In Lower Proterozoic rocks of the Olary Province of South Australia margarite occurs in conjunction with sodic muscovite, pseudomorphing chiastolitic andalusite in graphite-rich schist, and as a pseudomorphic phase in rocks consisting of coarse muscovite together with lesser amounts of chloritoid, sillimanite, staurolite, and corundum. In the latter occurrence the assemblage (muscovite-sillimanite - chloritoid ± staurolite ± corundum) replaces massive andalusite. The margarite and sodic muscovite within the pseudomorphs lack a preferred orientation which suggests that their development was associated with the waning stages of the Palaeozoic Delamerian Orogeny (cf. Glen et al., 1977) which was the last major tectonothermal event in the region.

Within the chiastolitic andalusite pseudo-morphs, equal proportions of margarite and sodic muscovite are separated from the rock matrix by a rim of coarser-grained muscovite, which has developed at the pseudomorph margins. A suggested reaction for the development of margarite is 10Al2SiO5+1.7Ca2++1.2K++Na++10H2O⇄(Ca1.6Na0.4)Al4(Si4Al4O20)(OH)3.6+(K1.2Na0.6Ca0.1)Al4(Si6Al20O20)(OH)4+6Al3++12.4OH−.

The excess aluminium and hydroxyl ions from the above reaction leave the pseudomorph system but probably react with free quartz and more K+ ions to produce the muscovite fringe. 6SiO2+2K++6Al3++12OH−⇄K2Al4(Si6Al2O20)(OH)4+8H+.

The above reactions are pertinent only for margarite and sodic muscovite produced by the pseudomorphism of chiastolitic andalusite.

Margarite and sodic muscovite in the muscovite- chloritoid - sillimanite ± staurolite ± corundum rocks replace coarser-grained (up to 1 mm) muscovite, sillimanite, corundum, and chloritoid; staurolite is unaffected. The coarse muscovite of the earlier pseudomorphic assemblage contains 7–16 mole % paragonite in solid solution whereas the sodic muscovite assocated with margarite contains 22–33 mole% paragonite in solid solution. Margarite contains negligible muscovite but substantial (17–26 mole%) paragonite in solid solution. The phases plagioclase and paragonite were not detected in any of the investigated samples. Staurolite has an Mg/(Mg+Fe) value of 0.21 and associated chloritoid a value of 0.20.

It is possible that much of the previously described sericitic alteration of andalusite (cf. D'arcy, 1977) within schists of the north-eastern Willyama Complex (north of Broken Hill) involves the production of margarite.

Rhodochrosite has been discovered as a minor component of two manganese deposits in Scotland. At Islay it occurs as coatings and veinlets on and within hollandite-pyrolusite-hematite-goethite mineralisation. Two foram microfossils were found within the carbonate which is considered to have formed from the interaction of organic-rich groundwater and seawater. The Dalroy rhodochrosite has the form of stromatactis-like cavity infill structures and veinlets in a mineralogically complex manganese-iron ore in which braunite, bustamite, manganoan ilmenite and pyrophanite have been identified. Intergrowths of rhodochrosite and native copper grains occur in a calcite matrix within the infill structures. These intergrowths are typically one micrometre across, but achieve diameters of up to 50 µm. The genesis of the Dalroy rhodochrosite is more problematical, although a hydrothermal source is most likely.

An unusual paragenesis of chromite, nickeline, cordierite, and red-brown mica occurs in veins, pods, and schlieren in serpentinized ultramafic rocks at La Gallega and Los Jarales in Máilaga province, Spain. The chromites in this paragenesis are low-ferric, ferrous-rich aluminous chromites with exceptionally high vanadium content ranging between 1·8 and 2·9 wt % V2O3 and high zinc content ranging between 0·5 and 1·0 wt % ZnO. A comparison of chromite composition with available experimental data, together with paragenetical and textural evidence, suggests that the chromite, cordierite, and red-brown mica crystallized at magmatic temperatures between approximately 1300° and 1000°C at low oxygen fugacities and maximum pressures below 10 kb, probably near 5 kb.

