Petrographic descriptions, bulk chemistry, and partial analyses of several mineral phases in each stone are presented. Medanitos, previously classed as a eucrite, is now shown to be a howardite: Putinga is an equilibrated olivine-hypersthene chondrite.

The crystal structure of schairerite from Searles Lake, California, has been determined employing X-ray diffraction data collected on a single-crystal diffractometer. The crystal structure was refined by least-squares methods employing isotropic thermal parameters to a final R index of 0·07 for 2536 independent observed reflections. The cell content is 3[Na21(SO4)7F6Cl]. The space group is P31m with a 12·197 A and c 19·259 Å. Schairerite exhibits a marked sub-cell (a 7·042 Å, the same c axis and P3m1 symmetry), which may be related to the unit cell of sulphohalite when described in a hexagonal lattice.

The crystal structure of schairerite may be considered as consisting of seven sheets of Na+ ions perpendicular to the c axis. These sheets are connected to each other .building up a three-dimensional framework. The Na+ ions in these sheets are arranged in an array built up of hexagons and triangles. Sulphur atoms lie in the sheets at the centres of each hexagon, the halogen atoms lying between the sheets midway between the centres of two triangles. A comparison with sulphohalite shows that the close lattice analogies may be related to a similar atomic arrangement. Apart from the differences in chemical formula (F:C1 ratio 1:1 in sulphohalite), the main difference in the structural framework consists of the unequal number of Na+ sheets (six in sulphohalite) and in the SO42− tetrahedra orientation.

Rumseyite, ideally [Pb2OF]Cl, is a new mineral species which is associated with calcite, cerussite, diaboleite, hydrocerussite and undifferentiated Mn oxides in a small cavity in 'hydrocerussite' from a manganese pod at Merehead quarry, Somerset, England. Rumseyite is tetragonal, I4/mmm, a = 4.065(1), c = 12.631(7) Å, V = 208.7(1) Å3, Z = 2. The mineral is translucent pale orange-brown with a white streak and vitreous lustre. It is brittle with perfect {100} cleavage; Dcalc = 7.71 g cm–3 (for the ideal formula, [Pb2OF]Cl). The mean refractive index in air at 589 nm is 2.15. The six strongest reflections in the X-ray powder-diffraction pattern [dmeas in Å, (Irel), (hkl)] are as follows: 2.923(100)(013), 2.875(68)(110), 3.848(41)(011), 6.306(17)(002), 1.680(14)(123), 2.110(12)(006). The crystal structure of rumseyite is based on alternating [OFPb2] and Cl layers. Rumseyite is related to other layered Pb oxyhalides. Fluorine and oxygen are statistically disordered over one crystallographic site. Rumseyite is named in honour of Michael Scott (Mike) Rumsey (1980– ), Curator and Collections Manager at the NHM (London), who discovered the mineral. The mineral and name have been approved by the IMA Commission on New Mineral Names and Classification (IMA 2011-091). The holotype specimen is in the collections of the Natural History Museum, London (specimen number BM1970,110).

