Fluorcanasite, K3Na3Ca5Si12O30(F,OH)4 · H2O, a new mineral species from the Khibiny alkaline pluton, Kola Peninsula, Russia, and new data on canasite

Abstract

Fluorcanasite is described, a new mineral species found in dumps of the Kirovsk apatite mine, Mt. Kukisvumchorr, Khibiny alkaline pluton, Kola Peninsula, Russia. The new mineral is associated with microcline, nepheline, aegirine, scherbakovite, lamprophyllite, pectolite, mosandrite, villiaumite, rasvumite, and molybdenite. It occurs as prismatic crystals up to 0.2−0.3 × 1−2 mm in size extending along [010]. Fluorcanasite is purple, transparent, with white streak and vitreous luster. The fracture is hackly along the extension and stepped in other directions. The mineral is brittle. The cleavage is eminent parallel to {100} and {201} and perfect parallel to {001}. D(meas) = 2.68(2) g/cm3 (volumetric method); D(calc) = 2.69 g/cm3. Fluorcanasite is biaxial, negative, n α = 1.538(1), n β = 1.546(1), n γ = 1.549(1), 2V(meas) = 60(2)°, 2V(calc) = 63°. Dispersion r > v. The new mineral is pleochroic according to the scheme N β > N γ > N α; N β is purple, N γ is lilac, and N α is amber-yellow. Orientation is as follows: b = N β, a∧N γ = 3°, c∧N α = 19°. Fluorcanasite is not luminescent in UV light and slowly decomposes in acid. The new mineral is monoclinic, space group Cm, a = 18.846(4), b = 7.242(1), c = 12.650(2) A, β = 111.84(2)°, V = 1602.6(4) A3, Z = 2. The strongest reflections [d, A(I)] in the X-ray powder pattern of a grainoriented sample are 2.915(100), 4.204(40), 5.872(36), 4.712(36), 2.358(32), 3.012(24), 2.310(24), 3.082(24) and the same reflections in a randomly oriented sample are 3.082(100), 2.915(85), 4.712(46), 4.204(41), 3.340(35), 5.872(33), 2.658(30). The chemical composition, determined with an electron microprobe, is as follows, wt %: 7.19 Na2O, 10.91 K2O, 19.55 CaO, 0.27 FeO, 2.08 MnO, 55.84 SiO2, 4.10 F, 2.22 H2O (determined on the basis of structural data), 1.73-O = F2; the total is 100.43. The empirical formula, calculated on the basis of Si = 12, is K2.99Na3.00(Ca4.50Mn0.38·Fe 0.05 2+ )Σ4.93Si12O29.93(F2.79OH1.21)Σ4 · 0.98H2O. The idealized formula is K3Na3Ca5Si12O30(F,OH)4 · H2O, F > OH or K3Na3Ca5(Si12O30)F4 · H2O. The IR spectrum of the mineral, description of its crystal structure, and comparison with its close analogues, canasite and frankamenite, are given in the paper. New optical parameters and crystal data are presented for the type specimen of canasite from the Materialnaya adit, Mt. Yukspor, Khibiny. Type material is deposited at the Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow.