Phase equilibria in the system Pd–Ag–S were studied using the silica-glass tube method at 400°C and 550°C. In the system we synthesised three ternary phases: coldwellite (Pd3Ag2S), kravtsovite (PdAg2S) and a new phase Pd13Ag3S4. At 400°С, coldwellite forms a stable association with vysotskite (PdS) and vasilite (Pd16S7); vysotskite and kravtsovite; phase Pd4S and a Ag–Pd alloy; it also coexists with a new phase Pd13Ag3S4. Kravtsovite is stable up to 507°C; the presence of kravtsovite in the mineral assemblage reflects its formation below this temperature. The occurrence of coldwellite, vysotskite and Ag2S together in equilibrium reflects the formation of this mineral assemblage above this temperature (507°C). Coldwellite is stable up at 940°С. Mineral assemblages defined in this study can be expected in Cu–Ni–PGE mineral deposits, associated with mafic and ultramafic igneous rocks, in particular in mineralisations with known silver–palladium sulfides.

The new mineral percleveite-(La) (IMA2019–037), ideally La2Si2O7, was found in polymineralic nodules of the Mochalin Log REE deposit, Chelyabinsk Oblast, South Urals, Russia. It is associated with allanite-(Ce), allanite-(La), bastnäsite-(Ce), bastnäsite-(La), ferriallanite-(Ce), ferriallanite-(La), ferriperbøeite-(Ce), ferriperbøeite-(La), fluorbritholite-(Ce), hydroxylbastnäsite-(Ce), perbøeite-(Ce), perbøeite-(La), törnebohmite-(Ce) and törnebohmite-(La). Percleveite-(La) occurs as isolated anhedral grains commonly up to 0.2 mm × 0.4 mm and very rarely up to 1 mm × 1 mm. The new mineral is transparent with greasy lustre. The mineral is very pale yellow to colourless in thin fragments to light yellow in aggregates. It is brittle, with imperfect {001} cleavage and an uneven fracture. Mohs’ hardness is ca. 6. Dcalc = 5.094 g cm–3. Under the microscope, percleveite-(La) is non-pleochroic, optically uniaxial (+), ω = 1.825(10) and ɛ = 1.835(10). The Raman spectrum is given. Chemical data (wt.%, electron-microprobe) are: La2O3 36.80, Ce2O3 31.22, Pr2O3 1.57, Nd2O3 2.96, SiO2 26.73, total 99.28. The empirical formula based on 7 O apfu is (La1.02Ce0.86Nd0.08Pr0.04)Σ2.00Si2.00O7. Percleveite-(La) is tetragonal, P41; the unit-cell parameters are: a = 6.8482(3), c = 24.8550(13) Å, V = 1165.64(11) Å3 and Z = 8. The strongest reflections in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, Å(I)(hkl)] are: 4.194(18)(113), 3.564(16)(106), 3.349(16)(201,202), 3.157(100)(203,116,008), 3.043(22)(211), 2.934(39)(122), 2.893(29)(213) and 2.864(21)(117). The crystal structure of percleveite-(La) is solved from the single-crystal X-ray diffraction data [R = 0.0617 for 2831 unique reflections with I > 2σ(I)]. The new mineral is named as an analogue of percleveite-(Ce) with La predominance over the rare-earth elements.

The crystal structure of pyrostilpnite from the Plaka mine, Lavrion Mining District, Greece, was refined in the space group P21/c to a final R1 index of 0.0283 on the basis of 2047 reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo) and 65 refined parameters. Unit-cell parameters of the crystal examined are a = 6.8629(6), b = 15.8800(14), c = 6.2711(5) Å, β = 117.087(2)°, V = 608.48(9) Å3 and Z = 4. Chemical data agree with the stoichiometric formula Ag3SbS3. The crystal structure reported previously was confirmed, although a higher precision of refinement was achieved. It can be described as formed by {010} slabs running along c and connected along a through relatively longer Ag–S bonds. The analysis of the atomic displacement parameters together with a refinement with higher order tensors in the expression of the structure factors revealed no hint for pyrostilpnite as an ionic conductor. A historical background of the ‘ruby silvers’ is also reported.

