Irinarassite, Ca3Sn2SiAl2O12, a new mineral species of the garnet supergroup was discovered in metasomatically altered carbonate-silicate xenoliths in ignimbrites of the Upper Chegem Caldera, Northern Caucasus, Kabardino-Balkaria, Russia. It occurs as small zones and irregular spots in kimzeyite-kerimasite or rarely as single crystals not exceeding 10 μm in size, within complex pseudomorphs after zircon. Lakargiite, tazheranite, baddeleyite, kerimasite, kimzeyite, baghdadite and rarely magnesioferrite are associated with irinarassite in the pseudomorphs which are confined to larnite-cuspidine zones immediately adjoining the ignimbrite. Larnite, cuspidine, rondorfite, fluor- and hydroxylellestadite, fluorite and secondary minerals such as ettringite, hillebrandite and bultfonteinite are associated with irinarassite. Irinarassite is pale brown to yellow colour. The mineral is characterized by the absence of cleavage and by an irregular fracture. The calculated density is 4.3 g cm–1. The mineral is isotropic with a calculated refractive index of 1.9. The empirical crystal chemical formula of irinarassite from the holotype specimen is as follows (Ca2.965Fe2+0.035)Σ3(Sn1.016Zr0.410Ti0.262Sb5+0.237Fe2+0.035U6+0.017Sc0.014Hf0.006Nb0.004)Σ2.001(Al1.386Fe3+0.804Si0.446Ti4+0.364)Σ3O12. Electron backscatter diffraction patterns of irinarassite are fitted to the garnet model with a = 12.50(3) Å with excellent MAD (mean angular deviation) = 0.16°. The Raman spectrum of irinarassite is analogous to those of kerimasite and other Zr-Sn-garnets of the schorlomite and bitikleite groups.

A garnet-olivine metaperidotite and a garnet-amphibole pyroxenite are described. Chemical analyses are presented for six rocks and optical properties and chemical analyses are tabulated for clinopyroxene, almandine-pyrope garnet, and hastingsitie amphibole from the garnet-amphibole pyroxenite. A possible origin for the garnet peridotite and chemically similar granulite facies ultramafic rocks is suggested. The eclogite facies in South Harris is reinstated in the light of the data presented.

The development of the morphology of baryte crystals grown in a silica gel medium is related to the changes in supersaturation. Nucleation occurs when the supersaturation in the system exceeds a threshold value which depends on the supersaturation rate, i.e. the rate at which the supersaturation is changing at the nucleation site. During growth the supersaturation decreases, although a high level of supersaturation is maintained throughout. These experimental results compare well with the morphological development predicted from theoretical models based on the periodic bond chain theory. The ontogeny of natural harytes corresponds, in considerable detail, to the experimental observations made here and strongly suggests that similarly high supersaturations have prevailed in nature. This correspondence indicates that the technique of crystal growth in a porous silica gel medium provides a good experimental model of studying natural growth processes.

The synthesis of monazite was first reported by Radominsky (1875). Since then various methods have been used to synthesize various end members of the monazite solid solution series, mainly CePO4 and LaPO4 (e.g. Anthony, 1957, 1965). As part of an experimental study dealing with the solubility of monazite in granitic melts (Montel, 1986, 1987, and in prep.), the synthesis of some of the end members, as well as solid solutions, was achieved.

Natural cobalt hydroxide is CoO.OH, not Co(OH)2 as has recently been asserted; for this mineral the name heterogenite has priority. Copper, frequently present, may be in solid solution as (Co,Cu)(O,OH)OH, or may be as finely divided malachite; for cuprian heterogenite, the name schulzenite has priority.

Over 100 samples of ‘pegmatite’ and associated host rocks from the Cree Lake Zone of northern Saskatchewan have been studied. The degree of U and Th enrichment of the pegmatites appears to depend on the parent material of the anatectic melts produced during the Hudsonian thermotectonic event. Evidence for Archaean granulite-facies depletion of U and Th is inconclusive; however, important enrichment of U and Th in the basal Aphebian is associated with metamorphosed black shales and possibly evaporates.

