Ramazzoite (IMA2017-090), [Mg8Cu12(PO4)(CO3)4(OH)24(H2O)20][(H0.33SO4)3(H2O)36], is a new polyoxometalate (POM) mineral from the Monte Ramazzo mine, near Genova, Liguria, Italy. It occurs on magnetite-rich matrix in association with chlorartinite, chrysotile, dypingite, goethite, lepidocrocite and nesquehonite, and is a late-stage, secondary mineral crystallizing from low-temperature, aqueous solutions. Ramazzoite forms as simple cubes up to about 0.15 mm on edge. The mineral is blue to greenish-blue with a vitreous to oily lustre and pale blue streak. Crystals are very brittle with conchoidal fracture, and a perfect cleavage on {100}. The Mohs’ hardness is 2½. The measured density is 1.98(1) g cm−3. The mineral is soluble with mild effervescence in dilute HCl at room temperature. Optically, ramazzoite is isotropic with n = 1.491(1) (white light). Electron microprobe analyses (with CO2 from structural data and H2O from density) gave the empirical formula [(Mg8.00)(Cu8.00Mg3.78)(PO4)(CO3)4(OH)24(H2O)20] [(H0.65S1.01O4)3(H2O)36], based on 1 P atom per formula unit (apfu). Ramazzoite is cubic, P-43m, with the unit-cell parameters: a = 13.3887(10) Å, V = 2400.0(5) Å3 and Z = 1. The crystal structure, refined to R1 = 0.064 for 803 observed reflections [I > 2σI], contains a novel [Mg8Cu12(PO4)(CO3)4(OH)24(H2O)20]5+ POM cation.
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Research Article|
July 01, 2018
Ramazzoite, [Mg8Cu12(PO4)(CO3)4(OH)24(H2O)20][(H0.33SO4)3(H2O)36], the first mineral with a polyoxometalate cation
Anthony R. Kampf;
1
Mineral Sciences Department, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA90007, USA
Corresponding author, e-mail: akampf@nhm.org
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George R. Rossman;
George R. Rossman
2
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology
, Pasadena, CA91125, USA
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Chi Ma;
Chi Ma
2
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology
, Pasadena, CA91125, USA
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Donato Belmonte;
Donato Belmonte
3
Dipartimento per lo Studio del Territorio e delle sue Risorse, Università degli Studi di Genova
, Corso Europa 26, 16132Genova, Italy
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Cristian Biagioni;
Cristian Biagioni
4
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Pisa
, via S. Maria 53, 56126Pisa, Italy
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Fabrizio Castellaro;
Fabrizio Castellaro
5
via XXV Aprile 28, 16046Mezzanego,
Italy
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Luigi Chiappino
Luigi Chiappino
6
via Palmanova 67, 20132Milano,
Italy
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1
Mineral Sciences Department, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA90007, USA
George R. Rossman
2
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology
, Pasadena, CA91125, USA
Chi Ma
2
Division of Geological and Planetary Sciences, California Institute of Technology
, Pasadena, CA91125, USA
Donato Belmonte
3
Dipartimento per lo Studio del Territorio e delle sue Risorse, Università degli Studi di Genova
, Corso Europa 26, 16132Genova, Italy
Cristian Biagioni
4
Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Università di Pisa
, via S. Maria 53, 56126Pisa, Italy
Fabrizio Castellaro
5
via XXV Aprile 28, 16046Mezzanego,
Italy
Luigi Chiappino
6
via Palmanova 67, 20132Milano,
Italy
Corresponding author, e-mail: akampf@nhm.org
Publisher: Deutsche Mineralogische Gesellschaft, Sociedad Española de Mineralogia, Societá Italiana di Mineralogia e Petrologia, Société Francaise de Minéralogie
Received:
06 Jan 2018
Accepted:
28 Jan 2018
First Online:
04 May 2018
Online ISSN: 1617-4011
Print ISSN: 0935-1221
© 2018 E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, D-70176 Stuttgart
European Journal of Mineralogy (2018) 30 (4): 827–834.
Article history
Received:
06 Jan 2018
Accepted:
28 Jan 2018
First Online:
04 May 2018
Citation
Anthony R. Kampf, George R. Rossman, Chi Ma, Donato Belmonte, Cristian Biagioni, Fabrizio Castellaro, Luigi Chiappino; Ramazzoite, [Mg8Cu12(PO4)(CO3)4(OH)24(H2O)20][(H0.33SO4)3(H2O)36], the first mineral with a polyoxometalate cation. European Journal of Mineralogy 2018;; 30 (4): 827–834. doi: https://doi.org/10.1127/ejm/2018/0030-2748
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Index Terms/Descriptors
- alteration
- carbonates
- chemical composition
- crystal structure
- electron probe data
- Europe
- formula
- Genoa Italy
- hydroxides
- infrared spectra
- Italy
- Liguria Italy
- low temperature
- new minerals
- optical properties
- oxides
- phosphates
- physical properties
- Raman spectra
- refinement
- secondary minerals
- Southern Europe
- spectra
- sulfates
- temperature
- polyoxometalates
- Monte Ramazzo Mine
- ramazzoite
Latitude & Longitude
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