The conclusion of Zaffiro et al. (2019; Constraints on the Equations of State of stiff anisotropic minerals: rutile, and the implications for rutile elastic barometry. Mineralogical Magazine, 83, 339–347) that the Mie–Grüneisen–Debye (MGD) Equation of State (EoS) cannot fit the available data for rutile is shown to be incorrect, even though rutile exhibits significant anisotropic thermal pressure which invalidates the quasi-harmonic approximation used as the basis for the MGD EoS. The refined parameters for the MGD EoS of rutile are: KTR0= 205.05(25) GPa, $K_{TR0}^{\prime} $ = 7.2(5), θD = 399(20) K, γ0= 1.40(2) and q = 1.5(7). This EoS predicts volumes, bulk moduli and volume thermal expansion coefficients for rutile at metamorphic conditions that are statistically indistinguishable from those predicted by the ‘isothermal’ type of EoS reported previously.

Tetrahedrite-(Hg), Cu6(Cu4Hg2)Sb4S13, has been approved as a new mineral species using samples from Buca della Vena mine (hereafter BdV), Italy, Jedová hora (Jh), Czech Republic and Rožňava (R), Slovakia. It occurs as anhedral grains or as tetrahedral crystals, black in colour, with metallic lustre. At BdV it is associated with cinnabar and chalcostibite in dolomite veins. At Jh, tetrahedrite-(Hg) is associated with baryte and chalcopyrite in quartz–siderite–dolomite veins; at R it is associated with quartz in siderite–quartz veins. Tetrahedrite-(Hg) is isotropic, greyish-white in colour, with creamy tints. Minimum and maximum reflectance data for Commission on Ore Mineralogy wavelengths in air (BdV sample), R in %) are 32.5 at 420 nm; 32.9 at 546 nm; 33.2 at 589 nm; and 30.9 at 650 nm. Chemical formulae of the samples studied, recalculated on the basis of 4 (As + Sb + Bi) atoms per formula unit, are: (Cu9.44Ag0.07)Σ9.51(Hg1.64Zn0.36Fe0.06)Σ2.06Sb4(S12.69Se0.01)Σ12.70 (BdV), Cu9.69(Hg1.75Fe0.25Zn0.06)Σ2.06(Sb3.94As0.06)S12.87 (Jh) and (Cu9.76Ag0.04) Σ9.80(Hg1.83Fe0.15Zn0.10)Σ2.08(Sb3.17As0.58Bi0.25)S13.01 (R). Tetrahedrite-(Hg) is cubic, I$\overline 4 $3m, with a = 10.5057(8) Å, V = 1159.5(3) Å3 and Z = 2 (BdV). Unit-cell parameters for the other two samples are a = 10.4939(1) Å and V = 1155.61(5) Å3 (Jh) and a = 10.4725(1) Å and V = 1148.55(6) Å3 (R). The crystal structure of tetrahedrite-(Hg) has been refined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction data to a final R1 = 0.019 on the basis of 335 reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo) and 20 refined parameters. Tetrahedrite-(Hg) is isotypic with other members of the tetrahedrite group. Mercury is hosted at the tetrahedrally coordinated M(1) site, along with minor Zn and Fe. The occurrence of Hg at this position agrees both with the relatively large M(1)–S(1) bond distance (2.393 Å) and the refined site scattering. Previous occurrences of Hg-rich tetrahedrite and tetrahedrite-(Hg) are reviewed, and its relations with other Hg sulfosalts are discussed.

