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Chongite, Ca3Mg2(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2·4H2O, a new arsenate member of the hureaulite group from the Torrecillas mine, Iquique Province, Chile

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2018

Anthony R. Kampf ,
Barbara P. Nash ,
Maurizio Dini  and
Arturo A. Molina Donoso
Anthony R. Kampf*
Affiliation:
Mineral Sciences Department, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA
Barbara P. Nash
Affiliation:
Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah 84112, USA
Maurizio Dini
Affiliation:
Pasaje San Agustin 4045, La Serena, Chile
Arturo A. Molina Donoso
Affiliation:
Los Algarrobos 2986, Iquique, Chile
*
*E-mail: akampf@nhm.org
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Abstract

The new mineral chongite (IMA2015–039), Ca3Mg2(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2.4H2O, was found at the Torrecillas mine, Iquique Province, Chile, where it occurs as a secondary alteration phase in association with native arsenic, arsenolite, gajardoite, talmessite and torrecillasite. Chongite occurs as prismatic crystals up to ∼1 mm long grouped in tightly intergrown radial aggregates up to 2 mm in diameter. Crystals are transparent, with vitreous lustre and white streak. The Mohs hardness is ∼3½, tenacity is brittle and fracture is conchoidal. Cleavage is good on ﹛100﹜. The measured density is 3.09(2) g/cm3 and the calculated density is 3.087 g/cm3. Optically, chongite is biaxial (-) with α = 1.612(1), β= 1.626(1), γ= 1.635(1) and 2V = 76.9(1)° (measured in white light). Dispersion is r < v, distinct. The optical orientation is X= b;Z^a = 27° in obtuse angle β. The mineral is slowly soluble in dilute HCl at room temperature. The empirical formula, determined from electron-microprobe analyses, is (Ca2.90Mg1.93Mn0.14)Σ4.97As4O20H10.07. Chongite is monoclinic, die, a = 18.5879(6), b = 9.3660(3), c = 9.9622(7) Å, β = 96.916(7)°, V= 1721.75(14) Å3 and Z=4. The eight strongest powder X-ray diffraction lines are [dobs Å(I)(hkl)]: 8.35(29)(110), 4.644(62) (3ˉ11,020,400,2̄02), 4.396(26)(311), 3.372(62)(022,312,5̄11), 3.275(100)(420,22ˉ2,421), 3.113(57)(222), 2.384(30)(711,530,7̄12) and 1.7990(22)(9̄13,334,5̄34). The structure determination (R1 = 1.56% for 1849 Fo > 4σF reflections) confirms that chongite is a member of the hureaulite group.

Keywords

chongitenew mineralarsenatecrystal structurehureaulite groupTorrecillas mineChile
Type
Research Article
Information
Mineralogical Magazine , Volume 80 , Issue 7 , December 2016 , pp. 1255 - 1263
Copyright
Copyright © The Mineralogical Society of Great Britain and Ireland 2016

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