Ambrinoite, (K,NH4)2(As,Sb)8S13·H2O, a new mineral from Upper Susa Valley, Piedmont, Italy: The first natural (K,NH4)-hydrated sulfosalt
-
Cristian Biagioni
,
Marco Pasero
Abstract
Ambrinoite, ideally (K,NH4)2(As,Sb)8S13·H2O, occurs as a rare sulfosalt species in the Triassic evaporitic formation of Gessi (gypsum) outcropping near the hamlet of Signols (Oulx, Susa Valley, Torino, Piedmont, Italy). The new species is associated with sulfur and orpiment; in the same occurrence galkhaite, stibnite, and enargite were also identified. Ambrinoite occurs as aggregates of tabular crystals up to 1 mm in length. The color is red, with an orange-red streak; the luster is vitreous to resinous. The mineral is transparent; its microhardness VHN(10 g) = 30 kg/mm2, corresponding to a Mohs hardness of about 2. Electron microprobe analysis gives the empirical formula [K1.43(NH4)0.42Na0.02Tl0.01]Σ=1.88(As5.82Sb2.18)Σ=8.00S13.22·1.2H2O, close to stoichiometric [K1.5(NH4)0.5]Σ=2(As6Sb2)Σ=8S13·H2O; the calculated density is 3.276 g/cm3. Micro-Raman spectroscopy confirmed the presence of water and ammonium cation. Ambrinoite is triclinic, space group P1̄, with a = 9.704(1), b = 11.579(1), c = 12.102(2) Å, α = 112.82(1), β = 103.44(1), γ = 90.49(1)°, V = 1211.6(3) Å3, Z = 2. The strongest X-ray powder diffraction lines [d in Å (I) (hkl)] are: 10.78 (100) (001), 5.79 (55) (02̄1), 4.23 (35) (102), 5.31 (34) (1̄02), 5.39 (32) (002). Its crystal structure has been solved by X-ray single-crystal diffraction on the basis of 2667 unique reflections, with a final R = 0.035. It is formed by two kinds of modules: slabs (110)PbS of modified PbS archetype (type A slabs) and openwork slabs with channels accomodating (K,NH4)+ cations and H2O molecules (type B slabs). Its structure can be described as an order-disorder (OD) structure, built up by two different kinds of layers. Taking into account only the short (As,Sb)-S bonds, (As,Sb)S3 triangular pyramids form double chains similar to those described in other natural and synthetic compounds, among which its homeotype gillulyite, as well as gerstleyite. Ambrinoite belongs to the hutchinsonite merotypic family. It is probably the product of late-stage hydrothermal fluid circulation. The name of this new mineral species (IMA 2009-071) honors Pierluigi Ambrino (b. 1947), the mineral collector who kindly provided us with the studied specimens.
© 2015 by Walter de Gruyter Berlin/Boston
Articles in the same Issue
- Comparative in situ X-ray diffraction study of San Carlos olivine: Influence of water on the 410 km seismic velocity jump in Earth’s mantle
- Visualizing trace element distribution in quartz using cathodoluminescence, electron microprobe, and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry
- Krotite, CaAl2O4, a new refractory mineral from the NWA 1934 meteorite
- Translation interface modulation in NC-pyrrhotites: Direct imaging by TEM and a model toward understanding partially disordered structural states
- Crystal chemistry of Ti-rich fluorophlogopite from Presidente Olegario, Alto Paranaíba igneous province, Brazil
- First-principles study of diffusion and viscosity of anorthite (CaAl2Si2O8) liquid at high pressure
- Aluminous and alkali-deficient tourmaline from the Singhbhum Shear Zone, East Indian shield: Insight for polyphase boron infiltration during regional metamorphism
- Effect of lactate, glycine, and citrate on the kinetics of montmorillonite dissolution
- Acid neutralization by dissolution of alkaline paper mill wastes and implications for treatment of sulfide-mine drainage
- Fast ion conduction character and ionic phase-transition in silver sulfosalts: The case of fettelite [Ag6As2S7][Ag10HgAs2S8]
- Structure of walstromite, BaCa2Si3O9, and its relationship to CaSiO3-walstromite and wollastonite-II
- Cathodoluminescence properties and trace element signature of hydrothermal quartz: A fingerprint of growth dynamics
- Formation conditions for triple-chain silicates
- In situ determination of the spinel–post-spinel transition in Fe3O4 at high pressure and temperature by synchrotron X-ray diffraction
- PVT equation of state of epsilon iron and its densities at inner core conditions
