Zemannite

• Named in honor of the Austrian mineralogist Josef Zemann (born 1923 and died just three weaks ago on the 16th of October 2022 at the age of 99), who had worked extensively on tellurium minerals. An obituary on Zemann in German can be found here.
• Type Locality: The Mina La Bomballa near Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico
• Formula: Mg_0.5ZnFe³⁺[TeO₃]₃ · 4.5 H₂O
• Space group: P6₃/m
• Crystal system: hexagonal
• Crystal class: 6/m
• Lattice parameters: a = b =  9.41 Å, c = 7.64 Å, α = β = 90°, γ =  120°

Picture: Christian Rewitzer – CC BY-SA 3.0

Crystal structure (click on the pictures to download the VESTA file):

(K. Momma and F. Izumi, “VESTA 3 for three-dimensional visualization of crystal, volumetric and morphology data,” J. Appl. Crystallogr., 44, 1272-1276 (2011).)

• Fe/ZnO₆ octahedra (green)
• TeO₃ trigonal-pyramids (blue)
• MgO_x polyhedra (orange)
• Oxygen (red)
• Hydrogen (white)

For a 3D interactive version, see here:

https://skfb.ly/ozQXK

Refs.:

[1] J.A. Mandarino, E. Matzat, S. J. Wiliams, Zemannite, a zinc tellurite from Moctezuma, Sonora, Mexico.Canadian Mineralogist 1976, 14, 387–390.

[2] R. Miletich, Crystal chemistry of the microporous tellurite minerals zemannite and kinichilite, Mg_0.5 [(Me²⁺Fe³⁺) (TeO₃)₃] · 4.5 H₂O, (Me²⁺ = Zn, Mn). European Journal of Mineralogy 1995, 7, 509–523.

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Despujolsite

• Named in honor of Pierre Despujols (1888–1981), the founder of the Moroccan Geologic Survey (“Service de la carte géologique du Maroc”)
• The mineral was first observed in 1962 in manganese ore samples from Tachgagalt (Anti-Atlas, Morocco).
• Formula: Ca₃Mn(SO₄)₂(OH)₆  · 3 H₂O
• Space group: P-62c
• Crystal system: hexagonal
• Crystal class: -6m2
• Lattice parameters: a = b =  8.5405(5) Å, c = 10.8094(9) Å, α = β = 90°, γ =  120°

Picture: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC BY-SA 3.0

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Crystal structure (click on the pictures to download the VESTA file):

(K. Momma and F. Izumi, “VESTA 3 for three-dimensional visualization of crystal, volumetric and morphology data,” J. Appl. Crystallogr., 44, 1272-1276 (2011).)

• CaO₈ polyhedra (blue)
• Mn(OH)₆ octahedra (purple)
• SO₄ tetrahedra (yellow)
• Oxygen (red)
• Hydrogen (white)

For a 3D interactive version, see here:

https://skfb.ly/onvGo

Refs:

[1] M.C. Barkley, H. Yang, S.H. Evans, R.T. Downs, M.J. Origlieri, Acta Cryst E 2011, 67, i47-i48.
DOI: 10.1107/S1600536811030911

Kapellasite

• Named after Christo Kapellas (1938-2004), collector and mineral dealer of Kamariza, Lavrion, Greece
• Kapellasite is isostructural with Haydeeite [Cu₃Mg(OH)₆Cl₂]
• Kapellasite is a metastable polymorph of Herbertsmithite
• Formula: Cu₃Zn(OH)₆Cl₂
• Space group: P-3m1 (No. 164)
• Crystal system: trigonal
• Crystal class: -3m
• Lattice parameters: a = b = 6.300(1) Å, c =  5.733(1) Å, α = β = 90°, γ = 120°

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Crystal structure^[1] (click on the pictures to download the VESTA file):

(K. Momma and F. Izumi, “VESTA 3 for three-dimensional visualization of crystal, volumetric and morphology data,” J. Appl. Crystallogr., 44, 1272-1276 (2011).)

