Volume 34 / No. 8 / 2015
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Structure and Physical Properties of Hydrogrossular Mineral Series
STRUCTURE AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF HYDROGROSSULAR MINERAL SERIES A THESIS IN PHYSICS Presented to the Faculty of the University of Missouri-Kansas City in Partial requirements for the degree MASTER OF SCIENCE By PUJA ADHIKARI M.Sc, Tribhuban University, Kathmandu, Nepal, 2010 Kansas City, Missouri 2015 ©2015 PUJA ADHIKARI ALL RIGHTS RESERVED Structure and physical properties of Hydrogrossular mineral series Puja Adhikari, Candidate for the Master of Science Degree University of Missouri-Kansas City, 2015 ABSTRACT The mineral hydrogrossular series (Ca3Al2(SiO4)3-x(OH) 4x; 0 ≤ x ≤ 3) are important water bearing minerals found in the upper and lower part of the Earth’s mantle. They are vital to the planet’s hydrosphere under different hydrothermal conditions. The composition and structure of this mineral series are important in geoscience and share many commonalities with cement and clay materials. Other than the end members of the series x = 0 (grossular) and x = 3 (katoite) which have a cubic garnet structure, the structure of the series is totally unknown. We used large-scale ab initio modeling to investigate the structures and properties for hydrogrossular series for x = 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3. Results indicate that for x > 0 and x < 3, the structures are tetragonal. This shows that there is structural change related to the lowering of overall symmetry associated with the composition of SiO4 tetrahedra and AlO6 octahedra. Total Bond order also explains the reason behind the change in the compressibility of the series. The electronic structure, mechanical and optical properties of the hydrogrossular series are calculated and the results for grossular and katoite are in good agreement with the available experimental data. -
Download PDF About Minerals Sorted by Mineral Name
MINERALS SORTED BY NAME Here is an alphabetical list of minerals discussed on this site. More information on and photographs of these minerals in Kentucky is available in the book “Rocks and Minerals of Kentucky” (Anderson, 1994). APATITE Crystal system: hexagonal. Fracture: conchoidal. Color: red, brown, white. Hardness: 5.0. Luster: opaque or semitransparent. Specific gravity: 3.1. Apatite, also called cellophane, occurs in peridotites in eastern and western Kentucky. A microcrystalline variety of collophane found in northern Woodford County is dark reddish brown, porous, and occurs in phosphatic beds, lenses, and nodules in the Tanglewood Member of the Lexington Limestone. Some fossils in the Tanglewood Member are coated with phosphate. Beds are generally very thin, but occasionally several feet thick. The Woodford County phosphate beds were mined during the early 1900s near Wallace, Ky. BARITE Crystal system: orthorhombic. Cleavage: often in groups of platy or tabular crystals. Color: usually white, but may be light shades of blue, brown, yellow, or red. Hardness: 3.0 to 3.5. Streak: white. Luster: vitreous to pearly. Specific gravity: 4.5. Tenacity: brittle. Uses: in heavy muds in oil-well drilling, to increase brilliance in the glass-making industry, as filler for paper, cosmetics, textiles, linoleum, rubber goods, paints. Barite generally occurs in a white massive variety (often appearing earthy when weathered), although some clear to bluish, bladed barite crystals have been observed in several vein deposits in central Kentucky, and commonly occurs as a solid solution series with celestite where barium and strontium can substitute for each other. Various nodular zones have been observed in Silurian–Devonian rocks in east-central Kentucky. -
Summer 2006 Gems & Gemology Gem News