Dzierżanowskite, , a thiocuprate, was found in larnite pseudoconglomerate rocks of the Hatrurim Complex at Jabel Harmun, Palestinian Autonomy, Israel. Dzierżanowskite occurs in larnite pebbles, which are embedded in a low-temperature mineral matrix. Associated minerals are larnite, brownmillerite, fluorellestadite, ye'elimite, gehlenite, periclase, ternesite, nabimusaite, vorlanite, vapnikite, fluormayenite, fluorkyuygenite, oldhamite, jasmundite, covellite, chalcocite and pyrrhotite. Electron microprobe analyses yield an average composition of Cu 55.25, Fe 0.13, S 27.46 and Ca 16.99, total 99.83 wt.%. The empirical formula of dzierżanowskite, based on 5 atoms, is Ca0.98Cu2.02Fe0.01S1.99. Dzierżanowskite forms grains up to 15 μm in size or rims on oldhamite and laminar intergrowths with chalcocite and covellite. Dzierżanowskite is dark orange, has a cream streak and a submetallic lustre. In reflected light it is grey, with a cream tint and characteristic yellow-orange internal reflections. The calculated density of dzierżanowskite is 4.391 g cm -3. Three bands at 300, 103 and 86 cm -1 are observed in the Raman spectrum. The strongest lines of the calculated powder diffraction pattern are [d, Å (I) hkl]: 2.358(100) 102, 1.970(93)110, 3.023(78) 011, 6.523(36) 001, 3.412 (28) 100, 1.834(28) 103. Dzierżanowskite was also found in unusual jasmundite rocks, forming small ‘paleofumaroles’ within areas of low-temperature hydrothermal rocks bearing larnite pseudoconglomerates at Jabel Harmun. Dzierżanowskite is a superimposed phase of the high-temperature alteration of pyrometamorphic rocks subjected to by-products (melts/fluids and gases) of pyrometamorphism originating in the deeper levels of combustion.

In addition to spurrite, Ca5(SiO4)2(CO3), and tilleyite, Ca5(Si2O7)(CO3)2, galuskinite, C is the third mineral in the CaO—SiO2—CO2 ternary system. Galuskinite, monoclinic, space group P21/c (a = 18.79, b = 6.72, c = 10.47 Å, β = 90.79°, V = 1322 Å3, Z = 4), occurs in thin veins which cut calcio-olivine, γ-Ca2SiO4, skarn with larnite, β-Ca2SiO4, relics. Pavlovskyite, Ca8(SiO4)2(Si3O10), and dellaite, Ca6(Si2O7)(SiO4)(OH)2, form a margin between the veins and the calcio-olivine skarn. The sanidinite facies high-temperature skarn formed ∼500 Ma ago when gabbroid rocks of the Birkhin complex (Baikal area, Eastern Siberia, Russia) intruded and contact-metamorphosed limestone xenoliths. Galuskinite is a retrograde product of skarn alteration and has neither been described from cement clinker production processes nor from studies of the CaO—SiO2—CO2 system. The crystal structure of galuskinite, refined from single crystal X-ray data to Ri = 3.1%, has a modular character. One may define a polysomatic series with spurrite and larnite as endmembers and galuskinite as a 1:1 polysome built from regular alternating spurrite and larnite modules. Differences between the X-ray powder patterns of galuskinite and spurrite are most obvious in the low 8 region. Galuskinite is named after the Russian mineralogists Irina O. Galuskina and Evgeny V. Galuskin, Faculty of Earth Sciences. University of Silesia, Poland, for their outstanding contributions to skarn mineralogy.

Potassium-rich mafic dykes and lavas from the Highwood Mountains Igneous Province, USA were studied by electron-microprobe and bulk-rock analysis. For the mafic phonolites, compositional trends for olivine and augite phenocrysts and groundmass biotite, alkali feldspar and titanomagnetites are presented and substitution mechanisms discussed. Phenocrysts of biotite and augite in the minettes are also characterized, together with groundmass alkali feldspar and titanomagnetite. The alkali feldspars and biotites are commonly enriched in Ba. Olivine, clinopyroxene and biotite phenocrysts are generally quite magnesium-rich, which is consistent with the primitive natures of the least evolved rocks.

Bulk-rock major-element compositions are combined with modal and microprobe data for the principal phenocrysts to calculate model residual liquid compositions for mafic phonolites, minettes and a syenitic rock. On the basis of phase-equilibria, it is suggested that the main controls of differentiation are polybaric involving crystallization during transport of primary magmas from the mantle for the minettes, and low-pressure differentiation for the mafic phonolites. Whereas magma mixing might have contributed to petrogenesis, many of the disequilibrium features exhibited by clinopyroxene and biotite phenocrysts can also be attributed to pre-existing phenocrysts undergoing decompression melting during magma uprise from its mantle source, followed by rapid crystal growth and episodic volatile loss in sub-volcanic magma chambers.

