Abstract
Zalesiite is found to exist as hexagonal prismatic crystals (length: up to 1 mm; width: 10 μm) and fibrous aggregates in the alteration zone in crystalline limestone near gehlenite-spurrite skarns at the Fuka mine, Okayama Prefecture, Japan. The mineral is pale green to emerald green in color with a silky to vitreous luster. Andradite, aragonite, bornite, cahnite, chalcocite, chalcopyrite, conichalcite, johnbaumite, and an unidentified Ca-Cu arsenate mineral coexist in the abovementioned limestone. From SEM-EDS analysis, the empirical formula of zalesiite is found to be (Ca0.74Bi0.26)Σ1.00(Cu5.80Ca0.18Ni0.01Zn0.01)Σ6.00[(As2.86Si0.12P0.02)Σ3.00(O11.14OH0.86)Σ12.00](OH)6·3H2O on the basis of the following calculation: 10 (M1 + M2 + X) + 6 (OH) + 3 (H2O). Zalesiite collected from the Fuka mine contains Bi and is free of REE. The unit cell parameters of the zalesiite crystals are a = 13.656(9), c = 5.850(4) A, V = 945(1) A3, and Z = 2. It is inferred that zalesiite is formed by the reaction between crystalline limestone, cahnite, johnbaumite, Cu sulfide, and a Bi-rich hydrothermal solution.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callMore From: Journal of Mineralogical and Petrological Sciences
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