EDITOR Brendan M. Laurs ([email protected]) CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Emmanuel Fritsch, IMN, University of Nantes, France ([email protected]) Henry A. Hänni, SSEF, Basel, Switzerland ([email protected]) Franck Notari, GIA GemTechLab, Geneva, Switzerland ([email protected]) Kenneth V. G. Scarratt, GIA Research, Bangkok, Thailand ([email protected]) COLORED STONES AND tusk fragments. The amber in figure 1 was eventually ORGANIC MATERIALS acquired by Barry Schenck of M. M. Schenck Jeweler Inc., Chattanooga, Tennessee, who recently loaned it to GIA for Alaskan amber. Few may think of Alaska as a source of examination. Mr. Schenck has counted more than 30 amber, but the Inuit people have long collected this organ- insects trapped inside the piece, as well as other organic ic gem from northern beach gravels between Harrison Bay materials, including an apparent seedpod. GIA subsequent- and Smith Bay on the Arctic Ocean. In Gemstones of ly purchased the piece (Collection no. 35840). North America (D. Van Nostrand Co., Princeton, NJ, Most of the insects were eye-visible, though others 1959), J. Sinkankas noted that locals refer to the amber as were best seen with magnification (up to 40×). Prominent auma, which translates as “live coal.” were a mosquito, spiders, beetles, gnats, ants, and possibly In 1943, an American soldier stationed in Alaska found a bee (see, e.g., figure 2). Other inclusions consisted of gas a 117.8 g chunk of amber (figure 1) while strolling along bubbles and debris that was probably associated with the the coast. Subsequent visits to the area yielded other trees from which the amber formed. -
Crystalline Silica, Cristobalite (CAS No
Crystalline Silica, Quartz (CAS No. 14808-60-7) Crystalline Silica, Cristobalite (CAS No. 14464-46-1) Crystalline Silica, Tridymite (CAS No. 15468-32-3) Diatomaceous earth (CAS No. 61790-53-2) This dossier on crystalline silica, quartz, cristobalite and tridymite and diatomaceous earth presents the most critical studies pertinent to the risk assessment of these substances in their use in drilling muds and cement additives. This dossier does not represent an exhaustive or critical review of all available data. The majority of information presented in this dossier was obtained from the ECHA database that provides information on chemicals that have been registered under the EU REACH (ECHA). Where possible, study quality was evaluated using the Klimisch scoring system (Klimisch et al., 1997). For the purpose of this dossier, crystalline silica, quartz (CAS No. 14808-60-7) has been reviewed as representative of crystalline silica cristobalite and tridymite. Crystalline silica, quartz is also considered representative of diatomaceous earth, as they both consist mainly of silicon dioxide. Screening Assessment Conclusion – Crystalline silica, quartz, cristobalite and tridymite and diatomaceous earth are classified as tier 1 chemicals and require a hazard assessment only. 1 BACKGROUND Crystalline silica is a common mineral found in the earth's crust. Materials like sand, stone, concrete and mortar contain crystalline silica. It is also used to make products such as glass, pottery, ceramics, bricks and artificial stone. Silica, in the form of sand, is used as the main ingredient in sand casting for the manufacture of metallic components in engineering and other applications. The high melting point of silica enables it to be used in such applications. -
Pezzottaite from Ambatovita, Madagascar: a New Gem Mineral
PEZZOTTAITE FROM AMBATOVITA, MADAGASCAR: A NEW GEM MINERAL Brendan M. Laurs, William B. (Skip) Simmons, George R. Rossman, Elizabeth P. Quinn, Shane F. McClure, Adi Peretti, Thomas Armbruster, Frank C. Hawthorne, Alexander U. Falster, Detlef Günther, Mark A. Cooper, and Bernard Grobéty Pezzottaite, ideally Cs(Be2Li)Al2Si6O18, is a new gem mineral that is the Cs,Li–rich member of the beryl group. It was discovered in November 2002 in a granitic pegmatite near Ambatovita in cen- tral Madagascar. Only a few dozen kilograms of gem rough were mined, and the deposit appears nearly exhausted. The limited number of transparent faceted stones and cat’s-eye cabochons that have been cut usually show a deep purplish pink color. Pezzottaite is distinguished from beryl by its higher refractive indices (typically no=1.615–1.619 and ne=1.607–1.610) and specific gravity values (typically 3.09–3.11). In addition, the new mineral’s infrared and Raman spectra, as well as its X-ray diffraction pattern, are distinctive, while the visible spectrum recorded with the spec- trophotometer is similar to that of morganite. The color is probably caused by radiation-induced color centers involving Mn3+. eginning with the 2003 Tucson gem shows, (Be3Sc2Si6O18; Armbruster et al., 1995), and stoppaniite cesium-rich “beryl” from Ambatovita, (Be3Fe2Si6O18; Ferraris et al., 1998; Della Ventura et Madagascar, created excitement among gem al., 2000). Pezzottaite, which is rhombohedral, is Bcollectors and connoisseurs due to its deep purplish not a Cs-rich beryl but rather a new mineral species pink color (figure 1) and the attractive chatoyancy that is closely related to beryl. -
