Two Pbca orthopyroxene samples, donpeacorite (DP N.1) and enstatite (B22 N.60) with chemical formulae Mn0.54Ca0.03Mg1.43Si2O6 (XMn = 0.27) and Fe0.54Ca0.03Mg1.43Si2O6 (XFe = 0.27), respectively, were investigated by single-crystal X-ray diffraction at high-temperature conditions.

The nearly identical XFe and XMn make the two samples the perfect candidates to investigate the effect of the compositional change at the M2 site (i.e. Fe-Mn substitution) on the thermal expansion behaviour of orthopyroxenes.

Therefore, the unit-cell parameter thermal expansion behaviour of both samples has been investigated in the temperature range between room T and 1073 K. No evidence for phase transitions was found over that range. The two samples have been previously disordered with an ex situ annealing at ∼1273 K.

The unit-cell parameters and volume thermal expansion data, collected on the disordered samples, have been fitted to a Fei Equation of State (EoS) and the following coefficients obtained: V0 = 853.35(4) Å3, αV,303K = 2.31(24) × 10–5 K–1 and V0 = 845.40(6) Å3, αV,303K = 2.51(25) × 10–5 K–1 for DP N.1 and B22 N.60, respectively.

While there is no difference in the volume thermal expansion coefficient as a function of composition and the expansion along the b direction is nearly identical for both samples, slight differences have been found along a and c lattice directions. The thermal expansion along the a direction is counterbalanced by that along c being responsible for the changes in lattice expansion scheme from αb > αc > αa at room T, to αc > αb > αa at high T. Therefore, as a result of the different behaviour along a and c, the unit-cell volume thermal expansion for both samples is identical within estimated standard deviations. The negligible effect of the Fe-Mn substitution on the bulk thermal expansion can be applied when dealing with geothermobarometry based on the elastic host-inclusion approach (e.g. Nestola et al., 2011; Howell et al., 2010; Angel et al., 2014 a, b, 2015). In fact, though the compressibility effect is still not known, the nearly identical thermal expansion coefficients will not affect the entrapment pressure (Pe).

The new minerals camanchacaite, NaCaMg2[AsO4]2[AsO3(OH)2], chinchorroite, Na2Mg5(As2O7)2(AsO3OH)2(H2O)10, espadaite, Na4Ca3Mg2[AsO3(OH)]2[AsO2(OH)2]10(H2O)6·H2O, magnesiofluckite, CaMg(AsO3OH)2(H2O)2, picaite, NaCa[AsO3OH][AsO2(OH)2] and ríosecoite, Ca2Mg(AsO3OH)3(H2O)2, were discovered on two closely related specimens collected from the Torrecillas mine, Iquique Province, Chile. These minerals occur as secondary phases on massive quartz–hematite also in association with anhydrite, gypsum, halite and talmessite. Camanchacaite is monoclinic, C2/c, a = 12.470(9), b = 12.554(9), c = 6.848(9) Å, β = 113.75(2)°, V = 981.3(16) Å3 and Z = 4. It has a protonated alluaudite-type structure. Chinchorroite is triclinic, P$\bar{1}$, a = 8.7777(2), b = 8.8570(3), c = 9.7981(7) Å, α = 91.097(6), β = 110.544(8), γ = 103.167(7)°, V = 690.43(7) Å3 and Z = 1. The structure contains abbreviated chains of five edge-sharing Mg octahedra that are linked by pyroarsenate and hydrogen-arsenate groups. Espadaite is orthorhombic, Ccca, a = 12.3649(10), b = 22.181(2), c = 18.3292(13) Å, V = 5027.1(7) Å3 and Z = 4. The structure is based on heteropolyhedral sheets of formula {Ca3Mg2[AsO3(OH)]2[AsO2(OH)2]10}4− that contain large voids; NaO6 polyhedra occupy the interlayer region. Magnesiofluckite is triclinic, P$\bar{1}$, a = 8.4143(6), b = 7.5321(5), c = 6.8917(4) Å, α = 82.477(6), β = 97.682(6), γ = 95.379(6)°, V = 427.84(5) Å3 and Z = 2. It is isostructural with fluckite. Picaite is monoclinic, P21/c, a = 7.2474(4), b = 14.6547(7), c = 7.2624(5) Å, β = 99.520(7)°, V = 760.70(8) Å3 and Z = 4. The structure contains chains of edge-sharing Na− and Ca octahedra with bridging AsO3(OH) and AsO2(OH)2 tetrahedra. Ríosecoite is triclinic, P$\bar{1}$, a = 6.8110(9), b = 7.3156(12), c = 11.7773(17) Å, α = 83.466(6), β = 84.394(6), γ = 79.779(6)°, V = 571.95(15) Å3 and Z = 2. The structure contains tetramers of edge-sharing CaO7 and CaO8 polyhedra linked by MgO6 octahedra and bridging AsO3(OH) groups to form chains.