The upper 35 m of a thick (≤175 m) Early Jurassic North Mountain Basalt flow at KcKay Head contains 25 cm thick differentiated layers that are separated by 130 cm sections of basalt. The lower layers are mafic, pegmatitic, and contain thin (2 cm), fine-grained 'rhyolite' bands. Evidence that the rhyolite represents a Si-rich immiscible liquid includes: (1) textures such as fiine-grained globules of Ferich pyroxene (once Fe-rich liquid) bordering pegmatite feldspar grains; (2) structureless, microcrystalline, interstitial, polygonal patches of Si-rich minerals and similar areas of Fe-rich stilpnomelane surrounding skeletal Fe-Ti oxide grains, with bulk chemical compositions (to a first approximation), relative proportions and total modat percentages suggesting they were once Si-rich and Fe-rich glasses respectively; (3) basalt and pegmatite compositions (particularly their Fe, and Ti contents) similar to rocks known to contain immiscible liquids; (4) rhyolite major element compositions generally consistent with formation from an immiscible Si-rich liquid; (5) mineral compositions and temperature of pegmatite formation compatible with immiscibility; (6) the inability of mass balance calculations (crystal fractionation) to explain rhyolite formation unless mesostasis stilpnomelane (representing the Fe-rich liquid) is included in the caculations. If, as we suggest, these rocks are the result of immiscibility, they shed light on the incipient formation of granophyres in mafic intrusions and support liquid immiscibility as an important rock-forming process.

The hydrogen concentration and composition of garnets in the ultrahigh pressure eclogites at Shuanghe, eastern Dabieshan, were investigated using Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and electron microprobe analysis. The OH absorption bands can be divided into four groups: (1) 3635–3655 cm–1; (2) 3600–3630 cm–1; (3) 3540–3580 cm–1; and (4) 3400–3450 cm–1 and the water content ranges from 45 to 2529 ppm. Based on the behaviour of the OH absorption band and the relationship between water content and the composition of garnets, the samples can be divided into two classes: samples with >400 ppm H2O and samples with ≤400 ppm H2O. The water content of the former shows an obvious positive correlation with Ca atoms and a negative correlation with the Si, Mg and Fe2+ atoms per 12 anions, whereas the water content of the latter shows no obvious linear correlation with cations. It is concluded that the major mechanism of hydroxyl incorporation in garnets with >400 ppm H2O is by the coupled substitution 4H +Z□ → □+ZSi in the tetrahedral site, and that several mechanisms are responsible for OH incorporation in garnets with ≤400 ppm H2O.

The 1800 m thick preserved remnant of the Tertiary lava succession of Mull and Morvern consists of three basic mantle-derived magma types, with compositions varying from tholeiitic to mildly alkalic, and from picritic basalts to trachytes. This results in a similarly wide range in mineral compositions. Contrary to the suggestions of previous workers the mineral chemistry of the lava succession (in conjunction with published major and trace element chemistry) is strongly supportive of a fractional crystallisation origin for the more evolved lavas.

Resorped and regrown (with more basic material) plagioclase phenocrysts found in the more-evolved are indicative of magma mixing processes involving replenishment of an evolving magma chamber with more-basic magma. Lavas containing 15–20 vol.% plagioclase phenocrysts probably represent eruptions from the top of a magma chamber where flotation cumulates of plagioclase had developed. Fragmental phenocrysts found in some highly plagioclase phyric lavas (from near the top of the preserved lava succession) suggest that the eruption of lavas may have been explosive.

