Chesnokovite, Na2[SiO2(OH)2] · 8H2O, the first natural sodium orthosilicate from the Lovozero alkaline pluton, Kola Peninsula: Description and crystal structure of a new mineral species

Abstract

Chesnokovite, a new mineral species, is the first natural sodium orthosilicate. It has been found in an ussingite vein uncovered by underground mining at Mt. Kedykverpakhk, Lovozero alkaline pluton, Kola Peninsula, Russia. Natrolite, sodalite, vuonnemite, steenstrupine-(Ce), phosinaite-(Ce), natisite, gobbinsite, villiaumite, and natrosilite are associated minerals. Chesnokovite occurs as intergrowths with natrophospate in pockets up to 4 × 6 × 10 cm in size consisting of chaotic segregations of coarse lamellar crystals (up to 0.05 × 1 × 2 cm in size) flattened along [010]. The crystals are colorless and transparent. The aggregates are white to pale brownish yellowish, with a white streak and a vitreous luster. The cleavage is perfect parallel to (010) and distinct to (100) and (001). The fracture is stepped. The Mohs’ hardness is 2.5. The measured density is 1.68 g/cm3; the density calculated on the basis of an empirical formula is 1.60 g/cm3 and 1.64 g/cm3 on the basis of an idealized formula. The new mineral is optically biaxial, positive, α = 1.449, β = 1.453, γ = 1.458, 2Vmeas = 80°, and Z = b. The infrared spectrum is given. The chemical composition (Si determined with electron microprobe; Na, K, and Li, with atomic emission analysis; and H2O, with the Alimarin method) is as follows, wt %: 21.49 Na2O, 0.38 K2O, 0.003 Li2O, 21.42 SiO2, 54.86 H2O, total is 98.153. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of O2(OH)2 is as follows: (Na1.96K0.02)Σ1.98Si1.005O2(OH)2 · 7.58H2O. The simplified formula (Z = 8) is Na2[SiO2(OH)2] · 8H2O. The new mineral is orthorhombic, and the space group is Ibca. The unit-cell dimensions are: a = 11.7119, b = 19.973, c = 11.5652 A, and V = 2299.0 A3. The strongest reflections in the X-ray powder pattern [d, A (I, %)(hkl)] are: 5.001(30)(211), 4.788(42)(022), 3.847(89)(231), 2.932(42)(400), 2.832(35)(060), 2.800(97)(332, 233), and 2.774(100)(341, 143, 114). The crystal structure was studied using the Rietveld method, Rp = 5.77, Rwp = 7.77, RB = 2.07, and RF = 1.74. The structure is composed of isolated [SiO2(OH)2] octahedrons and the chains of edge-shared [Na[H2O)6] octahedrons. The Si and Na polyhedrons are linked only by H-bonds, and this is the cause of the low stability of chesnokovite under atmospheric conditions. The new mineral is named in memory of B.V. Chesnokov (1928–2005), an outstanding mineralogist. The type material of chesnokovite is deposited in the Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow.