A chemical and structural re-examination of fettelite samples from the type locality, Odenwald, southwest Germany

L. Bindi, R. T. Downs, P. G. Spry, W. W. Pinch, S. Menchetti

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Scopus citations

Abstract

The crystal structure and chemical composition of two samples of fettelite from the type locality, including a portion of the holotype material, was investigated to verify if a previously proposed revision of the chemical formula was applicable, and to study the role of cation substitution for Hg that would suggest new members of the fettelite family. The crystal structure of fettelite from the type locality was found to be equivalent to that reported previously for the Chilean occurrence, and consists of an alternation of two kinds of layers along c: layer A with general composition [Ag6As 2S7]2- and layer B with general composition [Ag10HgAs2S8]2+. In this structure, the Ag atoms occur in various coordination configurations, varying from quasi-linear to quasi-tetrahedral, the AsS3 groups form pyramids as are typically observed in sulfosalts, and Hg links two sulfur atoms in a linear coordination. The refined compositions for the crystals in this study, [Ag 6As2S7][Ag10(Fe 0.53Hg0.47)As2S8] (R100124) and [Ag6As2S7][Ag10(Hg 0.79Cu0.21)As2S8] (R110042), clearly indicate that new mineral species related to fettelite are likely to be found in nature.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)551-566
Number of pages16
JournalMineralogical Magazine
Volume76
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - 2012

Keywords

  • Germany
  • Glasberg quarry
  • Hg-sulfosalts
  • Odenwald
  • crystal structure
  • fettelite
  • pearceite
  • polybasite

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geochemistry and Petrology

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