Luobusaite:A New Mineral

A group of mantle minerals including about 70-80 subtypes of minerals are discovered from a podiform chromitite in Tibet, China. Recovered minerals include diamond, coesite, moissanite, wustite, Fe-silides and a new mineral, luobusaite. All of these minerals were hand-picked from heavymineral separates of the podiform chromitite in the mantle peridotite of an ophiolite. The grains of luobusaite are as host mineral with inclusions of native silicon or as an intergrowth with native silicon and Fe-Si phase. Luobusaite occurs as irregular grains, with 0.1-0.2 mm in size, consisting of very finegrained aggregates. The mineral is steel-grey in color, metallic luster, and opaque. The empirical formula （based on 2 for Si） is Fe0.83Si2, according to the chemical compositions of luobusaite. X-ray powder-diffraction data： orthorhombic system, space group Cmca, a = 9.874 （14） A, b = 7.784 （5） A, c= 7.829（7） A, Z=16.

Titanium, Ti, A New Mineral Species from Luobusha, Tibet, China

We describe the new mineral species titanium, ideally Ti, found in the podiform chromitites of the Luobusha ophiolite in Tibet, People＇s Republic of China. The irregular crystals range from 0.1 to 0.6 mm in diameter and form an intergrowth with coesite and kyanite. Titanium is silver grey in colour, the luster is metallic, it is opaque, the streak is grayish black, and it is non-fluorescent. The mineral is malleable, has a rough to hackly fracture and has no apparent cleavage. The estimated Mohs hardness is 4, and the calculated density is 4.503 g/cm3. The composition is Ti 99.23-100.00 wt%. The mineral is hexagonal, space group P6flmmc. Unit-cell parameters are a 2.950 （2） ~, c 4.686 （1） A,V 35.32 （5） A3, Z = 2. The five strongest powder diffraction lines [d in A （hkl） （I/I0）] are： 2.569 （010） （32）, 2.254（011） （100）, 1.730 （012） （16）, 1.478 （110） （21）, and 0.9464 （121） （8）. The species and name were approved by the CNMNC （IMA 2010-044）.

Naquite, FeSi, a New Mineral Species from Luobusha, Tibet, Western China

A new mineral species, named naquite（FeSi）, is found in the podiform chromitites of the Luobusha ophiolite in Qusong County, Tibet, China. The detailed composition is Fe 65.65, Si 32.57 and Al 1.78 wt%. The mineral is cubic, space group P213. The irregular crystals range from 15 to 50 μm in diameter and form an intergrowth with luobusaite. Naquite is steel grey in color, opaque, with a metallic lustre and gives a grayish-black streak. The mineral is brittle, has a conchoidal fracture and no apparent cleavage. The estimated Mohs hardness is 6.5, and the calculated density is 6.128 g/cm3. Unit-cell parameters are a 4.486 （4） A, V 90.28 （6）A^3, Z=4. The five strongest powder diffraction lines [d inA（hkl） （I/I0）] are： 3.1742 （110） （40）, 2.5917（111） （43）, 2.0076 （210） （100）, 1.8307 （211） （65）, and 1.1990 （321） （36）. Originally called ＇fersilicite＇, the species and new name have now been approved by the CNMNC （IMA 2010-010）.

Lisiguangite,CuPtBiS_3,a New Platinum-Group Mineral from the Yanshan Mountains,Hebei,China