A Ba-rich celestine (Sr0.87Ba0.13SO4) filling cavities of volcanoclastic rocks from Montecchio Maggiore (Vicenza, Italy) was studied. The role of the Ba content in the mineral was determined using X-ray powder data, single crystal X-ray refinement, thermal and chemical analyses. The unit cell parameters (obtained by single crystal diffraction) are a = 8.408, b = 5.372, c = 6.897 Å, and the refinement in the space group Pnma (Z = 4) gives the final R value of 0.039. The average (Sr,Ba)-oxygen bond length is 2.842 Å and agrees with an occupancy of Sr 87% and Ba 13%. Individual bond lengths (Sr,Ba)-O and bond strength calculations confirm that all twelve interactions are significant and define an irregular array around the cation.

Supergene Fe sulpho-selenides (pyrite, dzharkenite and their intermediate compositions) were discovered in the oxidation zone of the Zapadno-Ozernoe copper-zinc massive sulphide deposit, South Urals, in association with other rare supergene sulphides, such as galena, tetrahedrite, metacinnabarite, tiemannite, Pb sulpharsenides of the jordanite group, undetermined sulphosalts of Hg and Ag, and native elements, such as S, Au and Se. This is the second known occurrence of dzharkenite. The results of the investigation of Fe sulpho-selenides using electron microprobe analysis, X-ray diffraction (XRD) and reflected light microscopy show the existence of a limited solid-solution series between pyrite and dzharkenite, which has not been described before.

The Zagros orogenic and metallogenic belt is characterized by the widespread occurrence of manganese and ferromanganese deposits. These deposits are spatially associated with radiolarian cherts and basaltic rocks, which cap the ophiolite sequences. The present work provides a review on the rare-earth element (REE) geochemistry coupled with major- and trace-element geochemical characteristics of the Nasirabad and Abadeh Tashk manganese deposits (associated with the Neyriz ophiolite), and Sorkhvand manganese deposit (associated with the Kermanshah ophiolite). These data are used to gain an insight into the primary ore-forming processes that control the deposition of manganese ores. All of the selected manganese deposits have consistently high Ba contents and low concentrations of trace elements (Co, Cu and Ni) with high Mn/Fe ratios typical of hydrothermal activity. A relatively low REE abundance, Lan/Ndn ratios (>3), and position on a Lan/Cen vs. Al2O3/(Al2O3 + Fe2O3) discrimination plot indicate a distal hydrothermal source for almost all of the selected manganese deposits. Most of the deposits are characterized by Ceanom < –0.1 which reflects the prevailing oxidative conditions during the deposition of manganese ores. Importantly, this is consistent with the occurrence of non-sulfide oxic Mn mineralization in all the manganese deposits of the Zagros orogeny. The comparison of the Sorkhvand, Abadeh Tashk and Nasirabad manganese deposits with other manganese deposits elsewhere in the world indicates that major- and trace-element characteristics, as well as the REE composition of the Zagros manganese deposits are analogous to those typical of hydrothermal deposits.

Inclusions occurring in leucites from the Oscar and Zirkel Mesa leucite lamproites consist of high (>10 wt.%) and low (<4 wt.%) K2O discrete glass phases which are interpreted to have resulted from silicate liquid immiscibility. Both glasses are quartz-normative and rich in Ti, Fe, Mg, Ca and Ba and poor in Al. The high-K glass is strongly peralkaline. Neither of the glasses have compositions representative of any known lamproites. These inclusions represent the first described examples of silicate-silicate immiscibility shown by glass in alkaline rocks.

Occurrence and major- and minor-element compositions of chlorites from plutonic rocks of the central Sierra Nevada batholith have been studied in detail.

Chlorite has formed largely as an alteration product of biotite, presumably late in the magmatie history of the granitic rocks as a result of subsolidus reaction. Major-element composition of chlorite is strongly influenced by composition of coexisting biotite. Minor-element differences between the two minerals can, for the most part, be attributed to structural differences. The minor-element data, particularly for Cu, indicate that the process of chloritization is not a likely mechanism for release of ore metals from primary minerals.

