Abstract
Fluoro-edenite [NaCa2Mg5(Si7Al)O22F2], a new end-member of the calcic amphibole group, is present with both prismatic and fi brous morphologies in the altered volcanic products of the Monte Calvario locality, Biancavilla, on the fl anks of Mount Etna, Sicily, Italy. Whereas the crystal chemistry of the prismatic variety was described recently, the fi brous variety has not been well characterized. We report original crystal-chemical and structural data on this fi brous amphibole. Because of the diffi culty in analyzing this micrometric material, specifi c procedures of sample preparation were developed. SEM–EDS microanalyses and Mossbauer spectroscopy indicate a variable composition of the fi bers, ranging mostly from fl uoro-edenite to, subordinately, winchite, tremolite, and richterite compositions. Given the impossibility of using a single-crystal X-ray method, the powderdiffraction data were evaluated by the Rietveld method. By combining the microchemical data, Mossbauer Fe 3+ /Fetot values, and with a refi nement of the structure, the following chemical formula was obtained from an averaged composition of all the fi brous amphibole analyzed: (Na0.307K0.157)� 0.464 (Ca1.505Na0.495)� 2.000 ( VI Al0.104Fe 3+ 0.333Fe 2+ 0.162Mg4.255Ti0.062Mn0.063)� 4.980 (Si7.520 IV Al0.480)� 8.000 O22 (F1.970Cl0.020)� 1.990. The cell parameters, positional parameters for all the atoms, and site scattering for O3, M1, M2, M3, M4, A, and A(m) were refi ned. In agreement with the site occupancies of cations based on both XRPD and Mossbauer data, Fe 2+ was assigned to the M2 and M3 sites, and all Fe 3+ was assigned to the M2 site. In particular, Fe 2+ content of each M2 site is far greater (0.125 apfu) than that of M3 (0.037 apfu). The analytical procedures utilized here can be adopted for all types of mineral fi bers, whether they belong to the asbestiform group of amphiboles or not. In addition to their mineralogical interest, these results are also relevant for environmental and health aspects. The interactions between mineral fi ber and the biological environment are strongly related to the crystal chemistry of the fi brous materials.
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