Ardennite, tiragalloite and medaite: structural control of (As5+,V5+,Si4+)O4 tetrahedra in silicates

Abstract

AbstractSeveral silicate-minerals, such as ardennite – Mn2+4MgAl5[Si5(As5+,V5+)O22](OH)6, Z = 2, tiragalloite – Mn2+4[Si3As5+O12(OH)], Z = 4 and medaite – Mn2+6[Si5(V5+,As5+)O18(OH)], Z = 4 possess (V5+,As5+,P5+)O4 tetrahedra. Using electron-microprobe analysis (EMPA) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction methods, the crystal chemistry of ardennite from Salam-Château, Belgium and the Vernetto mine, Italy, tiragalloite from the Gambatesa mine, Italy, and medaite from the Molinello mine, Italy and the Fianel mine, Switzerland, were studied. Structure refinements converged to R1 values of 2.10–5.67%. According to chemical analysis, the Σ(As+V+P) content increases with decreasing Si content. Thus, Si replaces pentavalent cations in tetrahedral coordination. The (As5+,V5+,P5+,Si4+)O4 tetrahedra are categorized by their connections to SiO4 tetrahedra. The (As5+,V5+,P5+,Si4+)O4 tetrahedron of ardennite is isolated, and those of tiragalloite and medaite terminate a tetrahedral chain. The <T–O> of the isolated (As5+,V5+,P5+,Si4+)O4 tetrahedron shows a positive correlation with the mean ionic radius. For (As5+,V5+,P5+,Si4+)O4 tetrahedra with one T–O–T link, <T–O> and mean ionic radius are also correlated. In addition, the longest bridging T–O bond occurs between (As,V,P,Si)O4 and the adjacent SiO4 tetrahedron. The bridging O atom is over-bonded to satisfy the charge requirement of Σ(As+V+Si).