Monoclinic BiVO4, well known as a high-temperature compound, has been found as a mineral at Yinnietharra and subsequently in specimens from five further W.A. localities, Londonderry, Wodgina, Menzies, Westonia, and Corinthia. At the type locality, the mineral occurs on garnet in a beryl-bearing spessartine pegmatite associated with bismutite, bismutoferrite, and other pegmatite minerals.

Clinobisvanite occurs as yellow powder and orange aggregates and plates to 0·1 mm, is commonly intergrown with bismutite, and frequently associated with its polymorph pucherite. It has a yellow streak, earthy to subvitreous lustre, is very soft with perfect {010} cleavage, D calc. 6·95, transparent in very thin cleavage flakes, and shows multiple twinning with cross hatching, strong dispersion and n calc. 2·63.

Space group I 2/a, a, 5·186, b 11·708, c 5·100 Å, β 90° 26′ refined from powder data. An electronprobe analysis gave Bi2O3 69·88, V2O5 27·63, PbO 1·34 sum 98·85. Cell content 4[BiVO4] with minor substitution of Pb for Bi. All measurable data agree with earlier work including a prior description of the mineral from Mozambique.

Type material is preserved in the government collections at the Government Chemical Laboratories, W.A.

The new mineral species grandaite, ideally Sr2Al(AsO4)2(OH), has been discovered on the dump of Valletta mine, Maira Valley, Cuneo province, Piedmont, Italy. Its origin is related to the reaction between the ore minerals and hydrothermal solutions. It occurs in thin masses of bright orange to salmon to brown coloured crystals, or infrequently as fan-like aggregates of small (<1 mm) crystals, with reddish-brown streak and waxy to vitreous lustre. Grandaite is associated with aegirine, baryte, braunite, hematite, tilasite, quartz, unidentified Mn oxides and Mn silicates under study.

Grandaite is biaxial (+) with refractive indices α = 1.726(1), β = 1.731(1), γ = 1.752(1). Its calculated density is 4.378 g/cm3. Grandaite is monoclinic, space group P21/m, with a = 7.5764(5), b = 5.9507(4), c = 8.8050(6) Å, β = 112.551(2)°, V = 366.62(4) Å3 and Z = 2. The eight strongest diffraction lines of the observed X-ray powder diffraction pattern are [d in Å, (I), (hkl)]: 3.194 (100)(11), 2.981 (50.9)(020), 2.922 (40.2)(03), 2.743 (31.4)(120), 2.705 (65.2)(112), 2.087 (51.8) (23), 1.685 (24.5)(321), 1.663 (27.7)(132). Chemical analyses by electron microprobe gave (wt.%) SrO 29.81, CaO 7.28, BaO 1.56, Al2O3 7.07, Fe2O3 2.34, Mn2O3 1.88, MgO 1.04, PbO 0.43, As2O5 44.95, V2O5 0.50, P2O5 0.09, sum 96.95; H2O 1.83 wt.% was calculated by stoichiometry from the results of the crystal-structure analysis. Raman and infrared spectroscopies confirmed the presence of (AsO4)3− and OH groups. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of 9 O a.p.f.u., in agreement with the structural results, is (Sr1.41Ca0.64Ba0.05Pb0.01)∑=2.11(Al0.68Fe0.143+Mn0.123+Mg0.13)∑=1.07 [(As0.96V0.01)∑=0.97O4]2(OH), the simplified formula is (Sr,Ca)2(Al,Fe3+)(AsO4)2(OH) and the ideal formula is Sr2Al(AsO4)2(OH).

The crystal structure was solved by direct methods and found to be topologically identical to that of arsenbrackebuschite. The structure model was refined on the basis of 1442 observed reflections to R1 = 2.78%. In the structure of grandaite, chains of edge-sharing M3+ octahedra run along [010] and share vertices with T5+ tetrahedra, building up [M3+(T5+O4)2(OH, H2O)] units, which are connected through interstitial divalent cations. Grandaite is named after the informal appellation of the province where the type locality is located. The new mineral was approved by the International Mineralogical Association Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (IMA2013-059). The discovery of grandaite and of other members of the group (description still in progress) opens up the possibility of exploring the crystal chemistry of the brackebuschite supergroup.