• CuO₄ square-planar coordination polygons (blue)
• ZnO₆ distorted octahedra (gray)
• Oxygen (red)
• Chlorine (green)

For a 3D interactive version, see here:

https://skfb.ly/6ZNHM

References:

[1] W. Krause, H.-J. Bernhardt, R.S.W. Braithwaite, U. Kolitsch, R. Pritchard
Kapellasite, Cu₃Zn(OH)₆Cl₂, a new mineral from Lavrion, Greece, and its crystal structure
Mineralogical Magazine, 2006, 70, 329-340
DOI: 10.1180/0026461067030336

Bloedite

Blödite (also Bloedite)

• named after the German mineralogist and chemist Karl August Blöde (1773 – 1820)
• fun fact: the German adjective “blöd(e)” means “stupid”
• Formula: Na₂Mg(SO₄)₂  · 4 H₂O
• Space group: P2₁/a
• Crystal system: monoclinic
• Crystal class: 2/m
• Lattice parameters: a = 11.126(2), b =  8.242(1) Å, c = 5.539(1) Å, α = 90°, β = 100.84(1)°, γ =  90°

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Crystal structure (click on the pictures to download the VESTA file):

(K. Momma and F. Izumi, “VESTA 3 for three-dimensional visualization of crystal, volumetric and morphology data,” J. Appl. Crystallogr., 44, 1272-1276 (2011).)

• SO₄ tetrahedra (yellow)
• (distorted) NaO₆ octahedra (purple)
• MgO₆ octahedra (green)
• Oxygen (red)
• Hydrogen (white)

For a 3D interactive version, see here:

https://skfb.ly/6ZEPS

Refs:

[1] F. C. Hawthorne, The Canadian Mineralogist 1985, 23, 669-674.
(PDF)

Pentlandite – the most important nickel ore

Pentlandite

• Named after the Irish natural historian, J. B. Pentland (1797-1873)
• Pentlandite is the most important nickel ore
• Formula: (Fe,Ni)₉S₈
• Space group: Fm-3m (No. 225)
• Crystal system: cubic
• Crystal class: m-3m
• Lattice parameters: a = b = c = 10.1075(1) Å, α = β = γ = 90°

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Picture by: John Sobolewski (JSS) – http://www.mindat.org/photo-192760.html, CC BY 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=9578696

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Crystal structure (click on the picture to download the VESTA file):

(K. Momma and F. Izumi, “VESTA 3 for three-dimensional visualization of crystal, volumetric and morphology data,”J. Appl. Crystallogr., 44, 1272-1276 (2011).)

• For both metal cation positions there is a complete disorder between Ni and Fe.
• There are two distinct coordination environments; octahedrally coordinated metals at the center and all edge centers and tetrahedrally coordinated metals for the others.
• Eight tetrahedra each form edge-connected Fe/Ni₈(µ-S)₆S₈ motifs, that means cubes of metal ions with six face-capping and eight terminal S atom. If we take now these cubes and octahedra as building blocks they form a NaCl-like structure.
• Fe/NiS₄ tetrahedra (blue)
• Fe/NiS₆ octahedra (orange)
• Fe (brown)
• Ni (green)

For a 3D interactive version on sketchfab, see here:

https://skfb.ly/6UPTq

References:

[1] Tenailleau, C., Etschmann, B., Ibberson, R. M. & Pring, A.
A neutron powder diffraction study of Fe and Ni distributions in synthetic pentlandite and violarite using ⁶⁰Ni isotope.
Am. Mineral. 91, 1442–1447 (2006)

[2] Stacey, T. E., Borg, C. K. H., Zavalij, P. J. & Rodriguez, E. E.
Magnetically stabilized Fe₈(µ-S)₆S₈ clusters in Ba₆Fe₂₅S₂₇.
Dalton Trans. 43, 14612–14624 (2014)

Atacamite and Hibbingite

Atacamite

• Named after its type locality, the Atacama desert in Chile.
• Atacamite is isostructural with Hibbingite [Fe₂Cl(OH)₃], and Kempite [Mn₂Cl(OH)₃]
• In 2002 it was found out that the jaws of the marine bloodworm Glycera dibranchiata contain Atacamite.^[1]
• Atacamite is polymorphous with Botallackite and Clinoatacamite (both monoclinic).
• Formula: Cu₂Cl(OH)₃
• Space group: Pnma (No. 62)
• Crystal system: orthorhombic
• Crystal class: mmm
• Lattice parameters: a = 6.030(2) Å, b =  6.865(2) Å, c = 9.120(2) Å, α = β = γ = 90°

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Picture: By Stefan Schorn – CC BY-SA 3.0
http://www.mineralienatlas.de/lexikon/index.php/Bildanzeige?pict=1081079762,
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=399210

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Crystal structure^[2] (click on the pictures to download the VESTA file):

(K. Momma and F. Izumi, “VESTA 3 for three-dimensional visualization of crystal, volumetric and morphology data,” J. Appl. Crystallogr., 44, 1272-1276 (2011).)