Lisiguangite, CuPtBiS3, is a new mineral species discovered in a PEG-bearing, Co-Cu sulfide vein in garnet pyroxenite of the Yanshan Mountains, Chengde Prefecture, Hebei Province, China. It is associated with chalcopyrite and bornite, galena, minor pyrite, carrolite, molybdenite and the platinum-group minerals daomanite （CuPtAsS2）, Co-bearing malanite （Cu（Pt, Co）2S4） sperrylite, moncheite, cooperite and malyshevite （CuPdBiS3）, rare damiaoite （Pt2In3） and yixunite （Pt3In）. Lisiguangite occurs as idiomorphic crystals, tabular or lamellae （010） and elongated [100] or as aggregates, up to 2 mm long and 0.5 mm wide. The mineral is opaque, has lead-gray color, black streak and metallic luster. The mineral is non-fluorescent. The observed morphology displays the following forms： pinacoids {100}, {010}, {001}, and prism [110}. No twining is observed. The a：b：c ratio, calculated from unit-cell parameters, is 0.6010：1：0.3836. Cleavage： {010} perfect, {001} distinct, {100} may be visible. H Mohs： 2 1/2; VHN25=46.7-49.8 （mean 48.3） kg/mm^2. Tenacity： brittle. Lisiguangite is bright white with a yellowish tint. In reflected light it shows neither internal reflections nor bireflectance or pleochroism. It has weak to moderate anisotropy （blue-greenish to brownish） and parallel-axial extinction. The reflectance values in air （and in oil） for R3, R4 and （^imR3, ^imR4）, at the standard Commission on Ore Mineralogy wavelengths are： 37.5, 35.7 （23.4, 22.3） at 470nm; 38.6, 36.5 （23.6, 22.6） at 546nm; 39.4, 37.5 （23.6, 22.7） at 589 nm and 40.3, 38.2 （23.7, 22.9） at 650 nm. The average of eight electron-microprobe analyses： Cu 12.98, Pt 30.04, Pd 2.69, Bi 37.65 and S 17.55, totaling 100.91%, corresponding to Cu1.10（Pt0.83, Pd0.14）∑0.97Bi0.97S2.96 based on six atoms apfu. The ideal formula is CuPtBiS3. The mineral is orthorhombic. Space group： P212121, a=7.7152（15）A, b=12.838（3）A, c=4.9248（10）A, V=487.80（17）A^3, Z=4. The six strongest lines in the X-ray powder-diffraction pattern [d in A（l） （h k l） are 6.40（30）（020）, 3.24（80）（031）, 3.03（100）（201）, 2.27（40）（051）, 2.14（50）（250）, 1.865（60）（232）.

Yarlongite:A New Metallic Carbide Mineral

Yarlongite occurs in ophiolitic chromitite at the Luobusha mine （29°5′N 92°5′E, about 200 km ESE of Lhasa）, Qusum County, Shannan Prefecture, Tibet Autonomous Region, People＇s Republic of China. Associated minerals are： diamond, moissanite, wiistite, iridium （＂osmiridium＂）, osmium （＂iridosmine＂）, periclase, chromite, native iron, native nickel, native chromium, forsterite, Cr-rich diopside, intermetallic compounds Ni-Fe-Cr, Ni-Cr, Cr-C, etc. Yarlongite and its associated minerals were handpicked from a large heavy mineral sample of chromitite. The metallic carbides associated with yarlongite are cohenite, tongbaite, khamrabaevite and qusongite （IMA2007-034）. Yarlongite occurs as irregular grains, with a size between 0.02 and 0.06 mm, steel-grey colour, H Mohs： 5^1/2-6. Tenacity： brittle. Cleavage： （0 0 1） perfect. Fracture： conchoidal. Chemical formula： （Cr4Fe4Ni）29C4, or （Cr,Fe,Ni）29C4, Crystal system： Hexagonal, Space Group： P63/mc, a = 18.839（2） A, c = 4.4960 （9） A, V = 745.7（2） A^3, Z = 6, Density （calc.） = 7.19 g/cm3 （with simplified formula）. Yariongite has been approved as a new mineral by the CNMNC （IMA2007-035）. Holotype material is deposited at the Geological Museum of China （No. Ml1650）.