Klajite, MnCu4(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2(H2O)10, the Mn-Cu-bearing member of the lindackerite group, was found in Jáchymov, Czech Republic, as the second world occurrence. It is associated with ondrušite and other arsenate minerals growing on the quartz gangue with disseminated primary sulfides, namely tennantite and chalcopyrite. Electron-microprobe data showed klajite aggregates to be chemically inhomogeneous at larger scales, varying from Mn-Ca-rich to Cu-rich domains. The chemical composition of the the Mn-rich parts of aggregates can be expressed by the empirical formula (Mn0.46Ca0.22Cu0.07Mg0.02)∑0.77(Cu3.82Mg0.14Ca0.03Zn0.01)∑4.00(As1.94Si0.06)∑2.00O8[AsO2.73(OH)1.27]2(H2O)10 (mean of seven representative spots; calculated on the basis of As + Si + P = 4 a.p.f.u. (atoms per formula unit) and 10 H2O from ideal stoichiometry), showing a slight cationic deficiency at the key Me-site. According to single-crystal X-ray diffraction, klajite from Jáchymov is triclinic, P, with a = 6.4298(8), b = 7.9716(8), c = 10.707(2) Å, α = 85.737(12)°, β = 80.994(13)°, γ = 84.982(10)°, and V = 538.85(14) Å3, Z = 1. The crystal structure was refined to R1 = 0.0628 for 1034 unique observed reflections (with Iobs > 3σ(I)), confirming that klajite (Mn-Cu member) and ondrušite (Ca-Cu member) are isostructural. The current data-set allowed determination of the positions of several hydrogen atoms. Discussion on hydrogen bonding networks in the structure of klajite as well as detailed bond-valence analysis are provided.

Wakabayashilite is a rare mineral with ideal formula [(As,Sb)6S9][As4S5]. Its structure consists of an [M6S9] bundle-like unit (M = As, Sb) running along the [001] axis and [As4S5] cage-like molecules. In this study, samples of wakabayashilite from different occurrences (Khaidarkan, Kyrgyzstan; Jas Roux, France; White Caps mine, USA; Nishinomaki mine, Japan) were selected to verify the possible presence of different molecular groups replacing the As4S5 molecule. Given the chemical (electron probe microanalysis-wavelength dispersive spectroscopy), spectroscopic (micro-Raman) and structural (single-crystal X-ray diffraction) results obtained, it appears evident that only the As4S5 molecular group is present in the wakabayashilite structure and that the apparent non-stoichiometry reported in literature is actually due to unreliable chemical analyses. The structural role of the minor elements (Cu, Zn and Tl) in wakabayashilite is also discussed.

The cell parameters of 35 members of the arfvedsonite-eckermannite series and catophorites (17 from the literature, 18 newly determined) are presented and an attempt made to relate them to chemical composition. In general, all parameters (including β, obtuse) decrease from arfvedsonite to eckermannite, but for different reasons: a, b, and β (very slightly) as the Mg: Fe2+ ratio and F increase; c as Fe3+ decreases. The apparent decrease in a and b with high Li is coincidental, due to its strong correlation with F, which varies inversely With (OH). In addition, b is increased by high Ca and slightly reduced by high A1.

Also, the empirical and calculated curves relating MgO and total iron as Fe2O3 (weight %) with the Mg ratio, 100 Mg/(Mg + Fe2+ Fe3+ + Mn), for all amphibole groups are given, as a rapid method of obtaining an estimate of the Mg ratio.

The full lists of possible hkl values for an arfvedsonite and an eckermannite are enumerated up to 45° 2θ, Cu-Kα, to illustrate the difficulty in indexing X-ray photographs and diffractometer charts of this group.