The new minerals natromarkeyite, Na2Ca8(UO2)4(CO3)13(H2O)24⋅3H2O (IMA2018-152) and pseudomarkeyite, Ca8(UO2)4(CO3)12(H2O)18⋅3H2O (IMA2018-114) were found in the Markey mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA, where they occur as secondary phases on asphaltum. Natromarkeyite properties are: untwinned blades and tablets to 0.2 mm, pale yellow green colour; transparent; white streak; bright bluish white fluorescence (405 nm laser); vitreous to pearly lustre; brittle; Mohs hardness 1½ to 2; irregular fracture; three cleavages ({001} perfect, {100} and {010} good); density = 2.70(2) g cm–3; biaxial (–) with α = 1.528(2), β = 1.532(2) and γ = 1.533(2); and pleochroism is X = pale green yellow, Y ≈ Z = light green yellow. Pseudomarkeyite properties are: twinned tapering blades and tablets to 1 mm; pale green yellow colour; transparent; white streak; bright bluish white fluorescence (405 nm laser); vitreous to pearly lustre; brittle; Mohs hardness ≈ 1; stepped fracture; three cleavages ({10$\bar{1}$} very easy, {010} good, {100} fair); density = 2.88(2) g cm–3; biaxial (–) with α = 1.549(2), β = 1.553(2) and γ = 1.557(2); and it is nonpleochroic. The Raman spectra of markeyite, natromarkeyite and pseudomarkeyite are very similar and exhibit bands consistent with UO22+, CO32– and O–H. Electron microprobe analyses provided the empirical formula Na2.01Ca7.97Mg0.03Cu2+0.05(UO2)4(CO3)13(H2O)24⋅3H2O (–0.11 H) for natromarkeyite and Ca7.95(UO2)4(CO3)12(H2O)18⋅3H2O (+0.10 H) for pseudomarkeyite. Natromarkeyite is orthorhombic, Pmmn, a = 17.8820(13), b = 18.3030(4), c = 10.2249(3) Å, V = 3336.6(3) Å3 and Z = 2. Pseudomarkeyite is monoclinic, P21/m, a = 17.531(3), b = 18.555(3), c = 9.130(3) Å, β = 103.95(3)°, V = 2882.3(13) Å3 and Z = 2. The structures of natromarkeyite (R1 = 0.0202 for 2898 I > 2σI) and pseudomarkeyite (R1 = 0.0787 for 2106 I > 2σI) contain uranyl tricarbonate clusters that are linked by (Ca/Na)–O polyhedra forming thick corrugated heteropolyhedral layers. Natromarkeyite is isostructural with markeyite; pseudomarkeyite has a very similar structure.

New occurrences of derbylite, Fex2+Fe3+4–2xTi4+3+xSb3+O13(OH), and graeserite, Fex2+Fe3+4–2xTi4+3+xAs3+O13(OH), have been identified in the Monte Arsiccio mine, Apuan Alps, Tuscany, Italy. Derbylite occurs as prismatic to acicular black crystals in carbonate veins. Iron and Ti are replaced by V (up to 0.29 atoms per formula unit, apfu) and minor Cr (up to 0.04 apfu). Mössbauer spectroscopy confirmed the occurrence of Fe2+ (up to 0.73 apfu), along with Fe3+. The Sb/(As+Sb) atomic ratio ranges between 0.73 and 0.82. Minor Ba and Pb (up to 0.04 apfu) substitute. Derbylite is monoclinic, space group P21/m, with unit-cell parameters a = 7.1690(3), b = 14.3515(7), c = 4.9867(2) Å, β = 104.820(3)° and V = 495.99(4) Å3. The crystal structure was refined to R1 = 0.0352 for 1955 reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo). Graeserite occurs as prismatic to tabular black crystals, usually twinned, in carbonate veins or as porphyroblasts in schist. Graeserite in the first kind of assemblage is V rich (up to 0.66 apfu), and V poor in the second kind (0.03 apfu). Along with minor Cr (up to 0.06 apfu), this element replaces Fe and Ti. The occurrence of Fe2+ (up to 0.68 apfu) is confirmed by Mössbauer spectroscopy. Arsenic is dominant over Sb and detectable amounts of Ba and Pb have been measured (up to 0.27 apfu). Graeserite is monoclinic, space group C2/m, with unit-cell parameters for two samples: a = 5.0225(7), b = 14.3114(18), c = 7.1743(9) Å, β = 104.878(3)°, V = 498.39(11) Å3; and a = 5.0275(4), b = 14.2668(11), c = 7.1663(5) Å, β = 105.123(4)° and V = 496.21(7) Å3. The crystal structures were refined to R1 = 0.0399 and 0.0237 for 428 and 1081 reflections with Fo > 4σ(Fo), respectively. Derbylite and graeserite are homeotypic. They share the same tunnel structure, characterised by an octahedral framework and cuboctahedral cavities, hosting (As/Sb)O3 groups and (Ba/Pb) atoms.

