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. Bibcode: 2021MinM...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