In a granulite from the Kokchetav massif, a complex mineral assemblage and intricate textures have resulted from a combination of unusual rock composition and two–stage metamorphic history. The second, contact metamorphism produced mainly cordierite and anthophyllite, reflecting a bulk composition attributed to pre–metamorphic alteration of basic igneous rock. From the first, highpressure metamorphism, garnet relics persist while another mineral has been completely pseudomorphed. The garnet is partly replaced by a symplectite of three minerals: orthopyroxene vermicules in a coarser intergrowth of cordierite and calcic plagioclase. Despite variable proportions of cordierite and plagioclase, the Al:Si ratio of the symplectite is almost constant, because the proportion of orthopyroxene is smaller where the dominant aluminous mineral is cordierite (Al:Si ≈ 0.8) than where the even more aluminous plagioclase (Al:Si ≈ 0.89) is prominent. The bulk Al:Si ratio of this symplectite, approximately 0.69, is very close to that of reactant garnet (0.66), indicating that Al and Si have been retained almost completely during the local reaction, while other elements were more mobile. In the pseudomorphs, aluminous cores (with Al:Si ratios 1.61–1.93) indicate that the mineral which has been completely replaced was probably kyanite. These cores comprise plagioclase, zoisite, corundum and spinel, and are surrounded by layers of plagioclase and cordierite. Fe, Mg, and Ca have diffused to the core, through layers with low bulk concentrations of these elements, probably by grainboundary diffusion in the solid state.

Sandstones from Mull and Morvern, most of which are from the Greensand formation, have been shown by X-ray diffraction to contain minerals of the plumbogummite group in very small amounts in the < 1·4 µm fraction. The minerals were concentrated by HF digestion of the clay minerals. X-ray spectrographic traces show concentrations of Sr, La, Ce, Yt, and Ba, and a semiquantitative spectrochemical analysis also shows a concentration of Ca and Pb and the presence of numerous rare-earth elements. Individual minerals, which have a complex composition and can not be assigned to any one named species, are disseminated throughout the rocks as particles with an estimated size of between 0·1 and 0·25 µm.

Primary allanite crystals occurring in andesitic rocks from Poros, NE Peloponnese, Greece were studied. Although the allanite shows high REE content, its presence does not affect the whole-rock REE content of the andesite. It is suggested that the formation of allanite crystals reflects the crystallization history of the andesitic rocks where allanite occurs. These andesitic rocks are the most basic rocks in which allanite has been reported.

An illite separated from an Upper Old Red Sandstone sediment at Denholm Hill Quarry, Roxburghshire, when examined by optical, X-ray, and chemical methods, appeared to be closely similar to Fithian illite. Its composition was , where M+ for the Ca-saturated sample was [(H3O)0·58Ca0·10Na0·06K1·12]. The differential thermal curve showed two peaks: one at 550° C. and the other at 600° C. (i.e. somewhat intermediate between the Fithian and Ballater illites). The dehydration curve was also intermediate. Electron-microscope examination showed rather better crystallization than in Fithian illite. The possible reasons for variation of the illite peak temperature are discussed.

The high-pressure behaviour of the thaumasite structure was investigated using synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction, up to 19.5 GPa. Based on Rietveld refinements, thaumasite retained the roompressure P63 space group throughout the whole investigated pressure range while the pressure dependence of the refined unit-cell parameters can be cast into three different compression regimes, each corresponding to a different thaumasite phase (th-I, th-II and th-III) related by isosymmetric phase transitions. In particular, the phase transition in the 7.40–15.02 GPa P-range (i.e. from th-II to th-III) is associated with an inversion of the axial bulk moduli which, by analogy with ettringite, can be rationalized as due to a change in the relative strengths of the iono-covalent bonds along the [Ca3Si(OH)6(H2O)12]4+ columns parallel to the c axis vs. the O–H bonds linking the columns within the ab plane. The linear inverse relationship between the low- and high-temperature data from the literature with those collected under high-pressure conditions reveals that the same bonding regime governs the anisotropic expansion and contraction of thaumasite up to ~1.4 GPa and 400 K (HP-HT stability limits of th-I phase).