The paper opens a series devoted to the mineral diversity of the Mochalin Log rare earth element (REE) deposit, South Urals, Russia. There is a brief outline of the history of studies and geology of the deposit as well as the description of two new isostructural gatelite-group minerals, ferriperbøeite-(La) (CaLa3)(Fe3+Al2Fe2+)[Si2O7][SiO4]3O(OH)2 and perbøeite-(La) (CaLa3)(Al3Fe2+)[Si2O7][SiO4]3O(OH)2. Both minerals occur in polymineralic nodules and are associated with one another and allanite-(Ce), allanite-(La), bastnäsite-(Ce), bastnäsite-(La), ferriallanite-(Ce), ferriallanite-(La), ferriperbøeite-(Ce), perbøeite-(Ce), törnebohmite-(Ce) and törnebohmite-(La). The new minerals form isolated anhedral grains up to 0.3 mm [ferriperbøeite-(La)] and 0.5 mm [perbøeite-(La)] across and granular aggregates up to 1.5 mm × 0.5 mm [ferriperbøeite-(La)] and 3 mm × 1 mm [perbøeite-(La)]. Both minerals are brownish-black with vitreous lustre. Dcalc = 4.510 [ferriperbøeite-(La)] and 4.483 [perbøeite-(La)] g cm–3. They are optically biaxial (+); ferriperbøeite-(La): α = 1.788(5), β = 1.790(5), γ = 1.810(5) and 2Vmeas = 40(10)°; perbøeite-(La): α = 1.778(8), β = 1.783(8), γ = 1.805(8) and 2Vmeas = 40(10)°. Chemical data [wt.%, electron-microprobe; Fe3+:Fe2+ ratio from charge-balance requirements, H2O by stoichiometry; ferriperbøeite-(La)/perbøeite-(La)] are: CaO 4.91/4.81, ThO2 0.00/0.32, La2O3 23.75/22.16, Ce2O3 19.69/20.05, Pr2O3 0.85/1.09, Nd2O3 1.48/2.18, MgO 1.47/1.38, Al2O3 10.68/11.25, MnO 1.07/0.92, FeO 3.04/3.35, Fe2O3 5.31/3.78, TiO2 0.19/0.19, SiO2 27.47/27.35, F 0.11/0.23, H2O 1.61/1.54, –O = F –0.05/–0.10, total 101.58/100.50. The empirical formulae based on O20(OH,F)2 are for ferriperbøeite-(La): (Ca0.95La1.58Ce1.30Nd0.10Pr0.06)Σ3.99(Al2.27Fe3+0.72Fe2+0.46Mg0.40Mn0.16Ti0.03)Σ4.04Si4.96O20[(OH)1.94F0.06]; and for perbøeite-(La): (Ca0.94Th0.01La1.49Ce1.34Nd0.14Pr0.07)Σ3.99(Al2.42Fe3+0.52Fe2+0.51Mg0.38Mn0.14 Ti0.03)Σ4.00Si4.99O20[(OH)1.87F0.13]. Both minerals are monoclinic, P21/m; the unit-cell parameters [ferriperbøeite-(La)/perbøeite-(La)] are: a = 8.9458(2)/8.9652(4), b = 5.72971(13)/5.7306(2), c = 17.6192(3)/17.6770(9) Å, β = 115.9497(19)/116.053(6)°, V = 812.06(3)/815.88(6) Å3 and Z = 2/2. The crystal structures are solved on a single crystal and converged to R = 0.0355 [ferriperbøeite-(La)] and 0.0750 [perbøeite-(La)]. Ferriperbøeite-(La) and perbøeite-(La) are named as the La-analogues of ferriperbøeite-(Ce) and perbøeite-(Ce), respectively.