The crystal structure of kraisslite, orthorhombic (pseudo-hexagonal), a = 8.1821(1), b = 14.1946(3), c = 43.9103(8) Å, V = 5099.8(2) Å3, Z = 4 and d calc = 4.083 g cm–3, has been solved bydirect methods and refined in the space group C2221 to an R 1 index of 1.68% for 7432 observed (|F o| > 4σ|F|) reflections. Electron-microprobe analysis gave the following chemical composition: As2O510.86,As2O36.18, SiO213.39, Al2O30.25, Fe2O32.06, MnO 51.14, ZnO 7.39, MgO 2.13, CaO 0.05, H2Ocalc = 4.50, sum 97.95 wt.%; and empirical formula: Zn2.91(Mn23.07Mg1.69Ca0.03)Σ=24.79(Fe0.83 3+Al0.16)Σ=0.99(As3+O3)2[(Si0.71As0.30 5+)O4]10(OH)16 calculated on the basis of 62 anions with (OH) = 16 and As3+/(As3++ As5+) taken from the refined crystal structure. The general formula, [4]Zn3(Mn,Mg)25(Fe3+,Al)(As3+O3)2[(Si,As5+)O4]10(OH)16, differs from those given previously.

There is one As3+ site with a <As–O> distance of 1.780 Å and a stereochemistry typical of a stereoactive lone-pair of electrons. There are five tetrahedrally coordinated T sites with <T–O> distances from 1.635 to 1.692 Å; the T(1)site is fully occupied by As5+, and the T(2)–T(5) sites are occupied by both Si and As5+. There are two tetrahedrally coordinated Zn sites with <T–O> distances of ∼1.996 Å, both of which are occupied by dominantZn and minor Mn2+. There are thirteen octahedrally coordinated M sites, twelve of which are occupied by dominant Mn2+ with lesser Mg and minor Zn; <M–O> distances are in the range 2.197–2.284 Å. The <M(13)–O> distanceis 2.083 Å and its lower site scattering indicates occupancy by Fe3+, Mn2+, Mg and Al. The structure consists of five crystallographically distinct layers of polyhedra, labelled m = 0 – 4. Layer m = 0 consists of corner-sharing Zn and (Si, As5+)tetrahedra, and layers m = 1–4 each consist of trimers of Mn2+ octahedra linked by (Si, As5+) tetrahedra and intrasheet hydrogen bonds (m = 1, 3) or (Si, As5+) tetrahedra and (Fe3+,Al) octahedra (m = 2) or (As5+)tetrahedra and (As3+O3) triangular pyramids and intrasheet hydrogen bonds (m = 4). The layers stack along [001] with reversals of the sequence m = 1, 2, 3, 4 at z = 0, ¼, ½ and ¾. Kraisslite is a member of the mcgovernite family.

The near field, together with the containment and isolation provided by the geosphere, contributes to the long-term safety provided by a geological disposal facility (GDF) after closure. The different engineered barriers can prevent or limit the release of radionuclides and their migration to the undisturbed host rock or geosphere and are expected to fulfil their post-closure safety functions for many thousands to hundreds of thousands of years. They will continue to contribute to containment after their eventual degradation when there would no longer be confidence that they would continue to fulfil all of their safety functions in their totality. By that time, significant radioactive decay will have occurred, substantially reducing the hazard associated with the wastes. Therefore, demonstration of long-term safety requires an understanding of the evolution of the engineered barriers and the consequences for the generic safety functions that the different barriers provide. This paper provides an overview of the research of the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority Radioactive Waste Management Directorate into the evolution of the near field of a GDF.

Alamosite was first described by Palachc and Merwin, i who thought it might be isomorphous with wollastolfite. For that reason it has been re-examined, using X-ray methods.

A specimen from the original locality at Alamos, Sonora, Mexico (B.M. 1910,330) was made available through the courtesy of the British Museum (Natural History), and in physical appearance it tallied with the original description. The crystals were aggregates of fibres arranged in bundles which cleaved perfectly perpendicular to the fibre axes. Small tablets could be readily cut out for X-ray analysis. The refractive indices were very high and the dispersion was large. As the axial ratios found by X-ray methods agreed with those given by Palache and Merwin, the latter's chemical analysis and density determination were not repeated.

Lacking the pronounced modal layering of the underlying Critical Zone, the Main Zone of the Bushveld Complex nevertheless displays well-developed cryptic layering, expressed in a series of iron-enrichment trends, each defining a unit of the order of 100 to 200 m thick. At the base of one such unit, 1100 m above the Main Zone — Critical Zone contact, a 10 m thick pyroxenitic layer was intersected in an exploration borehole from the southern sector of the western Bushveld.