Fluoro-potassic-magnesio-arfvedsonite, ideally AKBNa2c(Mg4Fe3+)TSi8O22wF2, has been found in a dyke ∼25 km southwest of Monte Metocha, Xixano region, northeastern Mozambique. Fluoro-potassic-magnesio-arfvedsonite and low sanidine form a fine-grained mafic, ultrapotassic, peralkaline igneous rock without visible phenocrysts. The amphibole is brittle, has a Mohs hardness of 6 and a splintery fracture; it is non-fluorescent with perfect {110} cleavage and no observable parting, and has a calculated density of 3.174 gcm−3. In plane-polarized light, it is pleochroic, X= pale grey-green, Y = blue-green, Z = pale grey; X ^ c = 23.6° (in β obtuse), Y ‖ b, Z ^ c = 66.4° (in β acute). Fluoro-potassic-magnesio-arfvedsonite is biaxial negative, α = 1.652(2), β = 1.658(2), γ = 1.660(2); 2Vobs = 22.5(7)°, 2Vcalc = 30.2°. The unit-cell dimensions are a = 9.9591(4), b = 17.9529(7), c = 5.2867(2) Å, β = 104.340(1)°, V = 919.73(10) Å3, Z = 2. The nine strongest X-ray diffraction lines in the experimental powder pattern are: [d in Å(I)(hkl)]: 2.716(100)(151), 3.410(70)(131), 8.475(50)(110), 3.178(50)(310), 3.309(30)(240), 2.762(20)(31), 2.549(20)(260), 2.351(10)(51), 2.269(10)(331). Electron microprobe analysis gave: SiO2 54.25, A12O3 0.03, TiO2 1.08, FeO 6.69, Fe2O3 8.07, MgO 13.99, MnO 0.32, ZnO 0.05, CaO 1.16, Na2O 6.33, K2O 5.20, F 2.20, H2Ocalc 0.74, sum 99.18 wt.%. The formula unit, calculated on the basis of 24 (O,OH,F) with (OH+F) = 2−(2 Ti), is AKa0.98B(Na1.18Ca0.18)∑1.99C(Mg3.07Fe0.832+Mn0.04Al0.01Fe0.903+Ti0.12Zn0.01)∑=4.98TSi8O22W[Fi.o3(OH)0.73O0.24]∑2.00 and confirms the usual pattern of cation order in the amphibole structure. The presence of a significant oxo component (locally balanced by Ti at the M(1) site) is related to the crystallization conditions. The presence of Fe3+ at the T sites, originally suggested for the holotype specimen, is discounted for this amphibole composition.

Motukoreaite, Mg6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6][SO4]2·6H2O, is a poorly-known, rare layered double hydroxide mineral belonging to the wermlandite group in the hydrotalcite supergroup. It was found in abundant quantities (at least hundreds of thousands of Mt) in the roof part the Younger Potash unit of the Leine cyclothem on the Kłodawa Salt Dome in central Poland (Permian–Mesozoic basin of Central Europe), outside its known typical environments like altered basalts and basaltic tuffs, including those deposited in submarine volcanic areas. The mineral displays varying SO2–4, Na+ and H2O contents with negligible CO2–3, corresponding to the mean composition Mg5.75(Al3.20Fe3+0.04)∑3.25(OH)18.00{[Na(H2O)6]0.72□0.28}[(SO4)1.67(CO3)3.03(OH)0.57]·0.72H2O. It can be related to the partly dehydrated, hypothetical end-member Mg6Al3(OH)18[Na(H2O)6][(SO4)2]·6H2O. The Kł odawa motukoreaite represents the hexagonal, 3-layer polytype with the 3 × 3 superstructure in the xy plane, and unit cell a = b = 9.191(2)–9.199(2) Å, i.e. = 3 × 3.064–3.066 Å and c = 33.529(9)–33.562(7) Å, i.e. = 3 × 11.174–11.187 Å. The mineral was formed by alteration of clays delivered to the basin by an aeolian overprint and co-sedimented along with the evaporite sequence, initiated under the influence of Mg2+ - and SO2–4-bearing brines at temperatures not exceeding 160–200°C, released from the evaporites during diagenetic/metamorphic processes.

