The Tinderet volcano (19.9 to 5.5 Ma), located within the Kavirondo rift in Kenya, contains blocks of carbonatite lavas with calcite, minor apatite, fluorite, spinel-group minerals, accessory perovskite and 'plumbopyrochlore'; nyerereite is present as inclusions in the perovskite. At least four types of calcite are present in the carbonatite lavas; they differ in morphology, composition and origin. The dominant variety is secondary type-II calcite, which is enriched in sodium (up to 1.1 wt.% Na2O) and strontium (up to 1.3 wt.% SrO). The spinel-group minerals are manganese-bearing and include Mn-rich magnetite, magnesioferrite and jacobsite. Oxygen isotope data for bulk carbonatite samples (δ18O = +16.2 % to +22.6 % VSMOW) support a low crystallization temperature for the secondary calcite. Petrographic, mineralogical and isotopic data indicate that the Tinderet carbonatites are similar to natrocarbonatites from the Oldoinyo Lengai and Kerimasi volcanoes that have altered and recrystallized to form calcite carbonatites. These data support the hypothesis that some of the Tinderet carbonatites were originally alkali-rich rocks which contained primary nyerereite.

Characterization of Brazilian agates containing a lower horizontally banded section and an upper chamber with bands parallel to the walls shows that these agates formed much later than the 135 Ma Paraná basalt host rock. Age differentiation between the two types of banding shows that the horizontal bands formed between 43 to 63 Ma ago with a final infill of wall-lining bands between 7 and 27 Ma later. The horizontal bands have a higher Al3+ concentration and a greater crystallite size than the wall-lining layers; they have a lower mogánite content and defect-site water content. The formation of these agates appears to be the result of a three-stage process. After the separate formation of horizontally banded and wall-lining agate, a silica infill seals the gap between the agate and the cavity wall. The detection of cristobalite in some specimens indicates that genesis of both the horizontally banded and wall-lining deposits in the Brazilian samples proceeds along an amorphous silica → opal-CT → opal-C → chalcedony pathway.

Syntheses in acidified hydrothermal (HT) solutions (1 N H2SO4 or stronger) produce monoclinic non-stoichiometric K-jarosites which contain Fe-site vacancies with long-range order. Syntheses in non-acidified HT solutions produce rhombohedral K-jarosites which contain relatively large numbers of Fe-site vacancies with no long-range order. Increasing the [Fe]/[K] ratio, reaction temperature and reaction time in non-acidified solutions promotes the formation of monoclinic jarosites which contain Fe-site vacancies with short-range order. A structural model including details of the ordering of the Fe-site vacancies was obtained by refinement of single-crystal synchrotron data from one of the HT synthesis products; this model was used to refine synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction data from products synthesized at different reaction times, temperatures and [Fe]/[K] ratios. Thermal and chemical analyses are consistent with a model for non-stoichiometry in which domains of stoichiometric jarosite are intergrown with butlerite-like iron-deficient domains with a composition [Fe2(SO4)2(OH)2(H2O)4]. It was found that heterogeneous nucleation of monoclinic jarosite on Si disks is preceded by the formation of an oriented film of Maus's Salt, K5Fe3O(SO4)6·10H2O, as a precursor phase, and that this transforms topotactically into oriented jarosite, which contains butlerite-like layers parallel to the disk surface. Structural models for the transformation of Maus's Salt into jarosite are proposed.

Chemical and structural data are reported for platinum–palladium intermediates from two nuggets found at Córrego Bom Sucesso, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Three grains with simple stoichiometries (i.e. PtxPd1−x with x ∼0.67, ∼0.5 and ∼0.33, which correspond to Pt2Pd, PtPd and PtPd2, respectively) were characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and electron-probe microanalysis. In the absence of single-crystal data it might be tempting to hypothesize that such simple stoichiometries represent distinct mineral species, however structural analyses show that all of the phases are cubic and crystallize in space group Fmm. They are, therefore, natural intermediates in the palladium–platinum solid solution. Reflectance and micro-hardness values are reported for the samples and a comparison with the pure metallic elements made. On the basis of information gained from the chemical and structural characterization it can be concluded that there is a complete solid solution between Pt and Pd in nature. These findings corroborate results from experiments on synthetic compounds.

