The rare hydrous scandium phosphate, kolbeckite, [Sc(PO4).2H2O], has been recognized for the first time from the Hagendorf-Pleystein pegmatite province. The mineral was formed by the alteration of quartz-rich relict cores of pegmatites containing rutile, ilmenite, columbite, pyrochlore, wolframite, monazite and apatite. The alteration process involved acidic meteoric water and was not related to low-temperature hydrothermal fluids. Scandium and phosphorous for the formation of the kolbeckite were provided by the decomposition of the primary oxides and phosphates, respectively. Hydrous Sc phosphates are considered to form only during advanced stages of weathering in Al- and Fe-poor environments. In Al- and Fe-rich environments Sc is scavenged from solution as a trace component of Al- and Fe phosphates. A special type of leucoxene containing Fe, Al and P was formed during the process of formation of kolbeckite. In the absence of phosphate anions, Sc is removed in solution and ‘normal’ leucoxene is formed.

Deformed jadeite grains in the UHP jadeite-quartzites from the Dabie Mountains, eastern China show evidence (by transmission electron microscopy, TEM) of plastic deformation: free dislocations, dislocation loops, dislocation networks, dislocation arrays and regularly spaced subgrain boundaries by dislocation walls. Electron energy-loss spectroscopy and TEM studies reveal the existence of water-rich bubbles within dislocations and imply a relationship with water-defect dislocation by water weakening in the jadeites. These observations suggest that the water-rich bubbles are a major weakening effect facilitating plastic deformation of jadeite by dislocation creep.

The crystallographic orientation of carlsbergite (CrN) in the north Chile meteorite (hexahedrite) was investigated using electron backscatter diffraction and transmission electron microscopy. These studies examined the CrN crystals in the rhabdites (idiomorphic schreibersite) and in kamacite. It was found that the CrN crystals embedded in rhabdite show a number of different orientation relationships with the host crystals. These orientations can be explained based on the lattice dimensions of both coexisting crystalline materials. It was also found that both carlsbergite and kamacite are characterized by a high dislocation density (≥ l09 cm-2) while rhabdite is free of dislocations. It is supposed that in spite of the deformed metallic matrix, a general connection between the orientation relation of all the phases involved exists.

Detrital chrome-spinels are contaminant grains within ilmenite concentrates produced from heavy-mineral deposits along the coast of southeast Africa. The presence of even minor levels of chromia in the predominantly ilmenite-rich concentrates, downgrades their market value as potential feedstocks for the production of titania pigment. An understanding of their composition can assist in their removal from the ilmenite concentrates.

Compositions from a database of close to 900 chrome-spinel analyses shows the major element components and their ranges (in wt.%) are: Cr: 0.4-45.3, Al: 0.0-31.0, Fe: 8.5-69.6 and Mg: 0.0-12.2. Minor components include Ti: 0.1-11.4 and Zn: 0.0-13.7.

The chrome-spinel data fall into two compositionally distinct groups. The first group of spinels is dominated by a strong trend reflecting the mutual substitution between Al3+ and Cr3+ in the spinel structure. The second group of spinels is characterized by compositions containing abundant Fe3O4magnetite component. The clear division between chrome-spinel compositional types indicates the grains are derived from at least two chemically dissimilar provenances.

The compositional differences between the chrome-spinel groups has a positive impact on subsequent ilmenite upgrading treatments as the spinels which contain the highest magnetite component are easily removed via low-intensity magnetic separation procedures.

The prismatic variety of fluoro-edenite, a new amphibole found in lavas from Mt Etna in Biancavilla (Catania Province, Sicily, Italy), has been characterized by μ-Raman and μ-FTIR spectroscopy. The wavenumbers at which the bands are detected in the μ-Raman and μ-FTIR spectra are compared with tremolite, asbestos the chemical and crystallographic characteristics of which are very similar to those of fluoro-edenite.

Single crystals of Sr feldspar (SrAl2Si2O8, space group: I2/c) were treated isothermally in the temperature range between 1410 and 1640°C, in order to determinate the evolution of the Al,Si configurations at equilibrium with thermal treatments. X-ray intensity data collection and structural refinement were performed on the quenched crystals. Significant modifications were observed in the average tetrahedral distances and therefore in Qod values.