The distribution of Cr3+ ions in blue and green diopsides crystallised from a glass with the composition [CaMgSi2O6 (Di)]95[CaCrAlSiO6 (CrAlTs)]5 (mol.%) was determined using Rietveld refinement of X-ray diffraction data in order to evaluate published results by optical spectroscopic analysis, and to clarify the influence of Cr3+–Al3+ distribution between the octahedral M1 and tetrahedral T sites on the crystal structure. The starting material was Di95CrAlTs5-diopside crystallised from glass at 800°C for 2 days. After another 19 days at 800°C and 1000°C for 7 days, the diopsides remained blue. The blue diopside gradually changed to bluish green by heating at 1200°C for 3 days and to green after 7 days. The stoichiometric compositions of the synthesised phases were confirmed by electron microprobe analysis. The Cr occupancies refined by the Rietveld method resulted in the site populations in the M1 and T sites: M1[Mg0.95Cr0.030(4)Al0.020]T[Si1.950Cr0.020Al0.030] and M1[Mg0.95Cr0.037(4)Al0.013]T[Si1.950Cr0.013Al0.037] (per 6 oxygens) for the blue diopsides at 800 and 1000°C, respectively: M1[Mg0.95Cr0.042(3)Al0.008]T[Si1.950Cr0.008Al0.042] for the bluish green diopside at 1200°C for 3 days; and M1[Mg0.95Cr0.049(3)Al0.001]T[Si1.950Cr0.001Al0.049] for the green diopside at 1200°C for 7 days. Such Cr and Al distributions effect the volumes and site distortions of the octahedral and tetrahedral coordination polyhedra: the TO4 tetrahedron volumes of the blue diopsides (2.251–2.258 Å3) are larger than that of the green diopside (2.237 Å3); the M1O6 octahedron volumes of the former (11.74–11.77 Å3) are smaller than that of the latter (11.86 Å3); the TO4 tetrahedra in the blue diopside (<λtet> =1.006; σθ(tet)2 = 24.37–24.69) are less distorted than that of the green diopside (<λtet> = 1.007; σθ(tet)2 = 27.94); the M1O6 octahedra in the former (<λoct> =1.006; σθ(oct)2 = 20.39–21.13) are more distorted than that of the latter (<λoct> = 1.005; σθ(oct)2 = 17.58).

Švenekite (IMA 99-007), Ca[AsO2(OH)2]2, is a rare supergene arsenate mineral occurring in the Geschieber vein, Jáchymov ore district, Western Bohemia, Czech Republic. It grows directly on the granite rocks and occurs isolated from other arsenate minerals otherwise common in Jáchymov. Švenekite usually forms clear transparent coatings composed of indistinct radiating to rosette-shaped aggregates up to 3 mm across. They are composed of thin lens- or bladed-shaped crystals, usually 100 – 150 μm long. Švenekite is transparent to translucent and has a white streak and a vitreous lustre; it does not fluoresce under ultraviolet light. Cleavage is very good on {010}. The Mohs hardness is ∼2. Švenekite is biaxial, non-pleochroic. The refractive indices are α' = 1.602(2), γ' = 1.658(2). The empirical formula of švenekite (based on As + P + S = 2 a.p.f.u., an average of 10 spot analyses) is (Ca1.00Mg0.01)Σ1.01[AsO2(OH)2]1.96[PO2(OH)2]0.03(SO4)0.01. The simplified formula is Ca[AsO2(OH)2]2 and requires CaO 17.42, As2O571.39, H2O 11.19, total 100.00 wt.%. Raman and infrared spectroscopy exhibit dominance of O – H vibrations and vibration modes of distorted tetrahedral AsO2(OH)2 units. Švenekite is triclinic, space group P, with a = 8.5606(5), b = 7.6926(6), c = 5.7206(4) Å, α = 92.605(6), β = 109.9002(6), γ = 109.9017(6)º, and V = 327.48(4) Å3, Z = 2, Dcalc = 3.26 g·cm–3. The a:b:c ratio is 0.7436:1:1.1082 (for single-crystal data). The six strongest diffraction peaks in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern are [d (Å)/I(%)/(hkl)]: 3.968(33)(20); 3.766(35)(2); 3.697(49)(101); 3.554(100)(020); 3.259(33)(20); 3.097(49)(11). The crystal structure of švenekite was refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data to R1 = 0.0250 based on 1309 unique observed, and to wR2 = 0.0588, for all 1588 unique reflections (with GOFall = 1.20). The structure of švenekite consists of sheets of corner-sharing CaO8 polyhedra and AsO2 OH2 groups, stacked parallel to (001). Adjacent sheets are linked by hydrogen bonds. The švenekite structure possesses very short symmetrical hydrogen bonds (with the D–H lengths ∼1.22 Å). The mineral is named to honour Jaroslav Švenek, the former curator of the mineralogical collection of the National Museum in Prague, Czech Republic.