The structures of tokkoite, K2Ca4[Si7O18OH](OH,F) and tinaksite, K2Ca2NaTi[Si7O18OH]O from the Murun massif (Russia) were refined from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data in the triclinic space group P1̄. Average crystallographic data are a ≈ 10.423, b ≈ 12.477, c ≈ 7.112 Å, α ≈ 89.92°, β ≈ 99.68°, γ ≈ 92.97°, V ≈ 910.5 Å3 for tokkoite; a ≈ 10.373, b ≈ 12.176, c ≈ 7.057 Å, α ≈ 90.82°, β ≈ 99.22°, γ ≈ 92.80°, V ≈ 878.5 Å3 for tinaksite. The substantial similarities between the geometrical parameters of the tokkoite and tinaksite structures led us to conclude that the two minerals are isostructural. However, major differences of tokkoite with respect to tinaksite are larger lattice constants, especially concerning the b parameter, longer <M–O> distances, especially <M1–O>; larger values of the M1–M3 and O20–O2 bond lengths, and a stronger distortion of the M1 polyhedron. Mössbauer analysis showed that significant trivalent iron is present, VIFe3+ 40.0(7)% in tokkoite and 12.8(3)% in tinaksite. It is confirmed that 2Ca(M1+M2)2+ + (F,OH)(O20)–↔ Ti(M1)4+ + Na(M2)+ + O(O20)– is the exchange reaction that describes the relation between tokkoite and tinaksite. In addition, this exchange reaction causes local stress involving mainly the M1 site and its interaction with the M2 and M3 sites.

Opalinus clay has a high sealing capacity and is therefore considered as a viable candidate for hosting high-level radioactive waste. Assessment of the long-term containment function of clays requires understanding and modelling of mass transport through evolving pore systems. Development of pore network models for diffusion, which can be coupled to models for deformation and micro-cracking, is reported. Effects of clay texture and solid phase constitution are calculated and analysed. The results are in the range of, but slightly over-predicting, experimentally measured coefficients of diffusion in different clay directions. Further model improvements require better knowledge of micro-pore tortuosity, which awaits higher resolution experimental techniques.

Re-interpretation of the significance of phase assemblages present in two sequences of rocks having experienced similar burial diagenesis allows one to establish that the change of oxidation state of iron in sediments could have the effect of changing the smectite content of the mixed layer mineral. This is used to explain an almost isothermal change in the composition of a sequence while others do not show such a rapid change. An indicator of the reaction is seen in the composition of the chlorite present in the rocks which is iron-rich and alumina-poor compared to chlorites in rocks showing a slower rate of change in the smectite content of the mixed-layered mineral. In order to reveal such a relation, one must make an analysis of the clay mineral assemblage, especially in the number of phases present during the course of diagenesis.

A comparison of Rietveld refinement results for a bauxite-bearing regolith and its clayey cover in the Amazon region was made with stoichiometric calculations from chemical analysis and partly from thermogravimetric results. For this investigation a profile in the bauxite-bearing regolith occurrence in the ALCOA bauxite mine at Juruti, Brazil was studied. The different minerals, their compositions and their low crystallinity in the different horizons were investigated and the contents determined. It is evident that some minerals show several generations and some chemical composition changes that must be included in the Rietveld refinement. Al-rich hematites and goethites are common along the bauxite profile. Amorphous contents were determined with rutile added as an internal standard and shown to have gibbsite- or kaolinite-like composition. The minerals could be quantified in the different horizons and the difficulties were mainly related to variable crystalline aspects of the phases. Rietveld refinement can be a powerful tool in bauxite prospecting, quality control and during mining and beneficiation of ore minerals using the adapted refinement strategies.