Within the pyroxenitic layer, mineral chemistry defines a series of five cycles of upward Mg and Cr enrichment in pyroxenes, and Ca enrichment in plagioclase. The mineral chemistry, supported by textural evidence, suggests the influx of successive surges of magma. Sustained streaming of magma gave rise to adcumulate textures in the central portion of each cycle, with orthocumulate textures at bases and tops of cycles representing waxing and waning stages of magma surges.

The new pyroxenoid barrydawsonite-(Y) occurs at the Merlot Claim, North Red Wine Pluton, Labrador, Canada (62°32'38.54'' W; 54°08'1.37'' N). The host rock is a metamorphosed eudialyte syenite consisting of eudialyte, potassic arfvedsonite, jadeitic aegirine, nepheline, albite and potassium feldspar with accessory Y-bearing pectolite, britholite and steenstrupine. Barrydawsonite-(Y) crystals commonly have discrete thin rims of Y-bearing pectolite. The average empirical formula (based on nine anions p.f.u.) is Na1.54Ca0.74Mn0.15Fe0.07Y0.38Nd0.01Sm0.01Gd0.02Tb0.01Dy0.04Ho0.01Er0.02Yb0.01Si3.00O9H. The simplified formula is Na1.5Y0.5CaSi3O9H. Barrydawsonite-(Y) is related to pectolite by the substitution ½[NaM3+Ca–2] (M3+ = Y,REE), and is exceptional in being the only member of the pectolite group that has the structure of the monoclinic M2abc polytype. The crystal structure has been determined in monoclinic space group P21/a: a = 15.5026(2), b = 7.0233(1), c = 6.9769(1) Å, β = 95.149(1)°, V = 756.58(2) Å3(Z = 4). Final agreement indices are R1 = 0.038, wR2 = 0.068, Goof = 1.136. The asymmetric unit of barrydawsonite-(Y) has three metal sites: M(1) = Ca, M(2) = Na0.5(Y,REE)0.5, M(3) = Na. M(1) and M(2) are octahedrally-coordinated sites, whereas M(3) is [8]-coordinated as in pectolite and serandite. The structural formula for the empirical composition is M(3)Na1.00M(2)(Na0.50Y0.38REE0.13)Σ=1.01M(1)(Na0.04Ca0.74Mn0.152+Fe0.072+)Σ=1.00Si3O9H. There is excellent agreement between the refined site-scattering values and those calculated based upon the structural formula.

Barrydawsonite-(Y) is biaxial (+) with α = 1.612(1), β = 1.617(1), γ = 1.630(1) (white light) and 2V = 63(1)°. The five strongest peaks in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern are [dobs (Å), Iobs%, (hkl)]: [2.905, 100, (023)], [3.094, 30, (210,211,121,202)], [1.7613, 29, (127,323,040)], [3.272, 27, (202,104)], [1.7016, 27, (140,227,325)].