The paper opens a series devoted to the mineral diversity of the Mochalin Log rare earth element (REE) deposit, South Urals, Russia. There is a brief outline of the history of studies and geology of the deposit as well as the description of two new isostructural gatelite-group minerals, ferriperbøeite-(La) (CaLa3)(Fe3+Al2Fe2+)[Si2O7][SiO4]3O(OH)2 and perbøeite-(La) (CaLa3)(Al3Fe2+)[Si2O7][SiO4]3O(OH)2. Both minerals occur in polymineralic nodules and are associated with one another and allanite-(Ce), allanite-(La), bastnäsite-(Ce), bastnäsite-(La), ferriallanite-(Ce), ferriallanite-(La), ferriperbøeite-(Ce), perbøeite-(Ce), törnebohmite-(Ce) and törnebohmite-(La). The new minerals form isolated anhedral grains up to 0.3 mm [ferriperbøeite-(La)] and 0.5 mm [perbøeite-(La)] across and granular aggregates up to 1.5 mm × 0.5 mm [ferriperbøeite-(La)] and 3 mm × 1 mm [perbøeite-(La)]. Both minerals are brownish-black with vitreous lustre. Dcalc = 4.510 [ferriperbøeite-(La)] and 4.483 [perbøeite-(La)] g cm–3. They are optically biaxial (+); ferriperbøeite-(La): α = 1.788(5), β = 1.790(5), γ = 1.810(5) and 2Vmeas = 40(10)°; perbøeite-(La): α = 1.778(8), β = 1.783(8), γ = 1.805(8) and 2Vmeas = 40(10)°. Chemical data [wt.%, electron-microprobe; Fe3+:Fe2+ ratio from charge-balance requirements, H2O by stoichiometry; ferriperbøeite-(La)/perbøeite-(La)] are: CaO 4.91/4.81, ThO2 0.00/0.32, La2O3 23.75/22.16, Ce2O3 19.69/20.05, Pr2O3 0.85/1.09, Nd2O3 1.48/2.18, MgO 1.47/1.38, Al2O3 10.68/11.25, MnO 1.07/0.92, FeO 3.04/3.35, Fe2O3 5.31/3.78, TiO2 0.19/0.19, SiO2 27.47/27.35, F 0.11/0.23, H2O 1.61/1.54, –O = F –0.05/–0.10, total 101.58/100.50. The empirical formulae based on O20(OH,F)2 are for ferriperbøeite-(La): (Ca0.95La1.58Ce1.30Nd0.10Pr0.06)Σ3.99(Al2.27Fe3+0.72Fe2+0.46Mg0.40Mn0.16Ti0.03)Σ4.04Si4.96O20[(OH)1.94F0.06]; and for perbøeite-(La): (Ca0.94Th0.01La1.49Ce1.34Nd0.14Pr0.07)Σ3.99(Al2.42Fe3+0.52Fe2+0.51Mg0.38Mn0.14 Ti0.03)Σ4.00Si4.99O20[(OH)1.87F0.13]. Both minerals are monoclinic, P21/m; the unit-cell parameters [ferriperbøeite-(La)/perbøeite-(La)] are: a = 8.9458(2)/8.9652(4), b = 5.72971(13)/5.7306(2), c = 17.6192(3)/17.6770(9) Å, β = 115.9497(19)/116.053(6)°, V = 812.06(3)/815.88(6) Å3 and Z = 2/2. The crystal structures are solved on a single crystal and converged to R = 0.0355 [ferriperbøeite-(La)] and 0.0750 [perbøeite-(La)]. Ferriperbøeite-(La) and perbøeite-(La) are named as the La-analogues of ferriperbøeite-(Ce) and perbøeite-(Ce), respectively.