Crystal Chemistry Research of Minerals of Nigerite Group and Its Significance

There is a type of complex oxide mineral, composed of many elements such as Sn, Mg, Fe, Zn, Ti, Mn, Al, etc., in the areas of Anhua, Linwu and Shizhuyuan of Hunan Province. These minerals belong to nigerite, Mg-nigerite (pengzhizhongite), etc.. According to the principle of closest packing, the crystal chemical properties of nigerite (brown), pengzhizhongite (buff), Zn-nigerite (fawn), Fe-nigerite, Mn-nigerite (greenish-black) etc. have been analyzed. Their crystal structures may be characterized by O (the layers of cation octahedral coordinations), T_1 (the mixed layers of cation octahedral coordinations and cation tetrahedral coordinations in same directions), T_2 (the mixed layers of cation octahedral coordinations and cation tetrahedral coordination in different directions). The position of layer-O and layer-T is alternate permutation. The crystal structure of pengzhizhongite (6 H ) may be expressed by …OT_2OT_1OT_1…, taaffeite (8 H ), …OT_2OT_1OT_2OT_1…, and nigerite (24 R ), … OT_1OT_2 OT_2OT_1 …×3 etc.. In their structure, there are not only the crystal structure units of spinel … OT_2 OT_2 … but also the units of nolanite … OT_1 OT_1 …. The research of these minerals has important theoretic and practical significance in the fields of minerals, gemology, material science etc..

Taipingite-(Ce),(Ce73+,Ca2)∑9Mg(SiO4)3[SiO3(OH)]4F3,a new mineral from the Taipingzhen REE deposit,North Qinling Orogen,central China

A new cerite group mineral species,taipingite-(Ce),ideally(Ce7^3+,Ca2)∑9Mg(SiO4)3[SiO3(OH)]4 F3,has been found in the Taipingzhen rare earth element(REE)deposit in the North Qinling Orogen(NQO),Central China.It forms subhedral grains(up to approximately 100 μm×200 μm)commonly intergrown with the REE mineral assemblages and is closely associated with allanite-(Ce),gatelite-(Ce),tornebohmite-(Ce),fluocerite-(Ce),fluocerite-(La),fluorite,bastnasite-(Ce),parisite-(Ce)and calcite.Taipingite-(Ce)is light red to pinkish brown under a binocular microscope and pale brown to colorless in thin section,and it is translucent to transparent with a grayish-white streak and vitreous luster.This mineral is brittle with conchoidal fracture;has a Mohs hardness value of approximately 51/2 and exhibits no cleavage twinning or parting.The calculated density is 4.900(5)g/cm3.Optically,taipingite-(Ce)is uniaxial(+),withω=1.808(5),ε=1.812(7),c=ε,and a=b=ω.Furthermore,this mineral is insoluble in HCl,HNO3 and H2 SO4.Electron microprobe analysis demonstrated that the sample was relatively pure,yielding the empirical formula(with calculated H2 O):(Ce4.02La1.64Nd1.49Pr0.41Sm0.10Gd0.02Ho0.02Tm0.01Lu0.02Y0.03Ca0.66Mg0.05Th(0.01-0.51∑9(Mg0.75Fe0.253+)∑1(SiO4)3{[SiO3(OH)]3.98[PO3(OH)]0.02}∑4(F1.81OH1.17Cl0.02∑3.Taipingite-(Ce)is trigonal and exhibits space group symmetry R3 c with unit cell parameters a=10.7246(3)Å,c=37.9528(14)Å,V=3780.39(20)Å3 and Z=6.The strongest eight lines in the X-ray diffraction pattern are[d in A(I)(hkl)]:4.518(50)(202),3.455(95)(122),3.297(85)(214),3.098(35)(300),2.941(100)(02,10),2.683(65)(220),1.945(40)(238)and 1.754(40)(30,18).The crystal structure has been refined to a R1 factor of 0.025,calculated for the 2312 unique observed reflections(Fo≥4σ).The mineral is named after its discovery locality and is characterized as the F-dominant analogue of cerite-(Ce).

REE Characteristics of a New Uranium Mineral from the Xianshi Uranium Deposit, South China

Objective Galuskin et al. （2011） firstly discovered that vorlanite （CaU^6＋/4＋）04 is a rare Ca-rich mineral with a fluorite-type structure, which is isostructural with uraninite （U^4＋O2）. Previous studies of the Xianshi granite-related uranium deposit reported that uraninite and pyrite are the major ore minerals whereas galena, clausthalite （PbSe）, and pyrite are minor phases in the ores. A more detailed petrographic and geochronological study of the uranium minerals from the Xianshi deposit showed that there are three distinct types of uraninite-bearing assemblages which formed at three mineralization episodes （Fig. la; Luo et al., 2015）.