The Anjahamiary Pegmatite, Fort Dauphin Area, Madagascar
The Anjahamiary pegmatite, Fort Dauphin area, Madagascar Federico Pezzotta* & Marc Jobin** * Museo Civico di Storia Naturale, Corso Venezia 55, I-20121 Milano, Italy. ** SOMEMA, BP 6018, Antananarivo 101, Madagascar. E-mail:<[email protected]> 21 February, 2003 INTRODUCTION Madagascar is among the most important areas in the world for the production, mainly in the past, of tourmaline (elbaite and liddicoatite) gemstones and mineral specimens. A large literature database documents the presence of a number of pegmatites rich in elbaite and liddicoatite. The pegmatites are mainly concentrated in central Madagascar, in a region including, from north to south, the areas of Tsiroanomandidy, Itasy, Antsirabe-Betafo, Ambositra, Ambatofinandrahana, Mandosonoro, Ikalamavony, Fenoarivo and Fianarantsoa (e.g. Pezzotta, 2001). In general, outside this large area, elbaite-liddicoatite-bearing pegmatites are rare and only minor discoveries have been made in the past. Nevertheless, some recent work made by the Malagasy company SOMEMEA, discovered a great potential for elbaite-liddicoatite gemstones and mineral specimens in a large, unusual pegmatite (the Anjahamiary pegmatite), hosted in high- metamorphic terrains. The Anjahamiary pegmatite lies in the Fort Dauphin (Tôlanaro) area, close to the southern coast of Madagascar. This paper reports a general description of this locality, and some preliminary results of the analytical studies of the accessory minerals collected at the mine. Among the most important analytical results is the presence of gemmy blue liddicoatite crystals with a very high Ca content, indicating the presence in this tourmaline crystal of composition near the liddicoatite end-member. LOCATION AND ACCESS The Anjahamiary pegmatite is located about 70 km NW of the town of Fort Dauphin (Tôlanaro) (Fig. -
Geology Club Mineral: Collecting Trip
Geology Club: Mineral Collecting Trip (10 October 2009) Trip Notes by Charles Merguerian STOP 1 – Grossular Garnet Locality, West Redding, Connecticut. [UTM Coordinates: 630.71E / 4575.38N, Bethel quadrangle]. Covering roughly 60 acres of land, this enigmatic massive fine-grained grossularite garnet + diopside rock in West Redding has made many mineral collectors and geologists take notice. Walk up the steep slope east of Simpaug Turnpike to see highly fractured, massive cinnamon-colored grossular garnet rock, part of a 0.6-km wide heart-shaped mass found at the faulted contact between the Stockbridge Marble (OCs) and injected muscovitic schist of the Rowe Schist member (OCr) of the Hartland Formation (Figure 1). According to Rodgers et al. (1985), we are very near Cameron’s Line (red and black line in Figure 1). Figure 1 – Geologic map of the area surrounding Stop 1 showing the Proterozoic gneissic rocks (Yg) and Cambrian Dalton Schist (Cd) to the west, the Stockbridge Marble (OCs), Cameron’s Line (CL in red), the injected schistose rocks of the Rowe Formation (OCr), and an Ordovician granitoid (Og) that may be responsible for this unusual Ca++-enriched skarn deposit. Note the NW-trending high-angle brittle faults that cut the region. (Adapted from Rodgers et al. 1985.) Two knolls at this locality are almost entirely composed of grossularite garnet (var. essonite) and lesser clinopyroxene. Mostly the garnet occurs alone with minor quartz and localized quartz veining has been observed. Chemical analysis of the garnet (SiO2 = 39.10%, CaO = 34.85%, Al2O3 = 19.61%, and total FeO+Fe2O3 = 5.44%), are quite similar to published analyses of grossular garnet, including the phenomenal grossular garnet crystals from Morelos, Mexico. -
Analytical Methods to Differentiate Romanian Amber and Baltic Amber for Archaeological Applications