Benleonardite, ideally Ag8(Sb,As)Te253, occurs in ore specimens from the Mayflower and Gies epithermal gold-silver telluride deposits in Montana commonly spatially associated with hessite and tetrahedrite. In these deposits, it is Cu-bearing (up to 2.7 wt.%) and exhibits a slight deficiency in Ag+Cu coupled with a slight excess in S. A cervelleite-like mineral coexists with benleonardite at Mayflower and is unusual in composition in that it is Se-bearing suggesting the possibility of solid solution with aguilarite (Ag4SeS).

Extreme silver enrichment at the surface of the complex sulphide, tennantite (ideal formula: Cu12As4S13), occurs following exposure to alkaline solutions, and involves the development of an Ag-rich sulphide surface species. The tennantite has a low bulk Ag content of 0.3 at.%, and a percentage surface enrichment of Ag is thirty-six times that of the bulk. The techniques of X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and reflection extended X-ray absorption fine structure spectroscopy show the new phase to be a Ag sulphide species compositionally similar to cupriferous proustite ((Cu,Ag)3AsS3). Solution experiments and XPS depth profiling show that the surface is most depleted in Cu and Zn, and enriched in Ag compared to the bulk tennantite. Selective dissolution and reprecipitation at the tennantite surface cannot explain the enrichment of Ag relative to the bulk. Migration must have occurred and could have been driven by the leaching out of Cu which produces a metal-depleted surface, coupled to the relative incompatibility of Ag in the tennantite lattice. To account for the extreme enrichment at the surface, Ag must have diffused from depths of up to 9 nm, probably via structural weaknesses and vacancies in the tennantite lattice.

Four samples of Fe-bearing prismatic sillimanite, containing ∼1 wt.% Fe2O3, were annealed experimentally at temperatures of 1465 and 1675°C, and pressures between 1 atm and 30 kbar. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and analytical TEM (ATEM) investigation of the samples reveal that the starting material partly transformed into mullite during the annealing, and that this process was assisted by partial melting. The exsolved partial melt (now a glass), observed at triple junctions and in the form of small precipitates (∼10–1000 nm in size) within the sillimanite matrix, contains >80 wt.% SiO2. It also contains ∼11 wt.% Al2O3, some FeO and detectable amounts of K2O and CaO. Dissociated c dislocations in sillimanite are preferential nucleation sites for SiO2-rich precipitates. The equilibrium compositions of residual sillimanite-mullite were measured with a 2 nm wide probe at the interface with the SiO2-rich glass in each sample after heat treatment. We used these equilibrium compositions to constrain the parameters of a point defect model for sillimanite mullitization proposed by Raterron et al. (1999). With the revised parameterization, it is now possible to calculate the position of the boundary between fields of mullite + melt and mullite in the SiO2–Al2O3 phase diagram, and to predict the effect of pressure on this boundary. However, to be used as a standard, this model still needs to be calibrated in the pure SiO2–Al2O3 system (without impurities such as iron).

Mesolite was first recognized as a separate species by J. N. Fuchs (1816), being one of the three species into which he subdivided R. J. Haüy's species mesotype (1801). Its individuality has been repeatedly doubted, many workers regarding the mesotype group as an isomorphous series with natrolite and scolecite as the endmembers, and mesolite merely an intermediate isomorphous mixture. The frequent occurrence of intergrowths of mesolite with natrolite or scolecite is largely responsible for this confusion, these intergrowths frequently passing for single minerals, and being adduced as evidence of the occurrence of all intermediate compositions in the supposed isomorphous series. Faroelites, and mixtures containing faroelite, have also been analysed as mesolite from time to time.