Structural complexity of minerals is characterized using information contents of their crystal structures calculated according to the modified Shannon formula. The crystal structure is considered as a message consisting of atoms classified into equivalence classes according to their distribution over crystallographic orbits (Wyckoff sites). The proposed complexity measures combine both size- and symmetry-sensitive aspects of crystal structures. Information-based complexity parameters have been calculated for 3949 structure reports on minerals extracted from the Inorganic Crystal Structure Database. According to the total structural information content, IG, total, mineral structures can be classified into very simple (0–20 bits), simple (20–100 bits), intermediate (100–500 bits), complex (500–1000 bits), and very complex (> 1000 bits). The average information content for mineral structures is calculated as 228(6) bits per structure and 3.23(2) bits per atom. Twenty most complex mineral structures are (IG, total in bits): paulingite (6766.998), fantappieite (5948.330), sacrofanite (5317.353), mendeleevite-(Ce) (3398.878), bouazzerite (3035.201), megacyclite (2950.928), vandendriesscheite (2835.307), giuseppetite (2723.097), stilpnomelane (2483.819), stavelotite-(La) (2411.498), rogermitchellite (2320.653), parsettensite (2309.820), apjohnite (2305.361), antigorite (m = 17 polysome) (2250.397), tounkite (2187.799), tschoertnerite (2132.228), farneseite (2094.012), kircherite (2052.539), bannisterite (2031.017), and mutinaite (2025.067). The following complexity-generating mechanisms have been recognized: modularity, misfit relationships between structure elements, and presence of nanoscale units (clusters or tubules). Structural complexity should be distiguished from topological complexity. Structural complexity increases with decreasing temperature and increasing pressure, though at ultra-high pressures, the situation may be different. Quantitative complexity measures can be used to investigate evolution of information in the course of global and local geological processes involving formation and transformation of crystalline phases. The information-based complexity measures can also be used to estimate the 'ease of crystallization' from the viewpoint of simplexity principle proposed by J.R. Goldsmith (1953) for understanding of formation of simple and complex mineral phases under both natural and laboratory conditions. According to the proposed quantitative approach, the crystal structure can be viewed as a reservoir of information encoded in its complexity. Complex structures store more information than simple ones. As erasure of information is always associated with dissipation of energy, information stored in crystal structures of minerals must have an important influence upon natural processes. As every process can be viewed as a communication channel, the mineralogical history of our planet on any scale is a story of accumulation, storage, transmission and processing of structural information.

Kudryavtsevaite, ideally Na3MgFe3+Ti4O12, is a new mineral from kimberlitic rocks of the Orapa area, Botswana. It occurs as rare prismatic crystals, up to 100 μm m across, associated with Mg-rich ilmenite, freudenbergite and ulvöspinel. Kudryavtsevaite is opaque with a vitreous lustre and shows a black streak. It is brittle; the Vickers hardness (VHN100) is 901 kg mm−2 (range: 876–925) (Mohs hardness ∼6). In reflected light, kudryavtsevaite is moderately bireflectant and very weakly pleochroic from dark grey to a slightly bluish grey. Under crossed polars, it is very weakly anisotropic with greyish-bluish rotation tints. Internal reflections are absent. Reflectance values (%), Rmin and Rmax, are: 21.3, 25.4 (471.1 nm), 20.6, 24.1 (548.3 nm), 20.0, 23.5 (586.6 nm) and 19.1, 22.4 (652.3 nm).

Kudryavtsevaite is orthorhombic, space group Pnma, with a = 27.714(1), b = 2.9881(3), c = 11.3564(6) Å, V = 940.5(1) Å3, and Z = 4. The crystal structure [R1 = 0.0168 for 819 reflections with I > 2σ(I)] consists of edge-sharing and corner-sharing chains composed of Mg, Fe3+ and Ti atoms coordinated by six atoms of oxygen and running along the b axis, with Na filling the tunnels formed by the chains. The eight strongest powder-diffraction lines [d in Å (I/I0) (hkl)] are: 7.17 (100) (301), 4.84 (70) (302), 2.973 (35) (901), 2.841 (50) (004), 2.706 (50) (902), 2.541 (50) (312), 2.450 (70) (611), and 2.296 (45) (612). The average results of 12 electron microprobe analyses gave (wt.%): Na2O 16.46(15), CaO 1.01(3), MgO 5.31(5), Fe2O3 22.24(32), Cr2O3 1.05(6), Al2O3 0.03(2), TiO2 53.81(50), total 99.91, corresponding to the empirical formula (Na2.89Ca0.10)Σ2.99(Ti3.67Fe1.523+Mg0.72Cr0.08)Σ5.99O12, or ideally Na3MgFe3+Ti4O12.

