Esperanzaite, NaCa(2)Al(2)(As(5+)O(4))[As(5+)O(3)(OH)](OH)(2)F(4)(H(2)O), A New Mineral From Mina La Esperanza, Mexico: Descriptive Mineralogy and Atomic Arrangement
Esperanzaite, ideally NaCazA12(As5+0.i)[As5+03 (OH)] (OH)2FJH20), Z =2, is a new mineral from the Mina h Esperarq Durango State, Mexico. The mineral occurs as blue-green botryoidal crystalline masses on rhyolite, with separate spheres up to 1.5 mm Y Deceased in diameter. Mobs hardness is 4.5, specific gravity 3.240h, and 3.36( 3)C.IC. Optical properties were measured in 589 nm light. Esperanzaite is biaxial (-), .Y= Y = Z= colorless, a 1.580(1), ~ 1.588( 1), and y 1.593(1 ); 2V0hs is 74(1 ~ and 2 }'CUIC is 76.3". Dispersion is medium, r < v, and optic axes are oriented as a A Z = +50.5o, b = Y, c P. X = +35". The five strongest X-ray diffraction maxima in the powder pattern are (~ /, hk~: 2.966,100, 13 i, 31 i, 031 ; 3.527,90, 220; 2.700,90,221,002, 040; 5.364>80, 001, 020; 4.796,80,011. Esperanzaite is monoclinic, u 9.687(5), b 10.7379(6), c 5.5523(7)& ~ 105.32( 1 )", space group P21/nz. The atomic arrangement of esperanzaite was solved by Direct Methods and Fourier analysis (R= 0.03 1). The Fundamental Building Block is formed of stacks of heteropolyhedral tetramers; the tetramers are formed of two arsenate tetrahedral and two Al octahedra, comer-linked in 4-member rings. The Fundamental Building Blocks are linked by irregular lda~j and Ca@ polyhedra.
- Research Organization:
- Sandia National Laboratories (SNL), Albuquerque, NM, and Livermore, CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE
- DOE Contract Number:
- AC04-94AL85000
- OSTI ID:
- 1645
- Report Number(s):
- SAND98-2500J; ON: DE00001645
- Journal Information:
- Canadian Mineralogist, Journal Name: Canadian Mineralogist
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Ultra-flexible framework breathing in response to dehydration in liskeardite, [(Al,Fe){sub 16}(AsO{sub 4}){sub 9}(OH){sub 21}(H{sub 2}O){sub 11}]ยท26H{sub 2}O, a natural open-framework compound
Hydrothermal synthesis and crystal structures of new uranyl oxalate hydroxides: {alpha}- and {beta}-[(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(C{sub 2}O{sub 4})(OH){sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 2}] and [(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(C{sub 2}O{sub 4})(OH){sub 2}(H{sub 2}O){sub 2}].H{sub 2}O