Fractionation factors for the isotopes of O, H, S, or Cu (as appropriate) were determined for the minerals brochantite [Cu4(SO4)(OH)6], libethenite [Cu2(PO4)(OH)] and olivenite [Cu2(AsO4)(OH)] and corresponding aqueous solutions at temperatures between 30 and 70°C. All samples used for this determination were synthetic and the degree of fractionation was expressed as 1000 ln α = (A × 106/T2) + B, where A and B are empirical parameters. A few natural libethenite samples from its type locality Ľubietová-Podlipa were also analysed and compared to the prediction based on the isotopic composition of meteoric water and our fractionation factors. The hydrogen fractionation factors agreed with the prediction well, whereas those for oxygen did not. A possible explanation is the disequilibrium of aqueous phosphate (and also arsenate) species and the solution in our experiments or the interaction of meteoric fluids with the isotopically heavy (in terms of oxygen) country rocks. Because the effects of isotopic disequilibrium in our experiments cannot be ruled out, the oxygen fractionation factors should be used with caution. The determined fractionation factors can be used as an isotope geothermometer, given that it can be proven that the phases of interest precipitated from the same fluid in equilibrium. Libethenite is predicted to have slightly lower δ65Cu values than its parental solution, but brochantite slightly higher δ65Cu values than its parental solution. Simple forward models, simulating neutralisation or reduction of mine drainage, show that precipitation of these minerals and removal of the co-existing fluid, could cause isotopic variations (in δ65Cu) on the order of 1‰ or more.

The Mineo pallasite is a relatively poorly known meteorite, which shows interesting features that are not fully understood, such as the occurrence of iron oxide regions bordering both the olivine grain boundaries and the (Fe,Ni) metal. In this study, the Fe oxides have been characterised by Raman spectroscopy, electron microprobe analysis, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and 3D electron diffraction (3D ED). The combination of TEM–EDS and 3D ED yields a reliable identification of the chemical and crystallographic features of the cryptocrystalline portion of the sample investigated, enabling the Fe-oxide regions to be positively identified as goethite, FeO(OH).

The occurrence of goethite was unambiguously associated with terrestrial alteration, also confirmed by the presence of calcite, detected by TEM-EDS and 3D ED. Goethite contains minor elements such as Na, Si and Ca, probably coming from alumino-silicates in the terrestrial environment, and Ni associated with the (Fe,Ni) metal. The observation of goethite along olivine grain boundaries, as an alteration product of the (Fe,Ni) metal diagenesis, is also very intriguing as it might be related to the (Fe,Ni) metal intruded into the sub-micrometric olivine fragments during pallasite formation. Further work is needed to extensively analyse the texture and composition of olivine/metal boundaries.

Fluorsigaiite, ideally Ca2Sr3(PO4)3F, is a new Sr analogue of fluorphosphohedyphane and a new member of the apatite supergroup. It was discovered in lujavrite from the Saima alkaline complex, Liaoning Province, China. Fluorsigaiite commonly occurs as individual prismatic, columnar and platy crystals of 10 to 50 μm in size, associated with microcline, nepheline, aegirine, natrolite, eudialyte, fluorapatite, a fluorstrophite-like mineral, stronadelphite and calcite. Occasionally, crystals of fluorsigaiite form prismatic aggregates in the interstices of lujavrite. Fluorsigaiite is translucent to transparent, colourless to yellowish white with a vitreous lustre and without fluorescence. The estimated Mohs hardness is 5, and the tenacity is brittle with uneven fractures. The calculated density is 3.842 g/cm3. Optically, fluorsigaiite is uniaxial (–) with ω = 1.64(1) and ɛ = 1.63(1) in white light and without dispersion. The mean chemical composition (in wt.%) of fluorsigaiite is Na2O 0.75, CaO 15.17, SrO 44.44, La2O3 3.64, Ce2O3 2.22, Pr2O3 0.19, Nd2O3 0.13, Sm2O3 0.05, Gd2O3 0.23, P2O5 31.87, F 1.91, H2O 0.46, sum 100.26, giving the empirical formula (Sr2.82Ca1.79Na0.16La0.15Ce0.09Pr0.01Nd0.01Gd0.01)Σ5.04P2.97O12[F0.66(OH)0.34]Σ1, which is calculated on the basis of 13 total anions and F+(OH) = 1. The strongest eight lines of its powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, Å (I, %) (hkl)] are: 3.563 (15) (002), 3.275 (15) (102), 3.144 (19) (120), 2.876 (100) (121), 2.861 (96) (112), 2.772 (27) (300), 1.991 (17) (222) and 1.895 (23) (213). Fluorsigaiite is hexagonal, in the space group P63/m and unit-cell parameters refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data are: a = 9.6101(2) Å, c = 7.1311(1) Å, V = 570.35(3) Å3 and Z = 2. It is isostructural with hedyphane-group minerals, and contains different prevailing (species-defining) Ca and Sr cations at the Ca1 and Ca2 sites, respectively. Fluorsigaiite was probably formed from Sr-rich fluids at late-magmatic or hydrothermal stage of the Saima lujavrite.