The crystal structures of two polytypes of innelite, ideally Ba4Ti2Na2M2+Ti(Si2O7)2[(SO4) (PO4)]O2[O(OH)] where M2+ = Mn, Fe2+, Mg, Ca: innelite-1T, a 5.4234(9), b 7.131(1), c 14.785(3) Å, α 98.442(4), β 94.579(3), γ 90.009(4)°, V 563.7(3) Å3, space group P1̄, Dcalc = 4.028 g/cm3, Z = 1; and innelite-2M, a 5.4206(8), b 7.125(1), c 29.314(4) Å, 0 94.698(3)°, V 1128.3(2) Å3, space group P2/c, Dcalc.= 4.024 g/cm3, Z = 2, from the Inagli massif, Yakutia, Russia, have been refined to R values of 8.99 and 7.60%, respectively. Electron-microprobe analysis gave the empirical formula for innelite as (Ba3.94Sr0.06)Σ4.00(Na2.16Mn0.382+Fe2+0.17Mg0.15Ca0.10☐0.04)Σ3(Ti2.97Nb0.02Al0.02)Σ3.01Si4.01 (S1.02P0.81☐0.17)Σ2H1.84O25.79F0.21 which is equivalent to (Ba3.94Sr0.06)Σ4.00(Ti1.97Nb0.02Al0.02)Σ2.01 [(OH0.99F0.21)Σ1.20O0.80], calculated on the basis of 26 (O + F) anions, with H2O calculated from structure refinement. The crystal structure of innelite is a combination of a TS (titanium silicate) block and an I (intermediate) block. The TS block consists of HOH sheets (H-heteropolyhedral, O-octahedral) and exhibits linkage and stereochemistry typical for Ti-disilicate minerals of Group III (Ti = 3 a.p.f.u.): two H sheets connect to the O sheet such that two (Si2O7) groups link to the trans edges of a Ti octahedron of the O sheet. The I block contains T sites, statistically occupied by S and P, and Ba atoms. In the structures of innelite-1T and innelite-2M, TS blocks are related by an inversion centre and a cy glide plane, respectively. HRTEM images show a coherent intergrowth of the two polytypes, together with an as-yet unidentified ∼10 Å phase.

Högbomite occurs in two contrasting mineral assemblages within the Currywongaun-Dough-ruagh intrusion of north Connemara: a cordierite-rich pelitic xenolith and an orthopyroxenite. In the latter, högbomite and green spinel form blebs within magnetite-ilmenite grains. The högbomite displays significant compositional variation from grain to grain: TiO2 (3.0–6.3%), FeO (21.6–21.3%), MgO (10.0–7.5%), ZnO (3.6–2.4%). This chemical heterogeneity appears to represent variable degrees of partial substitution of Mg and Zn by Ti, in the replacement of spinel by högbomite. By contrast, in the cordierite-hornfels, the högbomite compositions are more notably enriched in iron: TiO2 (4.7–7.0%), FeO (29.6–24.3%), MgO (4.2–6.2%), ZnO (2.7–2.1%). This iron-rich högbomite appears to have formed primarily by interaction between opaque ore and adjacent cordierite, rather than by replacement of spinel.

Two high-grade metamorphic episodes appear to be necessary for högbomite growth, one determining chemical composition and the other appropriate physical parameters. In the Connemara occurrences thermal metamorphism and partial melting, coupled with contamination of the surrounding magma, controlled the formation of mineral assemblages rich in Fe, Mg, Al, Ti, and Zn. Emplacement of the intrusion was accompanied by amphibolite facies regional metamorphism and it is to this metamorphic event that the growth of högbomite may be attributed.

Selected samples of asbestos-containing material (ACM) with different Ca/Si ratios have been treated thermally at 1200°C for 15 min to obtain an ‘end of waste geo-inspired material’. Before and after treatment, micro-Raman spectroscopy allowed the investigation of both powdered and massive samples by directing the laser beam onto crystals with elongated morphology, thin fibres and the matrix. In the raw samples, chrysotile and/or crocidolite were detected. After the thermal treatment, no asbestos phases were identified in the Raman spectra collected on fibrous or fibre-like morphologies. The scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy investigations confirmed the onset of a pseudomorphic process during annealing, leading to the complete transformation of asbestos minerals into non-hazardous magnesium or calcium magnesium silicates such as forsterite, monticellite, a˚kermanite and merwinite.

The identification of such mineral assemblages was inspired by the close inspection of a natural counterpart, the high-temperature contact metamorphic imprint due to the intrusion of a sill into carbonate rocks. The process turned out to occur largely at the solid state and involved substantial mobilization of Ca and Mg to form a spinel phase (namely MgFe2O4) which was recognized in the matrix and within, or close to elongated morphologies.