The new triazolate mineral bojarite (IMA2020-037), Cu3(N3C2H2)3(OH)Cl2⋅6H2O, is found in a guano deposit located at the Pabellón de Pica Mountain, Iquique Province, Tarapacá Region, Chile. Associated minerals are salammoniac, halite, nitratine and belloite. Bojarite occurs as blue fine-grained porous aggregates up to 1 mm × 3 mm × 5 mm combined typically in interrupted earthy crusts. The mineral is brittle. The Mohs hardness is 2. Dcalc = 2.057 g cm–3. The IR and Raman spectra show the presence of the 1,2,4-triazolate anion and H2O molecules. Bojarite is optically isotropic and n = 1.635(2) (λ = 589 nm). The chemical composition (electron-microprobe data for Na, Mg, Fe, Cu and Cl; H, C and N contents measured by gas chromatography on products of ignition at 1200°C; wt.%) is: Na 0.22, Mg 0.74, Fe 0.99, Cu 29.73, Cl 13.62, N 20.4, C 11.6, H 3.3, O (calculated by stoichiometry) 19.93, total 100.53.

The empirical formula is (Cu2.68Mg0.17Fe0.10Na0.05)Σ3(N3C2H2)2.755[(OH)][Cl2.19(H2O)3.77(OH)0.04]Σ6⋅2.3H2O. The idealised formula is Cu3(N3C2H2)3(OH)Cl2⋅6H2O. The crystal structure of bojarite was refined based on powder X-ray diffraction data, using the Rietveld method. The final agreement factors are: Rp = 0.0225, Rwp = 0.0310 and Robs = 0.0417. The new mineral is cubic, space group Fd$\bar{3}$c; a = 24.8047(5) Å, V = 15,261.6(5) Å3 and Z = 32. The strongest reflections of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, Å (I,%)(hkl)] are: 8.83 (31)(220), 7.19 (100)(222), 6.23 (35)(400), 5.077 (28)(422), 4.194 (28)(531), 3.584 (23)(444), 2.865 (28)(660, 751) and 2.723 (22)(753, 842).

Uroxite (IMA2018-100), [(UO2)2(C2O4)(OH)2(H2O)2]⋅H2O, and metauroxite (IMA2019-030), (UO2)2(C2O4)(OH)2(H2O)2, are the first two uranyl oxalate minerals. Uroxite was found in the Markey mine, Red Canyon, San Juan County, Utah, USA and in the Burro mine, Slick Rock district, San Miguel County, Colorado, USA. Metauroxite was found only in the Burro mine. Both minerals are post-mining secondary phases found in efflorescent crusts on mine walls. Uroxite occurs as light yellow striated blades exhibiting moderate neon-green fluorescence, ca 2 Mohs hardness with good {101} and {010} cleavages. Calculated density = 4.187 g/cm3. Optics are: biaxial (–), α = 1.602(2), β = 1.660(2), γ = 1.680(2) (white light), 2Vmeas. = 59(1)°, 2Vcalc = 59.1°, moderate r > v dispersion, orientation Y = b, Z ∧ a = 35° in obtuse β and it is nonpleochroic. Metauroxite occurs as light yellow crude blades and tablets exhibiting weak green–grey fluorescence, ca 2 Mohs hardness with good {001} cleavage. Calculated density = 4.403 g/cm3. Approximate optics are: α′ = 1.615(5) and γ′ = 1.685(5). Electron probe microanalysis provided UO3 79.60, C2O3 10.02, H2O 10.03, total 99.65 wt.% for uroxite and UO3 82.66, C2O3 10.40, H2O 7.81, total 100.87 wt.% for metauroxite; C2O3 and H2O are based on the structures. Uroxite is monoclinic, P21/c, a = 5.5698(2), b = 15.2877(6), c = 13.3724(9) Å, β = 94.015(7)°, V = 1135.86(10) Å3 and Z = 4. Metauroxite is triclinic, P${\bar 1}$, a = 5.5635(3), b = 6.1152(4), c = 7.8283(4) Å, α = 85.572(5), β = 89.340(4), γ = 82.468°, V = 263.25(3) Å3 and Z = 1. The strongest reflections of the powder XRD pattern [d, Å (I, %)(hkl)] are for uroxite: 10.05(38)(011), 5.00(100)(022, ${\bar 1}$11), 4.75(23)(031), 4.43(51)(120, ${\bar 1}$02), 3.567(33)(131), 3.341(29)(033, ${\bar 1}$32, 004), 2.623(28)(${\bar 2}$02, 015, ${\bar 1}$43, 220) and for metauroxite: 6.06(45)(010), 5.52(33)(100), 4.97(34)(011), 4.52(100)(0${\bar 1}$1, 101), 3.888(80)(111, 002, ${\bar 1}$10), 3.180(51)(${\bar 1}$02, 0${\bar 1}$2), 2.604(32)(${\bar 2}$01, ${\bar 1}$${\bar 2}$1). In the structure of uroxite (R1 = 0.0333 for 2081 I > 2σI reflections), UO7 pentagonal bipyramids share corners forming [U4O24] tetramers, which are linked by C2O4 groups to form corrugated sheets. In the structure of metauroxite (R1 = 0.0648 for 1602 I > 2σI reflections) UO7 pentagonal bipyramids share edges forming [U2O12] dimers, which are linked by C2O4 groups to form zigzag chains.