The new mineral has been approved by the IMA-CNMNC and named for Galina Kudryavtseva (1947–2006), a well known Russian mineralogist and founder of the Diamond Mineralogy Laboratory and scientific school for investigation of diamond mineralogy and geochemistry at the Lomonosov State University in Moscow, Russia.

Minohlite, a new copper-zinc sulfate mineral related to schulenbergite, was found in the oxidized zone of the Hirao mine at Minoh (Minoo) City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan. The mineral occurs in cracks in altered shale as rosette aggregates up to 100 m m in diameter, composed of hexagonal platy crystals up to 50 μm m in diameter and 10 μm m in thickness. The associated minerals are chamosite, muscovite, smithsonite, serpierite, ramsbeckite, 'limonite' and chalcopyrite. Minohlite has hexagonal (or trigonal) symmetry with unit-cell parameters of a = 8.2535(11), c = 8.1352(17) Å, V = 479.93(16) Å3 and Z = 1, and possible space groups P6, P, P6/m, P22, P6mm, P2m and P6/mmm (or P3, P3, P321, P3m1, Pm1, P312, P31m and P1m). The six strongest reflections in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d in Å (I) hkl] are 8.138 (20) 001; 4.128 (24) 110; 2.702 (100) 120; 2.564 (76) 121; 1.560 (43) 140; and 1.532 (24) 141. Electron microprobe analyses gave the following values (wt.%): CuO 37.18, ZnO 21.08, FeO 0.49, SO3 16.78, SiO2 0.44, and H2O 24.03 (by difference). The empirical formula, calculated on the basis of Cu + Zn + Fe + S + Si = 9 atoms per formula unit, is (Cu4.43Zn2.45Fe0.06)Σ6.94[(SO4)1.99(SiO4)0.07]Σ2.06(OH)9.64·7.81H2O, which leads a simplified formula of (Cu,Zn)7(SO4)2(OH)10·8H2O where Cu > Zn. The mineral is bluish-green and transparent with a pearly to vitreous lustre. The streak is pale green. Cleavage is perfect on {001}. The Mohs hardness number is less than 2. The calculated density is 3.28 g cm−3. The mineral is named after Minoh City, where it was discovered.

The stabilities of possible Y(R3+ + R2+ + Li+) clusters around the W anion (O1 site) of the tourmaline structure were checked using the bond-valence approach. Arrangements involving R3+ = Al3+ or Fe3+ and R2+ = (Fe, Mn, Mg)2+ were all found to be stable. Structural data show a strong linear correlation between the mean formal valence (MFV) of the Y cations and the long-range average bond valence sum (BVS) at the O1 site, as estimated from bond-valence parameters. This correlation is observed for all chemical compositions of tourmaline, except for fluor-buergerite where the O3 site is dominated by oxygen anions. Results show that the long-range site populations of the Y and O1 sites are related to each other by valence constraints described by the empirical and theoretical equations: BVS(O1) = [0.99 MFV(Y) − 1.20] and MFV(O1) = [1.00 MFV(Y) − 1.00], respectively. The systematic deviation of the empirical equation from the ideal one is ascribed to the occurrence of bond strain involving the O1 site. An important implication of the correlation between MFV(Y) and BVS(O1) is that the (OH) content at the O1 site may be estimated by the equation W(OH) = 2 − [1.01 BVS(O1)] − 0.21 − F.