The muscovites are 2M1 polymorph type; minimum temperature of crystallization of 435 °C is obtained from the molecular percentage of paragonite in muscovite.

Cowlesite specimens from nine new occurrences in Northern Ireland and from eight localities previously reported in the literature, were crystal-chemically characterised. The chemical data for a total of 25 samples indicate a composition close to the stoichiometric formula for cowlesite and a very limited compositional range. X-ray powder diffraction spectra were performed on 8 samples. The crystallographic unit cell permit a proper indexing of the X-ray powder diffraction patterns as orthorhombic, unit cell constants close to a 23.3, b 30.6, c 25.0 Å and doubled with respect to those originally reported in literature. The powder pattern and the TG curve arc reported for an unidentified mineral species associated with cowlesite in one of the samples from Northern Ireland.

Harmotome, associated with analcime, is described from andesite dykes at Rehia and Maungarahu in the Tokatoka district, New Zealand. The Maungarahu harmotome has the composition: (Na1·03K0·23)(Ba1·54Ca0·18)Al4·66Si11·31 12·39 H2O; physical properties: α 1·498, β 1·503, γ 1·506, 2Vγ 75–82° β:[001] 28° D 2·378; and cell constants: a 9· 906±0·006, b 14·119 ±0·003, c 8·712±0·007 Å, β 124° 57′ ± 3′. The harmotome is Ba-poor, and 2 Na+ has substituted for Ba2+ on a valency basis. Analcime associated with the Maungarahu harmotome has chemical composition: (Na15·16 K0·03Ca0·09)Al15·52Si32·47 15·93 H2O and physical properties: n = 1·483, D = 2·257, a = 13·708 Å. The zeolites are believed to have crystallized from Na and Ba-rich alkaline solutions at approximately 200°C The source of the Ba is baryte concretions in adjacent limestones.