Cent. Eur. J. Chem. • 7(3) • 2009 • 560-568 DOI: 10.2478/s11532-009-0053-8 Central European Journal of Chemistry Analytical methods to differentiate Romanian amber and Baltic amber for archaeological applications Research Article Eugenia D. Teodor1*, Simona C. Liţescu1, Antonela Neacşu2, Georgiana Truică1 Camelia Albu1 1 National Institute for Biological Sciences, Centre of Bioanalysis, Bucharest, 060031, Romania 2 University of Bucharest, Faculty of Geology and Geophysics, Bucharest, 010041, Romania Received 27 August 2008; Accepted 02 March 2009 Abstract: The study aims to establish several definite criteria which will differentiate Romanian amber and Baltic amber to certify the local or Baltic origin of the materials found in archaeological sites on the Romanian territory, by using light microscopy and performing analytical methods, such as Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy-variable angle reflectance and liquid chromatography with mass spectrometry detection. Experiments especially by Fourier transformed infrared spectroscopy, were applied to a wide range of samples with controlled origin. The methods were optimised and resulted in premises to apply the techniques to analysis of the archaeological material. Keywords: Romanian amber • FTIR-VAR • LC-MS • Light microscopy © Versita Warsaw and Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg. 1. Introduction (Oligocene). The resin-bearing strata are intercalated within the lower and medium part of the lower Kliwa Amber is a fossil resin originating from different types sandstone (0.20-1.40 m). They consist of siliceous clay of Conifers and certain flowering trees, especially in hot (0.20-1.40 m) always containing thin intercalations of climates. From the mineralogical point of view amber bituminous shales (2-5 cm) and of preanthracite coal could be considered a mineraloid. -
Minnesota's Mineral Resources
CHAPTER • 9 Minnesota's Mineral Resources IN MINNESOTA the production of iron ore is far more valuable economically than the total of all other mineral products, but im portant industries are based on Minnesota's other geological forma tions as well. Architectural, monumental, and structural stone are produced from granite, limestone, dolomite, and other Minnesota rocks. Gravel and sand are excavated and processed, and clay is used for many ceramic products. :Manganese in important amounts occurs in the iron ores of the Cuyuna district. Finally, although they are often not thought of as mineral products, two of our most im portant mineral resources are water and soil. The iron ores and mining operations of the Mesabi, Vermilion, and Cuyuna iron-bearing districts and of the southeastern lYlinnesota counties will be discussed in detail in later chapters, but a few sta tistics on Minnesota's iron ore industry may remind us how impor tant this geological heritage is. The following is an estimate of Min nesota's iron ore reserves, made on lYlay 1, 1961: Gross Tons Mesabi Range 500,799,179 Vermilion Range 9,755,974 Cuyuna Range 36,530,000 Fillmore County 'il,860,337 Total iron ore 549,945,490 172 MI NESOTA'S MINERAL RESOURCES The total production of iron ore in Minne ota to January 1, 1962, was 2,529,737,553 tons. Total taxes paid on iron ore to January 1, 1961 , were approximately $1,257,448,400, a very important source of funds for the state government. Slightly over 60 per cent of the total iron ore produced in the United States has come from l\1inne- ota. -
Phenomenal Gemstones Possess Striking Optical Effects, Making Them Truly a Sight for Sore Eyes
THE PHENOMENAL PROPERTIES OF GEMS Phenomenal gemstones possess striking optical effects, making them truly a sight for sore eyes. Here is GIA’s guide to understanding what makes each phenomenon so uniquely brilliant. ASTERISM CROSSING BANDS OF REFLECTED LIGHT CREATE A SIX-RAYED STAR-LIKE APPEARANCE. ASTERISM OCCURS IN THE DOME OF A CABOCHON, AND CAN BE SEEN IN GEMS LIKE RUBIES AND SAPPHIRES. ADULARESCENCE THE SAME SCATTERING OF LIGHT THAT MAKES THE SKY BLUE CREATES A MILKY, BLUISH-WHITE GLOW, LIKE MOONLIGHT SHINING THROUGH A VEIL OF CLOUDS. MOONSTONE IS THE ONLY GEM THAT DISPLAYS IT. AVENTURESCENCE FOUND IN NATURAL GEMS LIKE SUNSTONE FELDSPAR AND AVENTURINE QUARTZ, IT DISPLAYS A GLITTERY EFFECT CAUSED BY LIGHT REFLECTING FROM