Raygrantite, Pb10Zn(SO4)6(SiO4)2(OH)2, a new mineral isostructural with iranite, from the big horn mountains, Maricopa county, Arizona, USA

Hexiong Yang, Marcelo B. Andrade, Robert T. Downs, Ronald B. Gibbs, Robert A. Jenkins

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

6 Scopus citations

Abstract

A new mineral species, raygrantite, ideally Pb10Zn(SO4)6(SiO4)2(OH)2, has been found in the Big Horn Mountains, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA. Associated minerals are galena, anglesite, cerussite, lanarkite, leadhillite, mattheddleite, alamosite, hydrocerussite, caledonite, and diaboleite. Raygrantite crystals are bladed with striations parallel to the elongated direction (the c axis). Twinning (fish-tail type) is pervasive on (1 2 1). The mineral is colorless, transparent with white streak, and has a vitreous luster. It is brittle and has a Mohs hardness of ~3; cleavage is good on {120} and no parting was observed. The calculated density is 6.374 g/cm3. Optically, raygrantite is biaxial (+), with nα = 1.915(7), nβ = 1.981(7), nγ = 2.068(9), 2Vmeas = 76(2)°, and 2Vcalc = 85°. It is insoluble in water, acetone, or hydrochloric acid. An electron microprobe analysis yielded the empirical formula Pb2+9.81Zn2+0.93 (S1.00O4)6(Si1.05O4)2(OH)2. Raygrantite is a new member of the iranite mineral group. It is triclinic, with space group P1 and unit-cell parameters a 9.3175(4), b 11.1973(5), c 10.8318(5) A, α 120.374(2), β 90.511(2), γ 56.471(2)°, and V 753.13(6) A3. Its crystal structure, refined to R1=0.031, is characterized by slabs that lie parallel to (120) of SO4 and SiO4 tetrahedra with ZnO4(OH)2 octahedra, held together by Pb2+ cations displaying a wide range of Pb-O bond distances. The discovery of raygrantite indicates that, in addition to complete OH-F and Cu-Zn substitutions, there is also a complete substitution between (CrO4)2- and (SO4)2- in the iranite group of minerals, pointing to the possible existence of a number of other (SO4)2--bearing iranite-type phases yet to be found or synthesized.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)625-634
Number of pages10
JournalCanadian Mineralogist
Volume54
Issue number3
DOIs
StatePublished - May 1 2016

Keywords

  • Crystal structure
  • Hemihedrite
  • Iranite
  • Raman spectra
  • Raygrantite
  • X-ray diffraction

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Geochemistry and Petrology

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Raygrantite, Pb10Zn(SO4)6(SiO4)2(OH)2, a new mineral isostructural with iranite, from the big horn mountains, Maricopa county, Arizona, USA'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this