X-Ray and Optical Data for Alkali Cation-Deficient Schorls from Jack Creek, Montana, U.S.A. and Ben Lomond, North Queensland, Australia

Abstract

AbstractX-ray powder diffraction and optical data are presented for alkali-deficient schorls from two tourmaline-dumortierite deposits. The compositions of both schorls reflect the presence of an alkali-defect substitution, whereby the alkali cation deficiencies in the crystal structure are charge balanced by trivalent for divalent cation substitutions in the octahedral sites. Refined unit cell and optical data are as follows: a = 15.9523(15), c = 7.1466(2) Å, F30 = 104(0.009, 32), M20= 68, ε = 1.638(2), ω = 1.660(2), Dx= 3.12 for the schorl from Jack Creek, near Basin, Montana, U.S.A. and a = 15.9800 (15), c = 7.1504(2) Å, F30= 156(0.006, 32), M20= 152, ε = 1.642(2), ω = 1.668(2), Dx= 3.17 for the schorl from Ben Lomond, Hervey Range, North Queensland, Australia. Indexed X-ray powder diffraction patterns are also presented.