Khvorovite, ideally Pb42+Ca2[Si8B2(SiB)O28]F, is a new borosilicate mineral of the hyalotekite group from the Darai-Pioz alkaline massif in the upper reaches of the Darai-Pioz river, Tajikistan. Khvorovite was found in a pectolite aggregate in silexites (quartz-rich rocks). The pectolite aggregate consists mainly of pectolite, quartz and fluorite, with minor aegirine, polylithionite, turkestanite and baratovite; accessory minerals are calcite, pyrochlore-group minerals, reedmergnerite, stillwellite-(Ce), pekovite, zeravshanite, senkevichite, sokolovaite, mendeleevite-(Ce), alamosite, orlovite, leucosphenite and several unknown Cs-silicates. Khvorovite occurs as irregular grains, rarely with square or rectangular sections up to 150 μm, and grain aggregates up to 0.5 mm. Khvorovite is colourless, rarely white, transparent with a white streak, has a vitreous lustre and does not fluoresce under ultraviolet light. Cleavage and parting were not observed. Mohs hardness is 5–5.5, and khvorovite is brittle with an uneven fracture. The measured and calculated densities are 3.96(2) and 3.968 g/cm3, respectively. Khvorovite is biaxial (+) with refractive indices (λ = 589 nm) α = 1.659(3), βcalc. = 1.671(2), γ = 1.676(3); 2Vmeas. = 64(3)°, medium dispersion: r < v. Khvorovite is triclinic, space group I1¯, a = 11.354(2), b = 10.960(2), c = 10.271(2) Å, α = 90.32(3), β = 90.00(3), γ = 90.00(3)°, V = 1278(1) Å3, Z = 2. The six strongest lines in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d (Å), I, (hkl)] are: 7.86, 100, (110); 7.65, 90, (101); 7.55, 90, (011); 3.81, 90, (202); 3.55, 90, (301); 2.934, 90, (312, 312). Chemical analysis by electron microprobe gave SiO2 36.98, B2O3 6.01, Y2O3 0.26, PbO 40.08, BaO 6.18, SrO 0.43, CaO 6.77, K2O 1.72, Na2O 0.41, F 0.88, O=F –0.37, sum 99.35 wt.%. The empirical formula based on 29 (O+F) a.p.f.u. is (Pb2.762+Ba0.62K0.56Na0.16)Σ4.10(Ca1.86Sr0.06Y0.04Na0.04)Σ2[Si8B2(Si1.46B0.65)Σ2.11O28](F0.71O0.29), Z = 2 , and the simplified formula is (Pb2+, Ba, K)4Ca2[Si8B2(Si,B)2O28]F. The crystal structure of khvorovite was refined to R1 = 2.89% based on 3680 observed reflections collected on a four-circle diffractometer with MoKα radiation. In the crystal structure of khvorovite, there are four [4]-coordinated Si sites occupied solely by Si with <Si–O>= 1.617 Å. The [4]-coordinated B site is occupied solely by B, with <B–O> = 1.478 Å. The [4]-coordinated T site is occupied by Si and B (Si1.46B0.54), with <T–O> = 1.605 Å; it ideally gives (SiB) a.p.f.u. The Si, B and T tetrahedra form an interrupted framework of ideal composition [Si8B2(SiB)O28]11–. The interstitial cations are Pb2+, Ba and K (minor Na) [A(11–22) sites] and Ca [M site]. The two A sites are each split into two subsites ∼0.5 Å apart and occupied by Pb2+ and Ba + K. The [8]-coordinated M site is occupied mainly by Ca, with minor Sr, Y and Na. Khvorovite is a Pb2+ analogue of hyalotekite, (Ba,Pb2+,K)4(Ca,Y)2[Si8(B,Be)2(Si,B)2O28]F and a Pb2+-, Ca-analogue of kapitsaite-(Y), (Ba,K)4(Y,Ca)2[Si8B2(B,Si)2O28]F. It is named after Pavel V. Khvorov (b. 1965), a Russian mineralogist, to honour his contribution to the study of the mineralogy of the Darai-Pioz massif.

Aldermanite from Tom's quarry in the Kapunda–Angaston area of the Mount Lofty Ranges, South Australia has been characterised by electron microprobe analyses and single-crystal structure analysis. The empirical formula is Na0.72K0.13Ca0.06Mg1.15Al2.92(PO4)2.05[(OH)2.92F2.96]Σ5.88⋅8.91H2O, based on 23 anions. Analysis of a specimen from the type locality, the nearby Klemm's quarry, Moculta, gave a similar formula, Na0.59K0.06Ca0.36Mg0.92Al3.16(PO4)1.97[(OH)4.08F2.70]Σ6.78⋅8.36H2O. Na and F were not analysed in the original description of the mineral. The ideal end-member formula is [Mg(H2O)6][Na(H2O)2Al3(PO4)2(OH)6]⋅H2O, compared to the original formula of Mg5Al12(PO4)8(OH)22⋅nH2O with n ≈ 32. Aldermanite is monoclinic, P21/c with a = 13.524(3), b = 9.958(2), c = 7.013(1) Å and β = 97.40(3)°. The crystal structure of aldermanite is built from sawtooth layers of cis- and trans-corner-connected, Al-centred octahedra, decorated with corner-connected PO4 tetrahedra to give (100) layers of composition Al3(PO4)2(OH,F)6. Interlayer Mg(H2O)6 octahedra and H2O molecules hold the layers together through H bonding. The corner-connected octahedra form 6-membered rings that are centred by 8-coordinated Na and have a topology identical to a 3-octahedra-wide {110} slice of the pyrochlore structure. This pyrochlore element contains intersecting kagomé nets of Al atoms, parallel to (111) and (11$\bar{1}$) of cubic pyrochlore. Minerals of the walentaite group, as well as zirconolite-3O polytypes have the same type of intersecting kagomé nets of small cations.

