- groups. The layers are linked via Cl- anions and via hydrogen bonds to H2O molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kampelite, Ba3Mg1.5Sc4(PO4)6(OH)3·4H2O, is a new Ba-Sc phosphate from the Kovdor phoscorite-carbonatite complex (Kola Peninsula, Russia). It is orthorhombic, Pnma, a = 11.256(1), b = 8.512(1), c = 27.707(4) Å, V = 2654.6(3) Å3 and Z = 4 (from powder diffraction data) or a = 11.2261(9), b = 8.5039(6), c = 27.699(2) Å, V = 2644.3(3) Å3 (from single-crystal diffraction data). The mineral was found in a void within the calcite-magnetite phoscorite (enriched in hydroxylapatite and Sc-rich baddeleyite) inside the axial zone of the Kovdor phoscorite-carbonatite pipe. Kampelite forms radiated aggregates (up to 1.5 mm in diameter) of platy crystals grown on the surfaces of crystals of quintinite-2H in close association with pyrite, bobierrite and quintinite-3R. Kampelite is colourless, with a pearly lustre and a white streak. The cleavage is perfect on {001}, the fracture is smooth. Mohs hardness is about 1. In transmitted light, the mineral is colourless without pleochroism or dispersion. Kampelite is biaxial + (pseudouniaxial), α ≈ β = 1.607(2), γ = 1.612(2) (589 nm), and 2Vcalc = 0°. The calculated and measured densities are 3.28 and 3.07(3) g·cm−3, respectively. The mean chemical composition determined by electron microprobe is: MgO 4.79, Al2O3 0.45, P2O5 31.66, K2O 0.34, Sc2O3 16.17, Mn2O3 1.62, Fe2O3 1.38, SrO 3.44, and BaO 29.81 wt%. The H2O content estimated from the crystal-structure refinement is 7.12 wt%, giving a total of 96.51 wt%. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of P = 6 apfu (atoms per formula unit) is (Ba2.62Sr0.45K0.10Ca0.06)Σ3.23Mg1.60Mn0.28(Sc3.15Fe3+0.23Al0.12)Σ3.50(PO4)6(OH)2.61·4.01H2O. The simplified formula is Ba3Mg1.5Sc4(PO4)6(OH)3·4H2O. The mineral easily dissolves in 10% cold HCl. The strongest X-ray powder-diffraction lines [listed as d in Å (I) (hkl)] are as follows: 15.80(100)(001), 13.86(45)(002), 3.184(18)(223), 3.129(19)(026), 2.756(16)(402), 2.688(24)(1010). The crystal structure of kampelite was refined to R1 = 0.092 on the basis of 2620 unique observed reflections. It is based upon complex [MgBa2Sc4(PO4)6] layers consisting of the Ba-PO4 zigzag sheet inserted between two Mg-Sc-PO4 sheets. Raman spectrum of kampelite contains characteristic bands of vibrations of the PO4, ScO6 and H2O groups. Kampelite formed as a result of low-temperature hydrothermal alteration of Sc-bearing baddeleyite, which also produces Sc-rich pyrochlore and juonniite. The structural complexity parameters for kameplite are equal to 5.272 bits/atom and 1244.304 bits/cell, which points out that the mineral is structurally very complex, in agreement with its late-stage hydrothermal origin. The mineral is named in honour of Russian mining engineer Felix Borisovich Kampel’ (b. 1935) for his contribution to the development of technologies of mining and processing of complex magnetite-apatite-baddeleyite ores of the Kovdor deposit. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

At present, the vesuvianite group of minerals consists of eight members, six of which are distinguished by the dominant cation in the Y1(A,B) five-coordinated site. We investigated two vesuvianite samples from the type locality by electron microprobe analysis, Mössbauer and infrared spectroscopy, TGA/DSC, MAS NMR, single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. The crystal structures of these samples (# 27844 and 51062 from the Vesuvius collection, Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Moscow) have been refined to R1 = 0.027 and R1 = 0.035, respectively. Both samples have the space group P4/nnc; a = 15.5720(3) and 15.5459(3), c = 11.8158(5) and 11.7988(4), respectively. In both samples low-occupied T1 and T2 sites are populated by minor B and Al, which agrees with their high-temperature