Schlüterite-(Y), ideally (Y,REE)2Al(Si2O7)(OH)2F, is a new silicate mineral species from the Stetind pegmatite, Tysfjord, Nordland, Norway. It forms dense, fibrous, radiating aggregates (up to ∼2 mm) diverging to individual needle-like crystals (up to ∼1 mm long) in cavities. Crystals are acicular to bladed, flattened on {001} and elongated along [010], and the dominant form is {001}. Schlüterite-(Y) is transparent, pale pink with a white streak and a vitreous lustre, and does not fluoresce under short-wave ultraviolet light. Mohs hardness is 5½–6, and schlüterite-(Y) is brittle with an irregular fracture, and has no cleavage. The calculated density is 4.644 g/cm3. The indices of refraction are α = 1.755, β = 1.760, γ = 1.770, all ± 0.005, 2Vobs = 71.8 (5)°, 2Vcalc = 71°, non-pleochroic, optic orientation is X ˆ a = 83.1° (β obtuse), Y//b, Z ˆ c = 50.3° (β acute). Schlüterite-(Y) is monoclinic, space group P21/c, a 7.0722(2), b 5.6198(1), c 21.4390(4) Å, β 122.7756(3)°, V 716.43(5) Å3, Z = 4. The seven strongest lines in the X-ray powder-diffraction pattern are as follows: [d (Å), I, (hkl)]: 4.769, 100, (012); 2.972, 55, (14); 3.289, 51, (112); 2.728, 49, (16); 2.810, 37, (020); 3.013, 37, ((16); 4.507, 36, (004). Chemical analysis by electron microprobe gave SiO2 22.64, Al2O3 9.45, Y2O3 15.35, La2O3 3.25, Ce2O3 9.69, Pr2O3 2.05, Nd2O3 9.50, Sm2O3 3.57, Gd2O3 4.65, Dy2O3 4.21, Er2O3 2.31, Yb2O3 1.86, F 2.71, H2Ocalc 3.78, O = F −1.14, sum 93.88 wt%. The H2O content was determined by crystal-structure analysis. On the basis of 10 anions with (OH) + F = 3 a.p.f.u. (atoms per formula unit), the empirical formula is (Y0.73Ce0.32Nd0.30Gd0.14Dy0.12La0.11Sm0.11Pr0.07Er0.06Yb0.05)Σ=2.01Al0.99Si2.01O7(OH)2.24F0.76. The crystal structure of schlüterite-(Y) was solved by direct methods and refined to an R1 index of 1.8% based on 1422 unique observed reflections. In the structure of schlüterite-(Y), Al(OH)4O2 octahedra share (OH)–(OH) edges to form [MΦ4] chains that are decorated by (Si2O7) groups that bridge O vertices of neighbouring octahedra in a staggered fashion on either side of the chain. These [Al(OH)2(Si2O7)] chains extend parallel to b, and are linked into a continuous framework via bonds to interstitial [8](Y,REE) (= <2.400 Å>) and [9](Y,REE) (= <2.548 Å>) atoms.