• CuO₅Cl distorted octahedra (orange)
• CuO₄Cl₂ distorted octahedra (blue)
• Oxygen (red)
• Chlorine (green)
• Hydrogen (white)

For a 3D interactive version, see here:

https://skfb.ly/6QpQY

References:

[1] H.C. Lichtenegger, Th. Schöberl, M.H. Bartl, H. Waite, G.D. Stucky
Science 2002, 298, 389-392.
DOI: 10.1126/science.1075433

[2] J.B. Parise, B.G. Hyde
Acta Cryst. C 1986, 42, 1277-1280.
DOI: 10.1107/S0108270186092570

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Hibbingite

• Named after its type locality, the city of Hibbing, which was built on the rich iron ore of the Mesabi Iron Range. At the edge of the town is the largest open-pit iron mine in the world.
• Hibbingite is isostructural with Atacamite [Cu₂Cl(OH)₃] and Kempite [Mn₂Cl(OH)₃]
• Formula: Fe₂Cl(OH)₃
• Space group: Pnma (No. 62)
• Crystal system: orthorhombic
• Crystal class: mmm
• Lattice parameters: a = 6.3373(2) Å, b =  6.9892(2) Å, c = 9.3457(3) Å, α = β = γ = 90°

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Crystal structure (click on the pictures to download the VESTA file):

(K. Momma and F. Izumi, “VESTA 3 for three-dimensional visualization of crystal, volumetric and morphology data,” J. Appl. Crystallogr., 44, 1272-1276 (2011).)

• FeO₅Cl distorted octahedra (green)
• FeO₄Cl₂ distorted octahedra (brown)
• Oxygen (red)
• Chlorine (green)
• Hydrogen (white)

For a 3D interactive version, see here:

https://skfb.ly/6QpRS

Reference:

N.V. Zubkova, I.V. Pekov, E.V. Sereda, V.O. Yapaskurt, D.Y. Pushcharovsky
Z. Kristallogr. 2019, 234 (6), 379-382.
DOI: 10.1515/zkri-2018-2124

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Schoenfliesite

• Named in 1971 by George T. Faust and Waldemar T. Schaller in honor of Arthur Moritz Schoenflies ( 17 April 1853 – 27 May 1928) Professor of Mathematics, University of Frankfurt. Schoenflies’ researches in group theory and topology resulted in his proof of the 230 space groups.
• Formula: MgSn(OH)₆ 
• Space group: Pn-3 (No. 201)
• Crystal system: cubic
• Crystal class: m-3
• Lattice parameters: a = b = c = 7.7449(4) Å, α = β = γ = 90°

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Crystal structure (click on the picture to download the VESTA file):

(K. Momma and F. Izumi, “VESTA 3 for three-dimensional visualization of crystal, volumetric and morphology data,”J. Appl. Crystallogr., 44, 1272-1276 (2011).)

• MgO₆ octahedra (orange)
• SnO₆ octahedra (blue-gray)
• Hydrogen (white)

For a 3D interactive version on sketchfab, see here:

https://skfb.ly/6QpyS

Reference:

Description of Schoenfliesite, MgSn(OH)₆, and Roxbyite, Cu_1.72S, from a 1375 BC Shipwreck, and Rietveld Neutron-diffraction Refinement of Synthetic Schoenfliesite, Wickmanite, MnSn(OH)₆, and Burtite, CaSn(OH)₆
L.C. Basciano, R.C. Peterson, P.L. Roeder
The Canadian Mineralogist 1998, 36, 1203-1210.