Bowlesite is a new mineral discovered in the Merensky Reef of the Rustenburg Platinum Mine, Bushveld complex, South Africa. Bowlesite forms tiny grains (maximum dimension 20 μm). It is associated with sulfides including chalcopyrite, pyrrhotite and pentlandite, in contact with silicates including plagioclase, pyroxene- and minor serpentine-subgroup and amphibole-supergroup minerals. Bowlesite is brittle and has a metallic lustre. In plane-polarised light, bowlesite has a light bluish grey colour. It shows weak bireflectance, no pleochroism and has weak anisotropism. Internal reflections were not observed. Reflectance values of bowlesite in air (R1, R2 in %) are: 50.3–51.4 at 470 nm, 48.5–48.9 at 546 nm, 47.9–48.6 at 589 nm and 47.8–48.7 at 650 nm. Ten spot analyses of bowlesite give the average composition: Pt 56.85, Pd 0.02, Sn 34.03 and S 9.15, total 100.05 wt.%, corresponding to the empirical formula (Pt1.001Pd0.001)Σ1.002Sn0.997S1.001, based on 3 atoms per formula unit. The simplified formula is PtSnS. Due to the small size of bowlesite, the crystal structure was solved and refined from the powder X-ray-diffraction data of synthetic PtSnS. The calculated density is 10.06 g⋅cm–3. The mineral is orthorhombic, space group: Pca21 (#29) with a = 6.11511(10), b = 6.12383(10), c = 6.09667(11) Å, V = 228.31(1) Å3 and Z = 4. Bowlesite is isotypic with cobaltite, CoAsS. The origin of bowlesite is probably related to low-T exsolution of Pt–Sn phases from high-T sulfides crystallised from the sulfide melt. The mineral honours Dr. John Bowles (Manchester University, UK) for his contributions to ore mineralogy and mineral deposits related to mafic–ultramafic rocks.

Bulachite specimens from Cap Garonne, France, comprise two intimately mixed hydrated aluminium arsenate minerals with the same Al:As ratio of 2:1 and with different water contents. The crystal structures of both minerals have been solved using data from low-dose electron diffraction tomography combined with synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction. One of the minerals has the same powder X-ray diffraction pattern (PXRD) as for published bulachite. It has orthorhombic symmetry, space group Pnma with unit-cell parameters a = 15.3994(3), b = 17.6598(3), c = 7.8083(1) Å and Z = 4, with the formula [Al6(AsO4)3(OH)9(H2O)4]⋅2H2O. The second mineral is a higher hydrate with composition [Al6(AsO4)3(OH)9(H2O)4]⋅8H2O. It has the same Pnma space group and unit-cell parameters a = 19.855(4), b = 17.6933(11) and c = 7.7799(5) Å i.e. almost the same b and c parameters but a much larger a parameter. The structures are based on polyhedral layers, parallel to (100), of composition [Al6(AsO4)3(OH)9(H2O)4] and with H-bonded H2O between the layers. The layers contain [001] spiral chains of edge-shared octahedra, decorated with corner connected AsO4 tetrahedra that are the same as in the mineral liskeardite. The spiral chains are joined together by octahedral edge-sharing to form layers parallel to (100). Synchrotron PXRD patterns collected at different temperatures during heating of the specimen show that the higher-hydrate mineral starts transforming to bulachite when heated to 50°C, and the transformation is complete between 75 and 100°C.

