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Published July 2010 | public
Journal Article

The crystal chemistry and crystal structure of kuksite, Pb_3Zn_3Te^(6+)P_2O_(14), and a note on the crystal structure of yafsoanite, (Ca,Pb)_3Zn(TeO_6)_2

Abstract

New discoveries of kuksite, Pb_3Zn_3Te^(6+)P_2O_(14), from the Black Pine mine, Montana, and Blue Bell claims, California, have enabled a detailed crystal-chemical study of the mineral to be undertaken. Single-crystal X-ray structure refinements of the structure indicate that it is isostructural with dugganite, Pb_3Zn_3Te^(6+)As_2O_(14), and joëlbruggerite, Pb_3Zn_3(Sb^(5+),Te^(6+))As_2O_(13)(OH,O). Kuksite from the Black Pine mine crystallizes in space group P321, with unit-cell dimensions a = 8.392(1), c = 5.204(1) Å, V = 317.39(8) Å^3, and Z = 1 (R_1 = 2.91% for 588 reflections [F_o > 4σF] and 3.27% for all 624 reflections), while Blue Bell kuksite has the unit cell a = 8.3942(5), c = 5.1847(4) Å, and V = 316.38(4) Å^3 (R_1 = 3.33% for 443 reflections [F_o > 4σF] and 3.73% for all 483 reflections). Chemical analyses indicate that solid-solution series exist between kuksite, dugganite, and joëlbruggerite. Raman spectroscopic and powder X-ray diffraction data are also presented for samples from both occurrences. The crystal structure of the chemically related species yafsoanite, (Ca,Pb)_3Te_2^(6+)Zn_3O_(12), from the type locality (Delbe orebody, Kuranakh Au Deposit, Aldan Shield, Saha Republic, Russia), has been refined to R_1 = 2.41% for 135 reflections [F_o > 4σF] and 3.68% for all 193 reflections. A garnet-type structure has been confirmed and significantly improves upon the results of an earlier structure determination.

Additional Information

© 2010 Mineralogical Society of America. Manuscript received December 23, 2009. Manuscript accepted March 17, 2010. Manuscript handled by Darrell Henry. The Associate Editor, Darrell Henry, Peter Williams, and an anonymous reviewer provided helpful comments on the manuscript that are greatly appreciated. Mihail Tomshin (yaktusk Institute) is thanked for providing a sample for study and Andrey Bulakh for help receiving the sample. NSERC Canada is thanked for a Discovery Grant to Mati Raudsepp. Part of this study was funded by the John Jago Trelawney Endowment to the Mineral Sciences Department of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County. Jean-Marc Johannet is thanked for providing a photograph of kuksite.

Additional details

Created:
August 22, 2023
Modified:
October 20, 2023