Ferro-ferri-katophorite, a new clinoamphibole from the silicocarbonatite dykes in Sierra de Maz, la Rioja, Argentina

Abstract

Ferro-ferri-katophorite (IMA 2016-008), ideally Na(NaCa)(Fe2+4Fe3+)(Si7Al)O22(OH)2, was found as xenocrysts up to 3 cm long and replacement rims around aegirine-augite in silicocarbonatite dikes cropping out in the Sierra de Maz, La Rioja province (NW Argentina). Ferro-ferri-katophorite is black, and has vitreous luster and pale green streak. The new mineral is brittle, with perfect {110} cleavage and has a Mohs´ hardness of 6. The measured density is 3.32(1) g/cm3. In plane-polarized light it is strongly pleochroic, X light greenish brown, Y dark grayish brown, Z dark greyish olive green. Absorption (very strong) is Z>Y>X. The orientation is: Z || b, X forms a small angle with [001]. Ferro-ferri-katophorite is biaxial (-), with α = 1.688(3), β = 1.697(3), γ = 1.698(3) and 2V(calc) = 36.7°. It is monoclinic, space group C2/m, a 9.8270(7), b 18.0300(8), c 5.316(4) Å, β 104.626(4)°, V 911.4(6) Å3, Z = 2. The strongest five lines in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern [d in Å (I)(hkl)] are: 8.416(100)(110), 3.135(50)(310), 2.815(26)(330), 2.720(18)(151), 1.4422(15)(-661). The chemical composition is SiO2 43.08, TiO2 2.76, ZrO2 0.15, Al2O3 8.76, V2O3 0.07, Fe2O3 9.28, FeO 13.85, MnO 0.43, MgO 6.88, CaO 6.58, ZnO 0.06, Na2O 5.55, K2O 1.18, Cl 0.01, H2O calc 1.36, total 99.95 wt.%. The formula unit (confirmed by single-crystal structural analysis) is (Na0.74K0.23)Σ0.97(Ca1.08Na0.91Mn0.01)Σ2.00(Fe1.782+Mg1.57Fe3+1.07Ti0.324+Al0.19Mn0.042+Zr0.01V0.013+Zn0.01)Σ5.00(Si6.61Al1.39)Σ8.00O22(OH1.59O0.61)Σ2.00. Aluminum is strongly ordered at the T(1) site. Ferro-ferri-katophorite is the 9th species carrying the katophorite root name, and is related to katophorite by the Fe2++ Fe3+→ Mg2++ Al3+substitution. Type material was deposited at the Museo de Mineralogía "Stelzner", Universidad Nacional de Córdoba (Argentina), under catalog number MS003341.