Two new minerals – manganoblödite (IMA2012–029), ideally Na2Mn(SO4)2·4H2O, and cobaltoblödite (IMA2012–059), ideally Na2Co(SO4)2·4H2O, the Mn-dominant and Co-dominant analogues of blödite, respectively, were found at the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA. They are closely associated with blödite (Mn-Co-Ni-bearing), chalcanthite, gypsum, sideronatrite, johannite, quartz and feldspar. Both new minerals occur as aggregates of anhedral grains up to 60 μm (manganoblödite) and 200 μm (cobaltoblödite) forming thin crusts covering areas up to 2 × 2 cm on the surface of other sulfates. Both new species often occur as intimate intergrowths with each other and also with Mn-Co-Ni-bearing blödite. Manganoblödite and cobaltoblödite are transparent, colourless in single grains and reddish-pink in aggregates and crusts, with a white streak and vitreous lustre. Their Mohs' hardness is ∼2½. They are brittle, have uneven fracture and no obvious parting or cleavage. The measured and calculated densities are Dmeas = 2.25(2) g cm−3 and Dcalc = 2.338 g cm−3 for manganoblödite and Dmeas = 2.29(2) g cm−3 and Dcalc = 2.347 g cm−3 for cobaltoblödite. Optically both species are biaxial negative. The mean refractive indices are α = 1.493(2), β = 1.498(2) and γ = 1.501(2) for manganoblödite and α = 1.498(2), β = 1.503(2) and γ = 1.505(2) for cobaltoblödite. The chemical composition of manganoblödite (wt.%, electron-microprobe data) is: Na2O 16.94, MgO 3.29, MnO 8.80, CoO 2.96, NiO 1.34, SO3 45.39, H2O (calc.) 20.14, total 98.86. The empirical formula, calculated on the basis of 12 O a.p.f.u., is: Na1.96(Mn0.44Mg0.29Co0.14Ni0.06)Σ0.93S2.03O8·4H2O. The chemical composition of cobaltoblödite (wt.%, electron-microprobe data) is: Na2O 17.00, MgO 3.42, MnO 3.38, CoO 7.52, NiO 2.53, SO3 45.41, H2O (calc.) 20.20, total 99.46. The empirical formula, calculated on the basis of 12 O a.p.f.u., is: Na1.96(Co0.36Mg0.30Mn0.17Ni0.12)Σ 0.95S2.02O8·4H2O. Both minerals are monoclinic, space group P21/a, with a = 11.137(2), b = 8.279(1), c = 5.5381(9) Å, β = 100.42(1)°, V = 502.20(14) Å3 and Z = 2 (manganoblödite); and a = 11.147(1), b = 8.268(1), C = 5.5396(7) Å, β = 100.517(11)°, V = 501.97(10) Å3 and Z = 2 (cobaltoblödite). The strongest diffractions from X-ray powder pattern [listed as (d,Å(I)(hkl)] are for manganoblödite: 4.556(70)(210, 011); 4.266(45)(01); 3.791(26)(11); 3.338(21)(310); 3.291(100)(220, 021), 3.256(67)(211, 21), 2.968(22)(21), 2.647(24)(01); for cobaltoblödite: 4.551(80)(210, 011); 4.269(50)(01); 3.795(18)(11); 3.339(43)(310); 3.29(100)(220, 021), 3.258(58)(11, 21), 2.644(21)(01), 2.296(22)(122). The crystal structures of both minerals were refined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction to R1 = 0.0459 (manganoblödite) and R1 = 0.0339 (cobaltoblödite).

Hylbrownite, ideally Na3MgP3O10·12H2O, the second known triphosphate mineral, is a new mineral species from the Dome Rock mine, Boolcoomatta Reserve, Olary Province, South Australia, Australia. The mineral forms aggregates and sprays of crystals up to 0.5 mm across with individual crystals up to 0.12 mm in length and 0.02 mm in width. Crystals are thin prismatic to acicular in habit and are elongate along [001]. Forms observed are {010}, {100}, {001}, {210} and {201}. Crystals are colourless to white, possess a white streak, are transparent, brittle, have a vitreous lustre and are nonfluorescent. The measured density is 1.81(4) g cm−3; Mohs' hardness was not determined. Cleavage is good parallel to {001} and to {100} and the fracture is uneven. Hylbrownite crystals are nonpleochroic, biaxial (−), with α = 1.390(4), β = 1.421(4), γ = 1.446(4) and 2Vcalc. = 82.2°. Hylbrownite is monoclinic, space group P21/n, with a = 14.722(3), b = 9.240(2), c = 15.052(3) Å, β = 90.01(3)°, V = 2047.5(7) Å3, (single-crystal data) and Z = 4. The strongest lines in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern are [d (Å)(I)(hkl)]: 10.530(60)(10,101), 7.357(80)(200), 6.951(100)(11, 111), 4.754(35)(10, 103), 3.934(40)(022), 3.510(45)(30, 303), 3.336(35)(41, 411). Chemical analysis by electron microprobe gave Na2O 16.08, MgO 7.08, CaO 0.43, P2O5 37.60, H2Ocalc 38.45, total 99.64 wt.%. The empirical formula, calculated on the basis of 22 oxygen atoms is Na2.93Mg0.99Ca0.04P2.99O9.97·12.03H2O. The crystal structure was solved from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data using synchrotron radiation (T = 123 K) and refined to R1 = 4.50% on the basis of 2417 observed reflections with F0 > 4 σ(F0). [Mg(H2O)3P3O10] clusters link in the b direction to Naφ6 octahedra, by face and corner sharing. Edge sharing Naφ6 Octahedra and Naφ7 polyhedra form Na2O9 groups which link via corners to form chains along the b direction. Chains link to [Mg(H2O)3P3O10] clusters via corner-sharing in the c direction and form a thick sheet parallel to (100). Sheets are linked in the a direction via hydrogen bonds.