The rapid determination of the chemical elements present in a mineral has been a desideratum ever since minerals became of economic use. Various methods have been employed, starting with blowpipe work, which in the early days proved of great value, especially in experienced hands, With the development of chemistry and the discovery of new elements, this process was largely abandoned in favour of the standard ' wet method' of chemical analysis. Later on, micro-chemical reactions came into limited employment. Here the appearance of easily crystallizable salts under the microscope was used for diagnostic purposes. This method has been extensively examined of late years and became so overloaded with precautions that its chief asset, that of rapidity and case of employment, has been largely lost. Quite recently colorimetric reactions have been applied to qualitative analysis. These appeared so promising that the present author was encouraged to endeavour to apply them to the examination of minerals.

A scheme for the qualitative determination of the commoner elements was published by G. Gutzeit in 1929, which at first sight looked very attractive.

In the first part of this paper it was shown that the acid section of the mica group could be divided into two main series, the potash micas and the lithia micas. The molecular ratio of potash to silica was 1 : 6 and the micas were therefore represented as salts of an acid characterized by this value. The present section contains the result of a similar investigation of the basic micas, especially biotite and phlogopite; here again it will be seen that the grouping K2O. 6SiO2 is present throughout. For comparison of the molecular composition, the analyses of the basic micas have been recalculated in molecular ratios, (Si,Ti)O2 being made equal to 600 according to the method already used for the acid micas.

Bavenite was first described from Baveno by Artini in 1901 as monoclinic crystals of prismatic habit in pegmatitic druses in granite and given the formula 3CaO.Al2O3.6SiO2.H2O. More recently, the mineral has been described pseudomorphous after beryl from Himalaya mine, Mesa Grande, San Diego County, California, by Schaller and Fairchild (1932) and shown to contain beryllium as an essential constituent. In 1933 X-ray determinations by Ksanda and Merwin indicated a unit cell with dimensions a 9·67, b 11·53, c 4·95Å, and showed the symmetry to be orthorhombic and referable to the space-group V1, Vh1, or C2v1. Revised crystallographic orientation and optical constants were also suggested by these authors.

The material about to be described is from two localities in Switzerland. Of fourteen specimens from a fissure in the rocks below the Muotta Nera, Piz del Laiblau, Val Nalps, Tavetschthal, Graubünden, selected by Mr. F. N. Ashcroft in 1935 and 1936 from a fairly large series stocked by Adolf Caveng of Sedrun, one (B.M. 1937,598) carries the mineral as roughly radiating aggregates of platy fibres of very pale brown colour in bulk.

The mineral to be described was found by Mr. C. T. Clough, M.A., of the Geological Survey, near the junction of the two large streams in Coire Dhorrcail, near Barrisdale on the south side of Loch Hourn, Inverness-shire.

Mr. Clough furnishes me with the following description of the mode of occurrence of the mineral :—

‘The crystals were obtained from a band, which, although its sides are not well exposed, seems to form a nearly horizontal vein-like mass. This band crosses both the bedding and the foliation planes of the muscovite-biotite-gneiss in which it occurs, and which occupies a large area near Barrisdale and Ladhar Bheinn.

The problem of silicate immiscibility, of petrological and technological interest, is discussed in terms of the structures of silicate crystals and certain phase diagrams. Physical chemical principles are employed to indicate the author's basis for suspecting that certain structures in the crystalline solid are carried over into the melt and are a major contributory cause of silicate immiscibility. These structures appear to be limited to the neso (SiO4)4−, soro (Si2O7)6−, cyclo (Si3O9)6−, and ino (SiO3)2− types of silicate polymers and do not include the more complex phyllo- and tecto-silicate polymers.