Three new minerals in the dumortierite supergroup were discovered in the Szklary pegmatite, Lower Silesia, Poland. Nioboholtite, endmember (Nb0.6☐0.4)Al6B3Si3O18, and titanoholtite, endmember (Ti0.75☐0.25)Al6B3Si3O18, are new members of the holtite group, whereas szklaryite, endmember ☐Al6BAs3+3O15, is the first representative of a potential new group. Nioboholtite occurs mostly as overgrowths not exceeding 10 μm in thickness on cores of holtite. Titanoholtite forms patches up to 10 μm across in the holtite cores and streaks up to 5 μm wide along boundaries between holtite cores and the nioboholtite rims. Szklaryite is found as a patch ∼2 μm in size in As- and Sb- bearing dumortierite enclosed in quartz. Titanoholtite crystallized almost simultaneously with holtite and other Ta-dominant minerals such as tantalite-(Mn) and stibiotantalite and before nioboholtite, which crystallized simultaneously with stibiocolumbite during decreasing Ta activity in the pegmatite melt. Szklaryite crystallized after nioboholtite during the final stage of the Szklary pegmatite formation. Optical properties could be obtained only from nioboholtite, which is creamy-white to brownish yellow or grey-yellow in hand specimen, translucent, with a white streak, biaxial (–), nα = 1.740 – 1.747, nβ ∼ 1.76, nγ ∼ 1.76, and Δ < 0.020. Electron microprobe analyses of nioboholtite, titanoholtite and szklaryite give, respectively, in wt.%: P2O5 0.26, 0.01, 0.68; Nb2O5 5.21, 0.67, 0.17; Ta2O5 0.66, 1.18, 0.00; SiO2 18.68, 21.92, 12.78; TiO2 0.11, 4.00, 0.30; B2O3 4.91, 4.64, 5.44; Al2O3 49.74, 50.02, 50.74; As2O3 5.92, 2.26, 16.02; Sb2O3 10.81, 11.48, 10.31; FeO 0.51, 0.13, 0.19; H2O (calc.) 0.05, –, –, Sum 96.86, 96.34, 97.07, corresponding on the basis of O = 18–As–Sb to {(Nb0.26Ta0.02☐0.18)(Al0.27Fe0.05Ti0.01)☐0.21}Σ1.00Al6B0.92{Si2.03P0.02(Sb0.48As0.39Al0.07}Σ3.00(O17.09OH0.04☐0.87)Σ18.00, {(Ti0.32 Nb0.03 Ta0.03☐0.10)(Al0.35 Ti0.01 Fe0.01)☐0.15 }Σ1.00 Al6 B0.86 {Si2 . 3 6 (Sb0.5 1 As0.14 )}Σ3.01(O17.35☐0.65)Σ18.00 and {☐0.53 (Al0.41 Ti0.02 Fe0.02 )(Nb0.01☐0.01 )}Σ1.00Al6 B1.01 {(As1.07 Sb0.47 Al0.03 ) Si1.37 P0.06 }Σ3.00(O16.46☐1.54 )Σ18.00. Electron backscattered diffraction indicates that the three minerals are presumably isostructural with dumortierite, that is, orthorhombic symmetry, space group Pnma (no. 62), and unit-cell parameters close to a = 4.7001, b = 11.828, c = 20.243 Å, with V = 1125.36 Å3 and Z = 4; micro-Raman spectroscopy provided further confirmation of the structural relationship for nioboholtite and titanoholtite. The calculated density is 3.72 g/cm3 for nioboholtite, 3.66 g/cm3 for titanoholtite and 3.71 g/cm3 for szklaryite. The strongest lines in X-ray powder diffraction patterns calculated from the cell parameters of dumortierite of Moore and Araki (1978) and the empirical formulae of nioboholtite, titanoholtite and szklaryite are [d, Å, I (hkl)]: 10.2125, 67, 46, 19 (011); 5.9140, 40, 47, 57 (020); 5.8610, 66, 78, 100 (013); 3.4582, 63, 63, 60 (122); 3.4439, 36, 36, 34 (104); 3.2305, 100, 100, 95 (123); 3.0675, 53, 53, 50 (105); 2.9305, 65, 59, 51 (026); 2.8945, 64, 65, 59 (132), respectively. The three minerals have been approved by the IMA CNMNC (IMA 2012-068, 069, 070) and were named for their relationship to holtite and occurrence in the Szklary pegmatite, respectively.

A study of phase equilibria among the orthosilicates on the Ca2SiO4—CaMgSiO4 join was undertaken with the use of hydrothermal techniques in the temperature range 600–900°C. at water pressures from 1000 to 15000 psi. Monticellite, merwinite, and Ca2SiO4 crystallize as pure phases throughout this temperature range, and intermediate compositions contain mixtures of the end members. Powder X-ray diffraction data obtained on the mixtures indicate no change in lattice dimensions from the end members. Hence, very little or no solid solution is indicated at these temperatures. Ca2SiO4 was crystallized as the γ-form below 675°C. (at 2000 psi) and the β-form above this temperature (presumably having inverted from the α′-form on cooling to room temperature). Infra-red absorption spectra obtained on the compounds γ-Ca2SiO4, β-Ca2SiO4, merwinite, and monticellite show characteristic differences in the pattern within the 9–13 micron region. All the data thus appear to confirm merwinite as a unique compound stable in the temperature range studied.

Pyrite concretions from an arid area of Southern Israel are described. The alteration products include alunite, gypsum, jarosite, baryte, celestine, goethite, hematite, sulphur, and sideronatrite. Sideronatrite is described in detail. The pyrite alteration is considered to be recent and the sideronatrite is preserved owing to climatic aridity. The puzzling appearance of sulphur is tentatively explained by microbiological reduction of the sulphates.