Two different series of thermal treatments were performed: (1) a crystal of ordered Sr feldspar (Qod= 0.85) was progressively disordered at 1560°C (Qod = 0.82), at 1610°C (Qod = 0.74) and at 1640°C (Qod = 0.69); (2) another crystal with Qod = 0.72 (obtained by annealing a glass at T =1625°C), was ordered at T = 1600° (Qod = 0.75).

As already observed in anorthite quenched from 1530°C (Qod = 0.78), also in Sr feldspar, annealing near Tmelt, caused significant disorder in the Al-Si configuration (Qod = 0.69).

Observations by transmission electron microscopy show an increase in the average size of the i-type antiphase domains up to 5000Å in the samples quenched from 1640°C, in comparison with samples annealed at 1450°C (∼ 2000 Å). The modifications observed in the Al,Si configurations are due to intradomain disorder.

The crystal structure of perhamite, (Ca,Sr)3Al7.7Si3P4O23.5(OH)14.1 8H2O, from the Emmons mine, Maine, USA, has been determined using single crystal X-ray data. The average structure has trigonal symmetry, Pml, with cell parameters a=7.021(1) Å and c = 20.218(1) Å. It was refined to R1 = 0.044 for 618 observed reflections. The structure comprises ordered blocks of crandallite-type structure, centred at z = 0, intergrown parallel to (001) with disordered aluminosilicate structure blocks centred at z = 1/2 to form a microporous structure containing large channels along [100]. These channels are bounded by 8-member rings of 6 tetrahedra (2 SiO4, 2 A1O4 and 2 PO4) and 2 A1O6 octahedra. Calcium atoms and water molecules are distributed in the [100] channels. A model was developed for the local ordering of silicon into the fractionally occupied sites in the (001) layer at z = 1/2 and this model was refined in space group P321 to R1 = 0.041 for 933 observed reflections. The dominant contributors to the local order are Si3O9 rings of corner-shared tetrahedra, together with Si2O7 pairs of tetrahedra. These units corner-link to (Al,Si)O4 tetrahedra above and below the plane at z = 1/2 to form 4-member rings, which in turn corner-share to PO4 tetrahedra in the crandallite blocks to give the 8-member rings. The analysis suggests that 5-coordinated Si may also be present in the (001) plane at z = 1/2.

Small-angle neutron scattering has been used to study the microstructure of natural porous basalt rocks. The effect of temperature on the rock microstructure has been investigated on ‘as received’ and heat-treated basalts. The magnitudes of α, the power-law scattering exponent were between 3 and 4 for the majority of the rocks, indicating a surface fractal structure between the basalt matrix and the pore space. Heat-treated basalts show higher α values, and therefore a smoother pore surface. Internal surface areas were determined for all basalts depending on the thermal history.

Zirconium and Hf are nearly identical geochemically, and therefore most of the crust maintains near-chondritic Zr/Hf ratios of ∼35–40. By contrast, many high-silica rhyolites and granites have anomalously low Zr/Hf (15–30). As zircon is the primary reservoir for both Zr and Hf and preferentially incorporates Zr, crystallization of zircon controls Zr/Hf, imprinting low Zr/Hf on coexisting melt. Thus, low Zr/Hf is a unique fingerprint of effective magmatic fractionation in the crust. Age and compositional zonation in zircons themselves provide a record of the thermal and compositional histories of magmatic systems. High Hf (low Zr/Hf) in zircon zones demonstrates growth from fractionated melt, and Ti provides an estimate of temperature of crystallization (TTiZ) (Watson and Harrison, 2005). Whole-rock Zr/Hf and zircon zonation in the Spirit Mountain batholith, Nevada, document repeated fractionation and thermal fluctuations. Ratios of Zr/Hf are ∼307–40 for cumulates and 18–30 for high-SiO2 granites. In zircons, Hf (and U) are inversely correlated with Ti, and concentrations indicate large fluctuations in melt composition and TTiZ (>100°C) for individual zircons. Such variations are consistent with field relations and ion-probe zircon geochronology that indicate a >1 million year history of repeated replenishment, fractionation, and extraction of melt from crystal mush to form the low Zr/Hf high-SiO2 zone.