- Pressure-induced structural phase transition of the iron end-member of ringwoodite (g-Fe2SiO4) investigated by X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy
- Non-bridging oxygen and high-coordinated aluminum in metaluminous and peraluminous calcium and potassium aluminosilicate glasses: High-resolution 17O and 27Al MAS NMR results
- The crystal structure of δ-Al(OH)3: Neutron diffraction measurements and ab initio calculations
- Electrical properties of natural and synthetic nano-crystalline MgTiO3 geikielite at mantle pressure and temperature conditions
- Density measurement of liquid FeS at high pressures using synchrotron X-ray absorption
- Cranswickite MgSO4·4H2O, a new mineral from Calingasta, Argentina
- Ambrinoite, (K,NH4)2(As,Sb)8S13·H2O, a new mineral from Upper Susa Valley, Piedmont, Italy: The first natural (K,NH4)-hydrated sulfosalt
- Single-crystal Raman spectroscopy of natural schafarzikite FeSb2O4 from Pernek, Slovak Republic
- Nomenclature of the tourmaline-supergroup minerals
- Quantitative Raman spectroscopy: Challenges, shortfalls, and solutions—Application to calcium silicate glasses
- Icosahedrite, Al63Cu24Fe13, the first natural quasicrystal
- Sulfides from martian and lunar basalts: Comparative chemistry for Ni, Co, Cu, and Se
Articles in the same Issue
- Comparative in situ X-ray diffraction study of San Carlos olivine: Influence of water on the 410 km seismic velocity jump in Earth’s mantle
- Visualizing trace element distribution in quartz using cathodoluminescence, electron microprobe, and laser ablation-inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry
- Krotite, CaAl2O4, a new refractory mineral from the NWA 1934 meteorite
- Translation interface modulation in NC-pyrrhotites: Direct imaging by TEM and a model toward understanding partially disordered structural states
- Crystal chemistry of Ti-rich fluorophlogopite from Presidente Olegario, Alto Paranaíba igneous province, Brazil
- First-principles study of diffusion and viscosity of anorthite (CaAl2Si2O8) liquid at high pressure
- Aluminous and alkali-deficient tourmaline from the Singhbhum Shear Zone, East Indian shield: Insight for polyphase boron infiltration during regional metamorphism
- Effect of lactate, glycine, and citrate on the kinetics of montmorillonite dissolution
- Acid neutralization by dissolution of alkaline paper mill wastes and implications for treatment of sulfide-mine drainage
- Fast ion conduction character and ionic phase-transition in silver sulfosalts: The case of fettelite [Ag6As2S7][Ag10HgAs2S8]
- Structure of walstromite, BaCa2Si3O9, and its relationship to CaSiO3-walstromite and wollastonite-II
- Cathodoluminescence properties and trace element signature of hydrothermal quartz: A fingerprint of growth dynamics
- Formation conditions for triple-chain silicates
- In situ determination of the spinel–post-spinel transition in Fe3O4 at high pressure and temperature by synchrotron X-ray diffraction
- PVT equation of state of epsilon iron and its densities at inner core conditions
- Pressure-induced structural phase transition of the iron end-member of ringwoodite (g-Fe2SiO4) investigated by X-ray diffraction and Mössbauer spectroscopy
- Non-bridging oxygen and high-coordinated aluminum in metaluminous and peraluminous calcium and potassium aluminosilicate glasses: High-resolution 17O and 27Al MAS NMR results
- The crystal structure of δ-Al(OH)3: Neutron diffraction measurements and ab initio calculations
- Electrical properties of natural and synthetic nano-crystalline MgTiO3 geikielite at mantle pressure and temperature conditions
- Density measurement of liquid FeS at high pressures using synchrotron X-ray absorption
- Cranswickite MgSO4·4H2O, a new mineral from Calingasta, Argentina
- Ambrinoite, (K,NH4)2(As,Sb)8S13·H2O, a new mineral from Upper Susa Valley, Piedmont, Italy: The first natural (K,NH4)-hydrated sulfosalt
- Single-crystal Raman spectroscopy of natural schafarzikite FeSb2O4 from Pernek, Slovak Republic
- Nomenclature of the tourmaline-supergroup minerals
- Quantitative Raman spectroscopy: Challenges, shortfalls, and solutions—Application to calcium silicate glasses
- Icosahedrite, Al63Cu24Fe13, the first natural quasicrystal
- Sulfides from martian and lunar basalts: Comparative chemistry for Ni, Co, Cu, and Se