Amongst the specimens recently selected for the British Museum from the collection of South American minerals brought together by the late Theodor Hohmann, are two on which occurs a mineral in thin laminae resembling graphite. From the locality and associations, the mineral was at first presumed to be either franckeite or cylindrite, the two sulphantimonite-sulphostannates of lead from Bolivia, which were described in 1893 by Stelzner and Frenzel respectively. Qualitative analysis, however, soon showed that, although similar to them in physical characters, it differed chemically from both franckeite and cylindrite in containing no antimony, but only lead, tin, and sulphur.

Of the two specimens from the Hohmann collection, one was labelled ‘sulphoselenide of lead from Bolivia,’ and the other ‘selenide of lead from Atacama,’ so that unfortunately the precise locality of the mineral is at present unknown. In all probability both specimens came from the same district in Bolivla, since in appearance they are very similar.

This paper continues the study of the constituent minerals of the Dartmoor granite. The district to which it mainly refers comprises the for-area around Widecombe and a part of the aureole adjoining. No detailed reference will be made at this stage to aureole phenomena. The results to be recorded necessitate a brief description of the two main granite types and of their field relationships. Abundant varieties and modifications of both types occur, but for the Purposes of the present paper they are of subordinate importance.

Most of the for-masses and high-level exposures of granite in the area consist in the main of the type known locally as the ‘giant granite‘ — a very coarse-grained, strongly porphyritic roelc rich in biotite, and consistently garnetiferous; it has an index-figure 1 ranging from 7.5 to 12.

A combination of hydrogen and oxygen isotope analyses and fluid inclusion studies has defined the composition of fluids involved in the metamorphism of Lower Palaeozoic rocks in the English Lake District. Three fluid fields have been defined from secondary phases: 1, syn-burial metamorphic D-enriched fluids from epidote and chlorite at a temperature between 250 and 350°C; D-depleted fluid measured from groundmass and quartz inclusions; 3, a mixed magmatic-meteoric fluid with an intermediate H-isotopic composition estimated from W/R granite data and calculated from illite.

The concept of effective stress is one of the basic tenets of rock mechanics where the stress acting on a rock can be viewed as the total stress minus the pore water pressure. In many materials, including clay-rich rocks, this relationship has been seen to be imperfect and a coefficient (χ) is added to account for the mechanical properties of the clay matrix. Recent experimental results during the flow testing (both gas and water) of several rocks (Callovo-Oxfordian claystone, Opalinus Clay, Boom Clay) and geomaterials (bentonite, kaolinite) has given evidence for stable high pressure differentials. The design of the experiments allows multiple measurements of pore pressure, which commonly shows a complex distribution for several different experimental geometries. The observed stable high pressure differentials and heterogeneous pore pressure distribution makes the describing of stress states in terms of effective stress complex. Highly localized pore pressures can be sustained by argillaceous materials and concepts of evenly distributed pore pressures throughout the sample (i.e. conventional effective stress) do not fit many clay-rich rocks if the complexities observed on the micro-scale are not incorporated, especially when considering the case of gas flow.

Many evolved peraluminous granite plutons contain either andalusite (Al2SiO5) or topaz (Al2SiO4(OH,F)2), but some plutons contain both of these A/NK [mol. Al2O3/(Na2O+K2O)] = ∞ phases. We present the results of experiments conducted to locate the andalusite-topaz boundary in water-saturated peraluminous haplogranite melts in T-P-Xspace, where T = 700—650°C, P = 200 MPa. andX(A/NK = 1.1, 1.2, 1.3, 1.4, and F = 0, 1, 2, 4 wt.%).The starting materials are synthetic K-Na-Al-Si gels, with added H2O and AgF, with seeds of natural andalusite and topaz, and with run times of 5—7 days. Phase identification is by electron microprobe. All experimental run products contained quartz. For all values of bulk A/NK, F concentrations ⩽ 1 wt.% favour andalusite stability, whereas F concentrations ⩾ 1 wt.% favour topaz stability. For bulk A/NK ⩽ 1.2 and intermediate F concentrations, no A/NK = phase is present; for bulk A/NK ⩾ 1.3, quench or metastable mullite formed. Topaz reaction rims on naturally occurring andalusite, frequency of naturally occurring assemblages, general chemical considerations, and experimental evidence all suggest that some topaz is the product of a peritectic reaction between an early primary magmatic andalusite and a late F-enriched melt. The appearance of such topaz is an important mineralogical expression of F activity in the melt, and may be an indicator for high field-strength Sn-W-U-Mo polymetallic mineralization.