We have investigated the thermal expansion of nepheline-kalsilite crystalline solutions having 12.5% excess silicon relative to the stoichiometric composition. It is proposed that differences in the thermal expansion among various members of the series, and also between this series and a previously studied low-Si series, can be explained by three factors: (1) shrinkage of the tetrahedral rings caused by the substitution of Na for K, especially in the case of kalsilite, allows for greater expansion from the increased vibrational amplitude of Na ions with increasing temperature. (2) The occupancy of alkali sites by ions rather than vacancies draws tetrahedral rings inward via electrical attraction to these ions, providing the potential for greater expansion with ionic vibration as temperature increases. (3) Structural differences between nepheline and kalsilite, in particular the existence of two alkali sites in nepheline, account for the increased thermal expansion of K-enriched nepheline relative to Na-nepheline, as the occupation of the larger alkali position by K+ results in greater thermal expansion than is the case with Na+ occupancy of the same sites.

A uranopilite from The South Alligator River, Northern Territory, Australia, has been studied using X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM) with EDAX attachment, and thermogravimetry in conjunction with evolved gas mass spectrometry. The XRD shows that the mineral is a pure uranopilite with few if any impurities. The SEM images show that the uranopilite consists of elongated crystals, up to 50μm long and 5 μm wide. Thermogravimetry combined with mass spectrometry shows that dehydration occurs at ∼31°C resulting in the formation of metauranopilite. The first dehydration step over 20–71°C corresponds to a decrease of 5.4 wt.%, equivalent to 6.076 H2O. The second dehydration step, over the temperature range 71 –162.4°C corresponds to a decrease of 4.7 wt.%, equivalent to 5.288 H2O, making a total of 11.364 moles of H2O, close to 12 H2O for uranopilite.

Dehydroxylation takes place over the temperature range 80–160°C. The loss of sulphate occurs at higher temperatures in two steps at 622 and 636°C. A mass loss also occurs at 755°C, accounted for by evolved oxygen.

Deerite, a typical mineral of Fe-rich metacherts metamorphosed under blueschist conditions, is not rare, but known occurrences have up to now been restricted mainly to the Tethyan collisional zone and the Western Cordillera of North America. We describe a first occurrence in the high-pressure nappes of the Escambray Massif, Cuba, in the assemblage deerite + Mg-Al-poor riebeckite + magnetite + quartz ± garnet ± phengite ± aegirine. This assemblage typically forms during exhumation and accompanies late, stress-free annealing of the quartz matrix. Mg-Al-poor riebeckite overgrows older, large, oriented crystals of glaucophane, ferroglaucophane and Mg-Al-rich riebeckite (‘crossite’) during deerite formation. Early-formed hematite was largely replaced by magnetite. Deerite is very close to ideal composition, attaining >99% Si12O40(OH)5, allowing direct application of the experimentally determined P-T-fO2 stability field (Lattard and Le Breton, 1994). In combination with oxygen-isotope thermometry on magnetite-quartz, the crystallization conditions of the deerite-bearing assemblage can be constrained to ∼470°C, >15 kbar, and an oxygen fugacity restricted closely to the quartz-fayalite-magnetite buffer (fO2 ≈ 10−23 bar). Thus, the late-stage P-T path ofthe metacherts mirrors a steep P-T gradient of 10°C/km or less, requiring subduction ofthis part ofthe Antillean Island Arc to be still active during exhumation of the Escambray nappes.

Yukonite, a rare arsenic-bearing hydrous mineral, the crystal symmetry and variety in chemical composition of which have so far been insufficiently studied, has been found in the modern deposit of Nalychevskie hot springs in Central Kamchatka, Russia. This is the first finding of yukonite in Eastern Eurasia and Siberia. Yukonite specimens from Nalychevskie hot springs and from Venus Mine in Yukon Territory, Canada, have been investigated using an analytical transmission electron microscope (TEM). Yukonite is a crystalline substance with extremely thin (~5 nm) platy morphology. Yukonite from Venus Mine forms brittle aggregates in which grains are irregularly bent and randomly distributed. At Nalychevskie hot springs, yukonite occurs as single plates, coexisting with some amorphous material of similar composition. Intensity distributions in electron diffraction indicate that most plates of yukonite at Nalychevskie hot springs have orthorhombic symmetry, but some are hexagonal with ahex = 11.3 Å. The orthorhombic cell is C-centred with aorth = √3ahex, borth= ahex. High-resolution images of edge-on mounts indicate that the periodicity normal to the planes is d001=11.2 Å. Yukonite from Nalychevskie hot springs contains anomalously high Si relative to that in yukonite from Venus Mine and that reported previously. Strong negative correlation between As and Si indicates that Si substitutes for As in the structure.