SMALL, FLAT INCLUSIONS. CHATOYANCY OTHERWISE KNOWN AS THE “CAT’S EYE” EFFECT, BANDS OF LIGHT ARE CAUSED BY THE REFLECTION OF LIGHT FROM MANY PARALLEL, NEEDLE-LIKE INCLUSIONS INSIDE A CABOCHON. NOTABLE GEMS THAT DISPLAY CHATOYANCY INCLUDE CAT’S EYE TOURMALINE AND CAT’S EYE CHRYSOBERYL. IRIDESCENCE ALSO SEEN IN SOAP BUBBLES AND OIL SLICKS, IT’S A RAINBOW EFFECT THAT IS CREATED WHEN LIGHT IS BROKEN UP INTO DIFFERENT COLORS. LOOK FOR IT IN FIRE AGATE AND OPAL AMMONITE (KNOWN BY THE TRADE AS AMMOLITE). LABR ADORESCENCE A BROAD FLASH OF COLOR THAT APPEARS IN LABRADORITE FELDSPAR, IT’S CAUSED BY LIGHT INTERACTING WITH THIN LAYERS IN THE STONE, AND DISAPPEARS WHEN THE GEM IS MOVED. INSIDER’S TIP: THE MOST COMMON PHENOMENAL COLOR IN LABRADORITE IS BLUE. PLAY OF COLOR THE FLASHING RAINBOW-LIKE COLORS IN OPAL THAT FLASH AT YOU AS YOU TURN THE STONE OR MOVE AROUND IT. -
Compilation of Reported Sapphire Occurrences in Montana
Report of Investigation 23 Compilation of Reported Sapphire Occurrences in Montana Richard B. Berg 2015 Cover photo by Richard Berg. Sapphires (very pale green and colorless) concentrated by panning. The small red grains are garnets, commonly found with sapphires in western Montana, and the black sand is mainly magnetite. Compilation of Reported Sapphire Occurrences, RI 23 Compilation of Reported Sapphire Occurrences in Montana Richard B. Berg Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology MBMG Report of Investigation 23 2015 i Compilation of Reported Sapphire Occurrences, RI 23 TABLE OF CONTENTS Introduction ............................................................................................................................1 Descriptions of Occurrences ..................................................................................................7 Selected Bibliography of Articles on Montana Sapphires ................................................... 75 General Montana ............................................................................................................75 Yogo ................................................................................................................................ 75 Southwestern Montana Alluvial Deposits........................................................................ 76 Specifi cally Rock Creek sapphire district ........................................................................ 76 Specifi cally Dry Cottonwood Creek deposit and the Butte area .................................... -
Origin of Color in Cuprian Elbaite from Sflo Jos6 De Batalha, Paraiba, Brazil
American Mineralogist, Volume 76, pages 1479-1484, I99I Origin of color in cuprian elbaite from Sflo Jos6 de Batalha, Paraiba, Brazil Gnoncn R. Rosslvr,tN Division of Geology and Planetary Sciences,l7O-25, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena,California 9l125, U.S.A Evrvrm.luel FnrrscH, J,lvrns E. Srncr.Bv GIA Research,Gemological Institute of America, 1660 Stewart Street,Santa Monica, California 90404-4088, U.S.A. Ansrn-q.cr Gem-quality elbaite from Paraiba, Brazil, containing up to 1.4 wt0i6Cu has been char- acterizedusing optical spectroscopyand crystal chemistry. The optical absorption spectra of Cu2t in these tourmalines consist of two bands with maxima in the 695- to 940-nm region that are more intense in the E I c direction. The vivid yellowish green to blue- greencolors of theseelbaite samplesarise primarily from Cu2*and are modified to violet- blue and violet hues by increasingabsorptions from Mn3*. IwrnooucrtoN in a small, decomposed granitic pegmatite (formerly quartz, The color of elbaite has hen extensively investigated. prospectedfor manganotantalite).The associated Most colors are determined by small amounts of transi- altered feldspar, and lepidolite have not been character- tion elements(Dietrich, 1985).In particular, blue to green ized. Most of the tourmalines occur as crystal fragments colors have been attributed to various processesinvolv- weighing less than a g.ram,although pieceslarge enough ing both Fe2*and Fe3*ions (Mattson and Rossman, 1987) to produce facetedgemstones up to 33 carats(6.6 g) have and Fe2*- Tia* chargetransfer (Mattson, as cited in Die- been found. In rare instances, small crystals are recov- trich, 1985, p.