Delindeite titanosilicates and lourenswalsite, two new from the Magnet Cove region, Arkansas

Abstract

Delindeite and lourenswalsite are two new barium titanosilicate minerals found as microscopic crystals in miarolitic cavities in nepheline syenite in the Diamond Jo quarry, Hot Spring County, Arkansas. Delindeite is found as aggregates of flake-like crystallites in compact spherules, light pinkish grey in colour, with a resinous, pearly lustre. The flakes are biaxial positive with average n ∼ 1.813; the measured density is 3.3 g/cm³. Electron diffraction revealed a monoclinic unit cell in space group C2/m or subgroup, with a = 21.617(13), b = 6.816(5), c = 5.383(3) Å, β = 94.03(5)° (refined from X-ray powder data). The strongest X-ray lines are (hkl, d_obs, I_rel): (200, 10.80, 100); (311, 3.54, 24); (6̄01, 3.083, 28); (601, 2.888, 31); (2̄21, 2.806, 20); (910, 2.262,18). The crystals are submicroscopically twinned on (100) and also produce additional continuous diffraction streaks parallel to a*, which double the b and c axes. The formula derived from electron and ion probe analyses (H₂O by difference), as constrained by density and molar volume data, is approximately (Na,K)_2.7(Ba,Ca)₄(Ti,Fe,Al)₆Si₈O₂₆(OH)₁₄, with Na > K, Ba ≫ Ca, Ti ≫ Fe,Al; Z = 1. Lourenswalsite occurs as very thin hexagonal plates in rosettes, silver grey to light brownish grey in colour. The crystals are biaxial negative with very low 2V angle. Indices of refraction are n_α = 1.815, n_β ≈ n_γ = 1.840; the measured density is 3.17 g/cm = 1.840; the measured density is 3.17 g/cm³. X-ray and electron diffraction show a sharp pseudohexagonal lattice with a = 5.244 Å, but extremely diffuse diffraction streaks normal to the hk0 plane. In these streaks a period of 20.5 Å can be discerned. A hexagonal unit cell with a = 5.244(2) Å, c = 20.49(3) Å can be refined from the powder diffraction data but does not account for some lines, probably because of extreme layer disorder as shown by precession single-crystal patterns. The strong X-ray powder lines are (002, 10.22, 20); (-, 3.93, 20); (111, 2.608, 100); (300, 1.5145, 80); (220, 1.3111, 25). The formula given by microprobe analyses, constrained by density and molar volume data, is approximately (K,Ba)₂(Ti,Mg,Ca,Fe)₄(Si,Al,Fe)₆O₁₄(OH)₁₂ with K > Ba, Ti ≫ (Mg,Ca,Fe), Si > Al > Fe; Z = 1. These minerals are formed under oxidizing weathering conditions, and iron is assumed to be in the Fe³⁺ state.