Kamphaugite-(Y) occurs as white to cream-coloured spherical to semi-spherical aggregates of radial crystals in the La Cabrera granitic pluton (Spanish Central System). It mainly occurs on the free surfaces of alkali feldspar, quartz, calcite, kainosite-(Y) and laumontite, and inside miarolitic cavities. La Cabrera kamphaugite-(Y) has an average composition of Ca0.94Y0.89REE0.21(CO3)2 [F0.05(OH)0.95]·1.19H2O. Negative δ13CV-PDB values (–14 to –15‰) indicate a meteoric carbon source. Textural relations between kamphaugite-(Y) and coexisting minerals, its relatively high δ18OV-SMOW values (+25 to +26‰), and the occurrence of laumontite inclusions in kamphaugite-(Y), point to a genesis at < 50°C during very low-temperature post-magmatic hydrothermal activity.

Lapilli formed by a Strombolian eruption are associated with the formation of a large lava flow of natrocarbonatite on or about 21–22 July, 2000 at Oldoinyo Lengai volcano, Tanzania. Fresh lapilli consist of vesicular natrocarbonatite similar to that occurring in rapidly quenched lavas. The lapilli were altered at low temperature (<50°C) by degassing to aggregates of sodian sylvite, potassian halite, trona, thermonatrite and a novel F-bearing sodium phosphate-carbonate. The latter is considered to be a new mineral as it has a composition (Na5–4.5PO4(CO3,F,Cl) that is not similar to that of nahpoite (Na2HPO4), dorfmanite [Na2(PO3OH).2H2O] or natrophosphate [Na7(PO4)2F.19H2O]. However, in common with these minerals, it is ephemeral and undergoes rapid decomposition under normal atmospheric conditions. The sodium phosphate-carbonate and associated halide-sodium carbonate assemblages are considered to be a part of a previously unrecognized hyperagpaitic assemblage forming as sublimates at Oldoinyo Lengai.

This paper examines the effects of shear stress on the structural parameters that define the ‘crystallinity’ of graphite. The results show that highly crystalline graphite samples ground for up to 120 min do not undergo detectable changes in the three-dimensional arrangement of carbon layers but crystallite sizes (Lc and La) decrease consistently with increasing grinding time. Grinding also involves particle-size diminution that results in lower temperatures for the beginning of combustion and exothermic maxima in the differential thermal analysis curves. These changes in the structural and thermal characteristics of graphite upon grinding must be taken into account when such data are used for geothermometric estimations.

Tectonic shear stress also induces reduction of the particle size and the Lc and La values of highly crystalline graphite. Thus, the temperature of formation of graphite according to structural as well as thermal data is underestimated by up to 100°C in samples that underwent the most intense shear stress. Therefore, application of graphite geothermometry to fluid-deposited veins where graphite is the only mineral found should take into consideration the effect of tectonic shearing, or the estimated temperatures must be considered as minimum temperatures of formation only.

Water-related features were studied using infrared absorption spectroscopy in fibrous diamonds with micro-inclusions. Both OH-stretching and HOH-bending vibrations were observed. The lack of correlation between the intensities of HOH and OH bands in different samples and the complexity of the OH-stretching band indicate that a large fraction of water is present as hydroxyl groups in minerals.

Heating and cooling experiments were performed to elucidate the properties of fluids in micro-inclusions in diamonds. The results of experiments at various temperatures support the presence of several water-related components in individual diamonds. These spectroscopic investigations of fibrous diamonds revealed two or more interrelated water-related components preserved in micro-inclusions. The existence of several water phases or water solutions with different salinity and solutes within one diamond crystal is possible.