Spangolite – A Pyroelectric Copper Sulfate Sheet Mineral

Spangolite

• Named in honour of Norman Spang (1841–1922), a mineral collector from Pennsylvania, USA; for details, see here.
• Spangolite is pyroelectric
• Formula: Cu₆Al(SO₄)(OH)₁₂Cl · 3 H₂O
• Space group: P31c (No. 159)
• Crystal system: trigonal
• Crystal class: 3m
• Lattice parameters: a = b = 8.254(4) Å, c = 14.354(8) Å, α = β = 90°, γ = 120°

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Picture: Christian Rewitzer, CC BY-SA 3.0
https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=14865917

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Crystal structure (click on the picture to download the VESTA file):

(K. Momma and F. Izumi, “VESTA 3 for three-dimensional visualization of crystal, volumetric and morphology data,”J. Appl. Crystallogr., 44, 1272-1276 (2011).)

• CuO₆ distorted octahedra (blue)
• AlO₆ octahedra (orange)
• SO₄ tetrahedra (yellow)
• Oxygen (red)
• Chlorine (green)
• Hydrogen (white)

For a 3D interactive version on sketchfab, see here:

https://skfb.ly/6Q6U7

References:

[1] Spangolite
H. A. Miers
Mineralogical Magazine 1894, 10, 273-277

DOI: 10.1180/minmag.1894.010.48.02

[2] The Crystal Structure of Spangolite, a Complex Copper Sulfate Sheet Mineral
F.C. Hawthorne, M. Kimata, R.K. Eby
American Mineralogist 1993, 78 (5-6), 649-652.

Suzukiite – polymorphic to Bavsiite

Suzukiite

• Named in honor of Jun Suzuki, a professor of mineralogy and petrology, at the Hokkaido University, Sapporo (Japan).
• Suzukiite belongs to the inosilicates (chain silicates) and is polymorphic to Bavsiite, which is tetragonal.
• Formula: BaVSi₂O₇
• Space group: Cmcm (No. 63)
• Crystal system: orthorhombic
• Crystal class: mmm
• Lattice parameters: a = 5.3546(16), b = 15.249(5) Å, c = 7.094(2) Å, α = β = γ = 90°

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Picture: D. Nishio-Hamane – CC BY-NC-SA 2.0

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Crystal structure (click on the picture to download the VESTA file):

(K. Momma and F. Izumi, “VESTA 3 for three-dimensional visualization of crystal, volumetric and morphology data,”J. Appl. Crystallogr., 44, 1272-1276 (2011).)

 

• BaO₁₀ polyhedra (not shown as polyhedra, Ba green)
• SiO₄ tetrahedra (yellow)
• VO₅ square pyramids (purple)
• Oxygen (red)

For a 3D interactive version on sketchfab, see here:

https://skfb.ly/6Q6GC

Reference:
Crystal Structure of Suzukiite from the Mogurazawa Mine, Gunma Prefecture, Japan,
M. Ito, S. Matsubara, K. Yokoyama, K. Momma, R. Miyawaki, I. Nakai, A. Kato
Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences 2014, 109, 222-227

DOI: 10.2465/jmps.140520

Bavsiite – A mineral containing Ba, V, Si,…

Bavsiite

• Named for the constituting elements Barium, Vanadium and Silicon.
• Bavsiite is polymorphic to Suzukiite, BaVSi₂O₇, which is orthorhombic.
• Formula: Ba₂V₂O₂[Si₄O₁₂]
• Space group: I4/m (No. 87)
• Crystal system: tetragonal
• Crystal class: 4/m
• Lattice parameters: a = b = 7.043(1) Å, c = 11.444(2) Å, α = β = γ = 90°

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Crystal structure (click on the picture to download the VESTA file):

(K. Momma and F. Izumi, “VESTA 3 for three-dimensional visualization of crystal, volumetric and morphology data,”J. Appl. Crystallogr., 44, 1272-1276 (2011).)

• BaO₁₂ polyhedra (not shown as polyhedra, Ba green)
• SiO₄ tetraedra (yellow) building single four-rings
• VO₅ square pyramids (blue)
• Oxygen (red)

For a 3D interactive version on sketchfab, see here:

https://skfb.ly/6PYVA

Reference:
Bavsiite, Ba₂V₂O₂[Si₄O₁₂], mineral data and crystal structure
H.-P. Bojar, F. Walter, J. Baumgartner
Mineralogical Magazine 2019, 83, 821-827

DOI: 10.1180/mgm.2019.59