The crystal structure of satterlyite from the Big Fish River area, Yukon Territory, Canada, (Fe0.77Mg0.23)12 (PO3OH)(PO4)5(OH,O)6 (space group P31m, a = 11.355(1), c = 5.0394(5) Å, V = 562.71(9) Å3, Z = 1), has been solved and refined using single-crystal intensity data (Mo Kα X-radiation, CCD area detector, 2320 unique reflections with F0 > 4σ(F0), Rl = 2.15 %). The structure is based upon pairs of face-sharing, distorted (Fe,Mg)O6 octahedra linked by edge-sharing to form double chains along [001]. Each double chain shares ligands with six other double chains to produce a three-dimensional network hosting three unique PO4 tetrahedra which are corner-linked to the (Fe,Mg)O6 octahedra. The two unique (Fe,Mg)O6 octahedra are characterised by different occupancies; Fe:Mg ratios of the M(1) and M(2) sites are 0.838(2):0.162(2) and 0.706(2):0.294(2), respectively. Two H atoms are each bonded to common ligands of the two (Fe,Mg)O6 octahedra. The third, strongly disordered H(3) atom is bonded to the apical O of the P(l)O4 tetrahedron. The H(3) site and possibly both the other two H sites are only partially occupied, and only very weak hydrogen bonds exist. Satterlyite is isostructural with holtedahlite, Mg12(PO3OH,CO3)(PO4)5(OH,O)6. Unlike in natural holtedahlite, there is no carbonate-for-phosphate substitution in the satterlyite investigated, which was also confirmed by IR absorption powder spectra. A structural relationship exists with phosphoellenbergerite, Mg14(PO4)6(PO3OH)2(OH)6. Polarised IR spectra of oriented cut single crystals in the O-H stretching vibrational range revealed an asymmetric band at 3536 cm-1 (including a weak shoulder at ∼ 3568 cm-1) and an asymmetric band at ∼ 3471 cm-1. The number of hydroxyl vibrational bands and their positions are in accordance with the results of the structure refinement.

You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.