The chemistry and crystal structure of a unique Zn-rich kupletskite: (K1.55Na0 .21Rb0.09Sr0.01)Σ1.86(Na0.82Ca0.18)Σ1.00(Mn4.72Zn1.66Na0.41Mg0.12)Σ7.00 (Ti1.85Nb0.11Hf0.03)Σ1.99(Si7.99Al0.12)Σ8.11O26 (OH)4(F0.77OH0.23)Σ1.00, from analkalin e pegmatite at Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada has been determined. Zn-rich kupletskite is triclinic, , a = 5.3765(4), b = 11.8893(11), c = 11.6997(10), α = 113.070(3), β = 94.775(2), γ = 103.089(3), R1 = 0.0570 for 3757 observed reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo). From the single-crystal X-ray diffraction refinement, it is clear that Zn2+ shows a preference for the smaller, trans M(4) site (69%), yet is distributed amongst all three octahedral sites coordinated by 4 O2− and 2 OH− [M(2) 58% and M(3) 60%]. Of note is the lack of Zn in M(1), the larger and least-distorted of the four crystallographic sites, with an asymmetric anionic arrangement of 5 O2− and 1 OH−. The preference of Zn for octahedral sites coordinated by mixed ligands (O and OH) is characteristic of its behaviour in alkaline systems, in contrast to granitic systems where Zn tends to favour [4]-coordinated, OH− and H2O-free sites with only one ligand species (O, S, Cl, B, I). In alkaline systems, [4]Zn is only present in early sphalerite or in late-stage zeolite-like minerals. The bulk of Zn in alkaline systems is present as discrete [6]Zn phases such as members of the astrophyllite, labuntsovite, milarite and nordite groups, a result of the formation of network-forming complexes inthe low-temperature, low-fS2, high-alkalinity and highly oxidizing systems.

The high-temperature (HT) behaviour of kyanite (Al2SiO5) was investigated by in situ neutron powder diffraction up to 1200°C. Within the investigated T range, no phase transition was observed. The axial and volume thermal expansion coefficient (αj = lj-1(𝜕1j/𝜕T), αv = V-1 (𝜕V/𝜕T)), calculated by weighted linear regression through the data points, are: αa = 5.5(2) x 10-5, αb= 5.9(2) x 10-5, αc = 5.18(8) xl0-5, αv = 7.4(1) x 10-3 “C-1, with αa:αb:αc = 1.06:1.14:1. All three angles of the kyanite lattice show a slight decrease with T, with 𝜕α/𝜕T = -2(2) x 10-5, 𝜕β/𝜕T = -4(1) x 10-5, 𝜕γ/𝜕T = –10(2) x 10-5%C. The magnitudes of the principal Lagrangian unit-strain coefficients (ε1,ε2, ε3) and the orientations of the thermal strain-ellipsoids, between the ambient temperature and each measured T, were calculated. The magnitude and the orientation of all the three unit-strain coefficients are almost maintained constant with T. At T-To = 1177°C , ε^a = 76(2)°, ε^b = 70(2)°, ε^c = 38(3)°, ε2^a = 49(3)°, ε2^b = 66(3)°, ε2^c = 127(4)°, ε3^a = 135(3)°, ε3^b = 31(3)°, ε3^c = 91(2)° with ε1:ε2:ε3 = 1.57:1.29:1. The structural refinements, performed at 23, 600, 650, 700, 750, 800, 900, 950, 1050 and 1200°C allowed the description of the structural evolution and the main T-induced deformation mechanisms, which are mainly represented by the polyhedral distortions of the AlO6 octahedra.

An extensive belt of A-type granite exists along the southeast coast of China. The granites are divided into peralkaline and more aluminous subgroups which differ in mineral assemblages, mineral compositions and textures. In the peralkaline subgroup, primary magmatic Th-rich zircon is typically overgrown by Th-poor zircon containing thorite micro-inclusions. REE minerals in this subgroup are dominated by allanite-(Ce), chevkinite-(Ce), titanite and pyrochlore. Fe-Ti oxides are titanian magnetite and Mn-rich ilmenite. In contrast, in the more aluminous subgroup rocks, zircon is weakly zoned and exhibits very low Th but relatively high U contents. The REE minerals are dominated by Th-rich monazite-(Ce). Titanium-poor magnetite, pyrophanite and rutile are the major Fe-Ti oxides. These occurrences indicate that peralkaline magmas favour the formation of REE silicates, whereas magmas with higher alumina saturation stabilize REE phosphates. Peralkaline granites crystallized at temperatures 50–100°C greater than the more aluminous granites, but under lower oxidation conditions. These differences in formation conditions of the two A-type granite subgroups, deduced by accessory mineralcharacteristics, are inferred to be related to magma derivation at different crustal levels, with peralkaline magma deriving from a deeper crustal level with more mantle input.