Chemistry:Voronkovite

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Voronkovite
General
CategorySilicate mineral, Cyclosilicate
Formula
(repeating unit)
Na
15
(Na,Ca,Ce)
3
(Mn,Ca)
3
Fe
3
Zr
3
Si
26
O
72
(OH,O)
4
Cl · H2O
(original form)
Strunz classification9.CO.10
Crystal systemTrigonal
Crystal classPyramidal (3)
H-M symbol: (3)
Space groupR3
Unit cella = 14.21, c = 30.27 [Å]; Z = 3
Identification
ColorLight brown
Crystal habitRounded crystals
FractureConchoidal
TenacityBrittle
Mohs scale hardness5
|re|er}}Vitreous
StreakWhite
DiaphaneityTransparent
Density2.95 g/cm3 (calculated)
Optical propertiesUniaxial (+)
PleochroismLemon yellow (X), brownish pink (Y)
References[1][2]

Voronkovite is a very rare mineral[1] of the eudialyte group with the chemical formula Na
15
(Na,Ca,Ce)
3
(Mn,Ca)
3
Fe
3
Zr
3
Si
2
Si
24
O
72
(OH,O)
4
Cl · H2O
.[2] The formula is based on the simplified original one; it does not show the presence of cyclic silicate groups, but two M3- and M4-site silicon atoms are shown separately (basing on the nomenclature of the eudialyte group[4]). Voronkovite has lowered symmetry (space group R3, instead of more specific for the group R3m one), similarly to some other eudialyte-group members: aqualite, labyrinthite, oneillite and raslakite.[1] The specific feature of voronkovite is, among others, strong enrichment in sodium.[2]

Occurrence and association

Voronkovite comes from an ultra-alkaline pegmatite of Mt. Alluaiv, Lovozero Massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia . It occurs with aegirine, lomonosovite, manganoneptunite, microcline, nepheline, shkatulkalite, sodalite, terskite, sphalerite and vuonnemite.[2]

Notes on chemistry

Voronkovite has additional impurities, not given in the formula. They include strontium, fluorine, potassium, lanthanum, neodymium (at the Mn site), niobium, and minor hafnium and aluminium.[2]

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 Mindat, Voronkovite, http://www.mindat.org/min-32199.html
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Khomyakov, A.P., Nechelyustov, G.N., and Rastsvetaeva, R.K., 2010, Voronkovite, Na
    15
    (Na,Ca,Ce)
    3
    (Mn,Ca)
    3
    Fe
    3
    Zr
    3
    Si
    26
    O
    72
    (OH,O)
    4
    Cl · H2O
    , a new mineral species of the eudialyte group from the Lovozero alkaline pluton, Kola Peninsula, Russia. Geology of Ore Deposits 51(8), 750–756
  3. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine 85 (3): 291–320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. Bibcode2021MinM...85..291W. 
  4. Johnsen, O., Ferraris, G., Gault, R.A., Grice, D.G., Kampf, A.R., and Pekov, I.V., 2003. The nomenclature of eudialyte-group minerals. The Canadian Mineralogist 41, 785–794