Cuyaite (IMA2019-126), Ca2Mn3+As3+14O24Cl, is a new arsenite mineral from near Cuya in the Camarones Valley, Arica Province, Chile. It is associated with anhydrite, native arsenic, arsenolite, calcite, claudetite, ferrinatrite, gajardoite-3R, leiteite, magnesiocopiapite, phosphosiderite, pyrite, realgar and talmessite and formed from the oxidation of As-bearing primary phases and alteration by saline fluids derived from evaporating meteoric water under hyperarid conditions. Cuyaite occurs as pale brown thin needles (elongated on [010]), typically in divergent sprays and subparallel intergrowths. The streak is white. Crystals are transparent with adamantine lustre; subparallel intergrowths exhibit silky lustre. The mineral has Mohs hardness of 2½, is brittle, exhibits no cleavage and has irregular fracture. The calculated density is 4.140 g cm–3. Cuyaite is optically biaxial (–), with α = 1.87(1), β = 1.956(calc) and γ = 1.98(1), determined in white light; 2Vmeas = 60(1)°; and orientation: X = b and Y ^ a = 53° in obtuse β. Electron microprobe analyses provided the empirical formula Ca2.03Mn3+0.95(As3+13.66Sb3+0.65)Σ14.31O24Cl0.88. The six strongest powder X-ray diffraction lines are [dobs Å(I)(hkl)]: 4.73(45)(111, $\bar{1}$12), 3.162(100)($\bar{3}$14), 3.035(28)(213), 3.004(37)(204), 2.931(90)($\bar{2}$15, 312) and 2.779(28)(020). Cuyaite is monoclinic, Pn, a = 14.7231(6), b = 5.58709(19), c = 17.4185(12) Å, β = 112.451(8)°, V = 1324.23(14) Å3 and Z = 2. In the crystal structure of cuyaite (R1 = 0.0369 for 2095 I > 2σI reflections), AsO3 pyramids share O corners to form a ‘loose’ 3D framework; Jahn–Teller distorted Mn3+O6 octahedra and CaO8 polyhedra link by edges and corners to form columns; the columns also link by edge- and corner-sharing to the AsO3 pyramids in the framework; Cl occupies channels along [010] in the framework. The Raman spectrum is consistent with the presence of multiple As3+O3 groups.

The occurrence and characterisation of a new member of the dundasite group are reported. Grguricite, ideally CaCr2(CO3)2(OH)4⋅4H2O, is the Cr analogue of alumohydrocalcite, CaAl2(CO3)2(OH)4⋅4H2O and occurs as lilac crusts of very fine-grained crystalline aggregates in the Pb–Ba–V mineralisation found at the Adeghoual Mine, Mibladen, Morocco (32°46′0″N, 4°37′59″W). The identification was based upon a close match with the powder X-ray diffraction data for alumohydrocalcite, the confirmation of anion components identified by Raman spectroscopy and the cation composition determined by electron-probe microanalysis. The empirical formula based upon 14 oxygen atoms per formula unit is Ca0.84Pb0.03Cr1.65Al0.39Mg0.02(CO3)2(OH)4⋅4H2O, with carbonate, hydroxyl and water contents set to those of the alumohydrocalcite stoichiometry. The fine-grained nature of the crystals (c. 0.5 μm × 0.1 μm × 5 μm) precluded a single-crystal X-ray study and both density and optical determinations. Grguricite is triclinic with space group P${\bar 1}$. Unit-cell parameters refined from the powder diffraction data are: a = 5.724(2), b = 6.5304(9), c = 14.646(4) Å, α = 81.682(1), β = 83.712(2), γ = 86.365(2)°, V = 537.8(2) Å3 and Z = 2. The five strongest peaks in the powder pattern are [dhkl, Å (I/Imax)(hkl)]: 6.222(100)(011), 3.227(87)(020), 6.454(63)(010), 2.883(58)(005, 023, 121) and 7.208(45)(002). The mineral is named after Australian geologist Ben Grguric.

The new mineral pansnerite, ideally K3Na3Fe3+6(AsO4)8, was found in the Arsenatnaya fumarole at the Second scoria cone of the Northern Breakthrough of the Great Tolbachik Fissure Eruption, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka, Russia. It is associated with aphthitalite, hematite, sanidine, badalovite, khrenovite, achyrophanite, arsenatrotitanite, ozerovaite, tilasite, calciojohillerite, johillerite, nickenichite, svabite, katiarsite, yurmarinite, anhydrite, rutile, cassiterite and pseudobrookite. Pansnerite forms tabular to lamellar (flattened on {010}), usually pseudo-hexagonal crystals up to 0.2 mm × 0.7 mm × 1 mm and crystal clusters up to 2 mm across. It is transparent to translucent, light green, pale greenish, yellowish–greenish or yellowish, with vitreous lustre. The mineral is brittle, with perfect {010} cleavage. The Mohs’ hardness is ca 3. Dcalc is 3.596 g cm–3. Pansnerite is optically biaxial (–), α = 1.702(4), β = 1.713(4), γ = 1.717(4), 2Vmeas = 45(10)° and 2Vcalc = 62°. Chemical composition (holotype, wt.%, electron microprobe data) is: Na2O 6.39, K2O 8.52, CaO 0.08, MgO 0.08, MnO 0.02, NiO 0.02, CuO 1.35, ZnO 0.34, Al2O3 7.35, Cr2O3 0.04, Fe2O3 16.72, SiO2 0.16, P2O5 0.22, V2O5 0.09, As2O5 57.76, SO3 0.04, total 99.20. The empirical formula based on 32 O apfu is K2.86Na3.26Ca0.02(Fe3+3.31Al2.28Cu0.27Zn0.07Mg0.03Cr0.01)Σ5.97(As7.95P0.05Si0.04V0.02S0.01)Σ8.06O32. Pansnerite is orthorhombic, Cmce, a = 10.7372(3), b = 20.8367(8), c = 6.47335(15) Å, V = 1448.27(7) Å3 and Z = 2. The strongest reflections of the X-ray powder diffraction pattern [d,Å(I)(hkl)] are: 10.49(100)(020), 5.380(88)(111), 4.793(65)(220), 3.105(46)(311, 002), 3.079(32)(112, 061), 2.932(35)(260), 2.783(65)(202) and 2.694(52)(400, 222). The crystal structure was solved from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data, R1 = 2.82%. The structure is based on heteropolyhedral layers formed by MO6 octahedra (M = Fe3+ and Al) sharing common vertices and connected by AsO4 tetrahedra. Na+ and K+ cations are located in the interlayer space. The mineral is named in honour of the German–Russian mineralogist and geographer Lavrentiy Ivanovich Pansner (1777–1851). Pansnerite forms a solid-solution series with the isotypic mineral ozerovaite, ideally KNa2Al3(AsO4)4.

The cerite supergroup is established and includes the cerite group (silicates) and merrillite group (phosphates). Cerite-group minerals are cerite-(Ce), ferricerite-(La), aluminocerite-(Ce) and taipingite-(Ce). The merrillite group is subdivided into two subgroups: merrillite (merrillite, ferromerrillite, keplerite and matyhite) and whitlockite (whitlockite, strontiowhitlockite, wopmayite and hedegaardite). Cerite-(La) has been renamed ferricerite-(La). The new nomenclature has been approved by the International Mineralogical Association Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification.