Russoite, NH4ClAs23+O3(H2O)0.5, a new phylloarsenite mineral from Solfatara Di Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy. (15th May 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Campostrini, Italo; Demartin, Francesco; Scavini, Marco
• Is Part Of: Mineralogical magazine. Volume 83:Number 1(2019)
• Page Start: 89
• Page End: 94
• Publication Date: 2018-05-15
• Subjects: russoite, -- new mineral, -- arsenite, -- lucabindiite, -- torrecillasite, -- gajardoite; Mineralogy -- Periodicals; Mineralogy -- Great Britain -- Periodicals; 549.05
• DOI: 10.1180/minmag.2017.081.097
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0026-461X

Abstract

Abstract: The new mineral russoite (IMA2015-105), NH4 ClAs2 3+ O3 (H2 O)0.5, was found at the Solfatara di Pozzuoli, Pozzuoli, Napoli, Italy, as a fumarolic phase associated with alacránite, dimorphite, realgar, mascagnite, salammoniac and an amorphous arsenic sulfide. It occurs as hexagonal plates up to ~300 µm in diameter and 15 µm thick, in rosette-like intergrowths. On the basis of powder X-ray diffraction measurements and chemical analysis, the mineral was recognised to be identical to the corresponding synthetic phase NH4 ClAs2 O3 (H2 O)0.5 . Crystals are transparent and colourless, with vitreous lustre and white streak. Tenacity is brittle and fracture is irregular. Cleavage is perfect on {001}. The measured density is 2.89(1) g/cm 3 ; the calculated density is 2.911 g/cm 3 . The empirical formula, (based on 4.5 anions per formula unit) is [(NH4 )0.94, K0.06 ]Σ1.00 (Cl0.91, Br0.01 )Σ0.92 As2.02 O3 (H2 O)0.5 . Russoite is hexagonal, space group P 622, with a = 5.2411(7), c = 12.5948(25) Å, V = 299.62(8) Å 3 and Z = 2. The eight strongest X-ray powder diffraction lines are [ d obs Å( I )( hkl )]: 12.63(19)(001), 6.32(100)(002), 4.547(75)(100), 4.218(47)(003), 3.094(45)(103), 2.627(46)(110), 2.428(31)(112) and 1.820(28)(115). The structure, was refined to R = 0.0518 for 311 reflections with I > 2σ( I ) and shows a different location of the ammonium cation and water molecules with respect to that reported for the synthetic analogue. The mineral belongs to a small group of phylloarsenite minerals (lucabindiite, torrecillasite and gajardoite). It contains electrically neutral As2 O3 layers, topologically identical to those found in lucabindiite and gajardoite between which are ammonium cations and outside of which Cl – anions. Water molecules and additional ammonium cations are located in a layer between two levels of chloride anions.