Aklimaite, Ca4[Si2O5(OH)2](OH)4 · 5H2O, a new natural hydrosilicate from Mount Lakargi, the Northern Caucasus, Russia

Abstract

A new mineral aklimaite, Ca4[Si2O5(OH)2](OH)4 · 5H2O, has been found near Mount Lakargi, Upper Chegem caldera, Kabardino-Balkaria, the Northern Caucasus, Russia, in the skarnified limestone xenolith in ignimbrite. This hydrothermal mineral occurs in a cavity of altered larnite skarn and is associated with larnite, calcium humite-group members, hydrogarnets, bultfonteinite, afwillite, and ettringite. Aklimaite forms transparent, colorless (or occasionally with pinkish tint) columnar or lath-shaped crystals up 3 × 0.1 × 0.01 mm in size, flattened on {001} and elongated along {010}; they are combined in spherulites. The luster is vitreous; the cleavage parallel to the {001} is perfect. D calc = 2.274 g/cm3. The Mohs’ hardness is 3–4. Aklimaite is optically biaxial, negative, 2V meas > 70°, 2V calc = 78°, α = 1.548(2), β = 1.551(3), γ = 1.553(2). The IR and Raman spectra are given. The chemical composition (wt %, electron microprobe) is as follows: 0.06 Na2O, 0.02 K2O, 45.39 CaO, 0.01 MnO, 0.02 FeO, 24.23 SiO2, 0.04 SO3, 3.22 F, 27.40 H2O(calc.), −1.36 -O=F2; the total is 99.03. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of 2Si apfu with O + OH + F = 16 is as follows: (Ca4.02Na0.01)Σ4.03[Si2.00O5.07(OH)1.93][(OH)3.16F0.84] Σ4.00 · 5H2O. The mineral is monoclinic, space group C2/m, a = 16.907(5), b = 3.6528(8), c = 13.068(4) A, β = 117.25(4)·, V= 717.5(4) A3, Z = 2. Aklimaite is representative of the new structural type, the sorosilicate with disilicate groups [Si2O5(OH)2]. The strongest reflections in the X-ray powder patterns [d, A (hkl)] are: 11.64(100)(001), 2.948(32)(310, 203), 3.073(20) (\(\bar 404\), \(\bar 311\)), 2.320(12)(005, 510), 2.901 (11)(004), 8.30(10)\(\left( {\bar 201} \right)\). The type specimen is deposited in the Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow.