Lowering R3m Symmetry in Mg-Fe-Tourmalines: The Crystal Structures of Triclinic Schorl and Oxy-Dravite, and the Mineral luinaite-(OH) Discredited

Abstract

Discreditation of the monoclinic tourmaline mineral species luinaite-(OH), ideally (Na,▯)(Fe2+,Mg)3Al6(BO3)3Si6O18(OH)4 was approved by the IMA-CNMNC (proposal 21-L) and is described. We analyzed two luinaite-(OH) samples: one from the type locality Cleveland tin mine, Luina, Waratah, Tasmania, Australia, and the other from Blue Mountain Saddle (Bald Hornet Claim), North Bend, King County, Washington, DC, USA. Biaxial (−) crystals representative of the studied samples were spectroscopically (Mössbauer, polarized Fourier transform infrared, optical absorption spectroscopy), chemically (nuclear microprobe analysis and electron microprobe analysis), and structurally characterized (single-crystal X-ray diffraction). Results show the occurrence of a triclinic structure for the studied luinaite-(OH) samples, which differs only in terms of a slight structural distortion from typical trigonal tourmaline structure (the topology of the structure is retained). As a result, following the IMA-CNMNC and tourmaline nomenclature rules, the triclinic luinaite-(OH) from the type locality (Australia) can be considered as the triclinic dimorph of schorl, as its chemical composition corresponds to schorl, and thus it should be referred as schorl-1A. Similarly, the triclinic sample from the USA can be considered as the triclinic dimorph of oxy-dravite, as its chemical composition corresponds to oxy-dravite, and then is referred to as oxy-dravite-1A.