Analysis of Mineralization System and Prediction of New-Type Ore Deposits

The discovery of new-type ore deposits, an important approach to guarantee the mineral resources supply in the 21st century, often brings about a gigantic increase in the mineral resources reserves. The analysis of mineralization system is of great importance to the discovery of new type ore deposits. ① The understanding of the relationship among various ore deposit types within a mineralization system in a region can help us to locate the unknown ore deposit types from the known ore deposit types, evidence that has been proved in the mineral prospecting history of ore belts in the middle and lower reaches of the Yangtze River, China. ② The understanding of the spatial structure of a mineralization system, especially of the vertical zonation, is helpful for the discovery of the concealed ore deposit types. ③ Clarifying the temporal structure of a mineralization system, including the iteration relationship between the mineral deposit types in the mineralization, leads to the location of the missing mineralization chains from the known mineralization chains (mineral deposit type), a method often proved to be effective in the magmatic hydrothermal mineralization system.④ Clarifying the factors restraining the diversity of mineral deposit types in mineralization system leads to the discovery of the potential of new type mineral deposits in relevant region. ⑤ Studying new mineralization setting and new ore forming processes leads to discovery of new type mineral deposit. More probabilities of discovery of new type mineral deposits are present in biogenic mineralization system, deep sea mineralization system, low temperature mineralization system, tectonic mineralization system and superimposed mineralization system.

NEW PROGRESS IN MINERAL PROCESSING——REPORT ON FIRST INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCE ON MODERN PROCESS MINERALOGY AND MINERAL PROCESSING

The first International Conference on Modern Process Mineralogy and Mineral Processing, organized by the Nonferrous Metals Society of China and hosted by Beijing General Research Institute of Mining and Metallurgy,was held on September 22-25,1992,in Beijing,China.About 350 scholars and experts from 25 countries and regions showed up at the conference and 130 papers were presented,among them 98 papers are of mineral processing.Some of the papers given in mineral processing are summed up as follows.

Changchengite—A New Iridium Bismuthide-Sulphide from the Yanshan Mountains

Changchengite occurs in chromite orebodies in dunite and in platinum placer deposits in chromite orebodies nearby. The mineral occurs as massive aggregates or veinlets on margins of iridisite (IrS2) and replaces it. Opaque. Lustre metallic. Colour steel-black. Streak black. Hm = 3.7. VHN20= 165 kg/ mm2. Isotropic. Cleavage none. Density 11.96 g/ cm3. Seven electron microprobe analyses give the following mean chemical results (wt. %): S 7.2, Cu 0.3, Te 0.4, Ir 41.2, Pt 2.8 and Bi 47.3 with total 99.1. The simplified formula is IrBiS. The strongest X-ray powder diffraction lines (hkl, d, I) are 210, 2.75 (70); 211, 2.51 (60); 311, 1.860 (100); 440. 1.090 (50) and 600, 1.027 (50). The X-ray powder diffraction pattern is similar to that of mayingite. After the diffraction data are indexed the mineral is determined to be cubic. The space group is P213 with a = 0.6164(4) nm, V = 0.2342 nm3 and Z = 4.

A NEW MINERAL——FLUORBRITHOLITE-(CE)

: The new mineral fluorbritho!ite-(Ce)occurs in nepheline syenite-marble xenoliths, sodalite syenite xenoliths and pegmatite dikes at Mont St. Hilaire, Quebec. It is associated mainly with analcine ,microclme , aegirine , zircon , biotite, pyro-phanite. astrophyllite ?ancylite, natrolite,monaziie etc.The mineral is hexagonal ,P63/m -with a 9. 517(5) A , c 6. 983(4) A,c/a 0. 7337,? 547. 7(8) A3,Z=2. The strongest X-ray pmvder diffraction lines and their relative intensities (visual)are:2. 851(100),2. 821(30),2. 753(30),1. 970(20),1. 969(30)(for MSH-3).Fluorbritholite-(Ce) crystal is shown prismatic. Its colour is pale yellow, tan, reddish-brown. Streak colourless to pale brown ; Lustre adamantine ; Opaque to translucent; Hardness 5 ; Brittle; Cleavage { 0001 } distinct; Fracture even to conchoidal; Density 4. 66(1) (meas} or 4. Q6g/cm3(calc. ) ; Non-fluorscent. Optically umaxial (-). w 1. 792(5),? 1. 786(5) in Na light; Nonpleochroic.Electron microprobe analyses correspond to (CeL 69 La1.02Na0.82 Nd0.44 Sr0.30 Ca0.17 Mn0.17 Y0.09 Pr0.06 Th0.03 Fe0.01) ?4.32(Si232 P0.61 ) ?2.93 O11.81 F1.19,the ideal structural formula is(PEE,Ca)5(Si,P)3012F.Britholite-(Cc) and britholite-(Y) should be renamed re-spectively ,hydroxylbritholite-(Ce) and hydroxylbrithblite(Y) to be suggested in discussion section.

Haitaite-(La),LaU^(4+)Fe^(3+)2(Ti_(13)Fe^(2+)_(4)Fe^(3+))_(Σ18)O_(38),a New Member of the Crichtonite Group

Haitaite-(La),(La,Ce)(U^(4+),U6^(+),Fe^(2+))(Fe^(3+),Al)2(Ti,Fe^(2+),Fe^(3+))18O38,is a new member of the crichtonite group.It is named after the Haita Village in the Miyi County of Sichuan Province,China,where the mineral was discovered.The mineral occurs as black opaque centimeter-sized aggregates in the external contact zone between the Neoproterozoic(~800 Ma)alkali feldspar granite and the Mesoproterozoic(~1700 Ma)micaschist.In the studied sample,haitaite-(La)is associated with other minerals,including ilmenite,magnetite,rutile,zircon,brannerite and uraninite.The new mineral is a black,metallic phase and has a Mohs hardness of 6,with a density of 4.99 g/cm3(calculated)and 5.03 g/cm^(3)(measured).Haitaite-(La)is opaque in transmitted light and grayish-white under reflected light,with a reflectivity between 22.5%and 16.42%in the 400–700 nm band(SiC,in the air).The compositions of the mineral were measured by EPMA,the U4+/U6+ratio was determined by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and the Fe^(2+)/Fe^(3+)ratio was determined by Mössbauer spectroscopy.Haitaite-(La)is trigonal,belongs to R3¯and has unit-cell parameters a=10.3678(5)Å,c=20.8390(11)Å,V=1939.9(2)Å3,Z=3.The crystalline structure is composed of octahedra with 9 layers of close-packed octahedra(M1,M3,M4,M5),tetrahedra(M2)and contains large 12-coordinated M0 sites.

Chengdeite-A New Mineral of Ordered Natural Iron-iridium Alloy

Chengdeite occurs in chromite orebodies in dunite as well as in placers in their neighbourhood. The mineral occurs as granular aggregates in association with inaglyite and in some cases occurs as graphic intergrowths with native iridium. It is opaque with a metallic lustre, colour steel-black, streak black,HM = 5.2, VHN50=452 kg/mm2, cleavage not observed, fracture not observed, strongly magnetic. Its reflection colour is bright white with a yellowish tint. It has no internal reflection, bireflectance or pleochrism, and shows isotropism.Thirteen chemical analyses were carried out by means of the electron microprobe. The mean percentages of the data obtained in the 13 analyses ares S 0.001, Fe 7.9, Ni 0.03, Co 0.03, Cu 0.83, As 0.02, Rh 0.19, Pd 0.00, Os 0.06, Ir 88.5, Ft 2.2 and Pb 0.00. The simplified formula is Ir3Fe, which requires Ir 91.17 and Fe 8.83, the total being 100.00 (% ).Five strongest lines of X-ray powder diffraction (hkl, d, I)are: 111, 2.18 (80);200, 1.89 (60); 220, 1.34 (70);311, 1.142 (100);222,1.094 (80).Through indexing of the X-ray powder diffraction data, the mineral has been determined to be cubic with Pm 3m, a = 0.3792(5)nm, V = 0.05453nm and Z = 1.

Malanite——A New Cupric Platinum (Pt^(3+)) and Iridium (Ir^(3+)) Sulphide

Malanite was first found in veinlets of disseminated copper-nickel ores inZunhua County, Hebei Province, and then in platinum-bearing chromite ores in ShuangfengVillage, Yanshan. In the former case, malanite appears as octahedrons or dodecahedrons asso-ciated with pyrrhotite, pentlandite, sperrylite and cooperite; while in the latter case, it is massiveor present in anhedral glomerocrysts, filling in cracks of iridisite and associated with osmiride,ferrian platinum and iridisite. Malanite is steel-grey in colour, opaque with metallic lustre andblack streaks and brittle with no magnetism. H_M=5.0, VHN_(20)=417kg/mm^2, cleavage {111}sometimes observed. The calculated density is 7.57g/cm^3. The reflective colour is white with alight green tint. Internal reflections are not observed. This mineral is isotropic, showing nobireflection or reflection pleochroism in air. By means of electron microprobe analysis, the em-pirical formula (based on 7 atoms) is expressed as (Cu_(0.93)Fe_(0.06))_(∑0.99)(Pt_(1.03)Ir_(0.66)Rh_(0.04)Pd_(0.03)Co_(0.20)Ni_(0.03))_(1.99)S_(4.03) or (Cu_(0.95)Fe_(0.07))_(∑1.02)(Pt_(1.37)Ir_(0.45)Co_(0.11)Rh_(0.08))_(∑2.01)S_(3.97). Five strongestlines (hkl, d, I) of X-ray powder diffraction data of malanite are 311,2.98(6); 400,2.48(5);333, 1.90(7); 440, 1.75(10); 731, 1.29(5). It was known on the basis of X-ray powder diffractiondata that malanite is cubic, and the space group is Fd3m with α=0.9940nm, V=0.9821(3)nm^3 and Z=4. The type material of malanite is deposited at the Geological Museum of China(GMC)s

The Crystal Structure of Lisiguangite

The crystal structure of lisiguangite, CuPtBiS3, from Yanshan mountains, Chengde Prefecture, Hebei Province, China has been determined by single crystal X-ray diffraction. It belongs to orthorhombic space group P212121 with a = 7.7372（15）A, b = 12.844（3） A, c -- 4.9062（10） A, V = 487.57（17） A^3, Z = 4. The final full-matric least-square refinement on F2 converged with R1 = 0.0495 and wR2 = 0.0992 for 704 observed reflections [I≥2σ（I）]. Lisiguangite is the isomorph of known CuNiSbS3 and CuNiBiS3. Pt^2＋ and Bi^3＋ have the distorted octahedral coordination enviroments composed of two metal and four S and Cu^＋2 has a distorted tetrahedrai coordination environment with four S atoms. Each S atom is surrounded by four metals to give a tetrahedral environment. The crystal structure is a complex 3 dimensional network.

Study on the Crystal of Daomanite

It was not possible to carry out a complete analyses of crystal, as the experiment by Ding and Shi et al.. It＇s analysis precision R=0.25 or more big than this, which value are not satisfied for single crystal study, but we through many test and found the best： [R（int）=14.5%]. The final fullmatix least-squares refinement on F2 converged to R1=0.0791 and wR2=0.1864 for 704 observed reflections [I 3 2s（I）]. Daomanite is orthorhombic system, space group Cmc21, a=3.7520（8））A, b=15.844（4） A, c=5.8516（12） A, α=β=γ=90°. V=347.86（14）A3, Z=4. Daomanite chemical formula is Cu Pt AsS 2. Idealized composition Me＋M2＋M2＋S2=CuS ·PtA s S. There is no other similar mineral in the world.

Site occupancies of iron in saimaite and chevkinite

Saimaite is a new Zr-Ti silicate mineral. In this note X-ray and electron probe analyses for saimaite were carried out, and the chemical formula of saimaite was calculated. In addition, the Mossbauer effects of saimaite and chevkinite were investigated. Site occupancies