origin. According to our experimental results, the general revised crystal-chemical formula of vesuvianite can be written as VII-IXX19 VY1 VIY12(Z2O7)4(ZO4)10(W)10, where X are sevento nine-coordinated sites of Ca with minor Na, K, Fe2+ and REE impurities; VY has a square pyramidal coordination and is occupied predominantly by Fe3+ with subordinate Mg, Al, Fe2+ and Cu2+; VIY has octahedral coordination and is predominantly occupied by Al with subordinate Mg, Fe2+, Fe3+, Mn2+, Mn3+, Ti, Cr and Zn; ZO4 = SiO4, sometimes with subordinate AlO4 and/or (OH)4, and W = OH, F, with minor O and Cl. The idealized charge-balanced formula of the vesuvianite end-member without subordinate cations is Ca19Fe3+(Al10Me2+ 2)(Si2O7)4(SiO4)10O(OH)9, where Me = Fe2+, Mg2+, Mn2+. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Single crystals of a new lead cobalt phosphite, PbCo2(HPO3)3, have been synthesized using mild hydrothermal techniques and characterized by X-ray diffraction analysis, SQUID magnetic measurements, IR spectroscopy, UV/vis spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy. PbCo2(HPO3)3 crystallizes in the non-centrosymmetric (NCS) R3m space group, a = 5.3145(15) Å, c = 25.494(7) Å, V = 623.6(4) Å3. The crystal structure of PbCo2(HPO3)3 is based upon 2D heteropolyhedral blocks built up from Co2O9 octahedral dimers and HPO3 pseudo-tetrahedra. Lead cations reside in the interlayer space of the structure. Here, the NCS character results reasonably from the cooperative Pb2+ lone electron pair arrangements, by analogy to the centrosymmetric compound (NH4)2Co2(HPO3)3 with similar but disordered blocks. A local twisting of specific HPO3 groups arises due to unreasonably short H…H contacts between two phosphite oxoanions. In terms of the magnetic behavior, the new PbCo2(HPO3)3 phase demonstrates weak antiferromagnetic interactions inside the Co2O9 dimers between cobalt ions as expected from the phosphite μ-O bridges. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Density functional theory (DFT) is used to determine positions of H atoms and to investigate hydrogen bonding in the crystal structures of two polymorphs of Cu3(AsO4)(OH)3: clinoclase and gilmarite. Hydrogen bonds in clinoclase involve interactions between hydroxyl groups and O atoms of arsenate tetrahedra, whereas the crystal structure of gilmarite features OH···OH bonding, which is rather uncommon in copper hydroxy-oxysalts. Information-based parameters of structural complexity for clinoclase and gilmarite show that the former is more complex (IG,total = 213.212 bits/cell) than the latter (IG,total = 53.303 bits/cell), which indirectly points out that gilmarite is metastable. This suggestion is supported by the lower density of gilmarite (4.264 g/cm3) compared to that of clinoclase (4.397 g/cm3). The hypothesis of metastable character of gilmarite is in agreement with the Goldsmith's simplexity principle and the Ostwald-Volmer rule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The review is devoted to the start-of-the-art of the description, interpretation and classification of crystal structures in mineralogy. Among methods, the focus is on the atomic packings (including both anion and cation arrays), coordination polyhedra (both cation- and anion-centred), the concept of fundamental building blocks and related ideas, the use of networks, graphs and tilings (space partitions). The basic concepts under discussion in modern structural mineralogy include structure hierarchy (specification and compositional hierarchies are considered separately), modularity (representation of crystal structures as constructed from modules extracted from simple archetype structures) and complexity (with emphasis on static or informational and algorithmic complexities). Short historical notes are given for all of the topics considered. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]