Bobfergusonite

Bobfergusonite
General
Category Phosphate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)		 Na2Mn5FeAl(PO4)6
Strunz classification 8.AC.15
Dana classification 38.2.4.5
Crystal system Monoclinic
Crystal class Prismatic (2/m)
H-M symbol: (2/m)
Space group P21/n[1]
Unit cell a = 12.773 Å,
b = 12.486 Å,
c = 11.038 Å;
β = 114.35(13)°; Z = 4
Identification
Color Green-brown to red-brown
Cleavage Perfect on {010}
Parting on {100}[2]
Fracture Irregular/Uneven
Tenacity Brittle
Mohs scale hardness 4
Luster Sub-vitreous, resinous, greasy
Streak Yellow-brown
Diaphaneity Translucent[3] to transparent[2]
Density 3.54 g/cm3
Optical properties Biaxial (+)
Refractive index nα = 1.694(1) nβ = 1.698(1) nγ = 1.715(2)
Birefringence δ = 0.021
Pleochroism Visible: X=Y= yellow-orange Z= orange
2V angle 46°
Dispersion Relatively strong
Ultraviolet fluorescence Not fluorescent
References [3]

Bobfergusonite is a mineral with formula Na2Mn5FeAl(PO4)6. The mineral varies in color from green-brown to red-brown. It was discovered in 1986 in Manitoba, Canada, and named for Robert Bury Ferguson (born 1921). As of 2012, the mineral has only been found in Canada and Argentina.

Description

Bobfergusonite occurs as equant anhedral single crystals up to 1 cm (0.39 in) in size or as nodular aggregates of few crystals.[2][4] The mineral varies in color from green-brown to red-brown.[2] Thin fragments of bobfergusonite are transparent.[5] Bobfergusonite has been found in association with alluaudite, apatite, beusite, fillowite, and triplite.[2]

Bobfergusonite is a primary mineral that occurs in the intermediate zone of manganese and fluorine enriched granitic pegmatites.[3]

Structure

Bobfergusonite has a layered crystal structure topologically identical to that of alluaudite and wyllieite but with differences in the ordering of metal cations. The two types of layer alternate along Y. One layer consists of chains of metal cation octahedra cross-linked by phosphate tetrahedra. Within the chains metal cations are ordered M3+–M2+ in a similar fashion to wyllieite. However, the structure of bobfergusonite is distinct by the presence of Al and Fe3+ ordering between chains.[6]

The other layer, identical to its wyllieite counterpart, consists of chains running parallel to X: one consisting of alternating, face-sharing sodium and manganese polyhedra and the other edge-sharing sodium polyhedra. These chains are not cross-linked but bind the other layers together.[6]

History

Alan J. Anderson discovered large brown crystals in a granitic pegmatite at Cross Lake in Manitoba. Study by electron microprobe and X-ray diffraction identified it as a new mineral related to the wyllieite and alluaudite groups.[7]

The mineral was named for professor Robert Bury Ferguson to celebrate his 65th birthday and retirement from the University of Manitoba.[7][8] The mineral and the name bobfergusonite were approved by the IMA Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names.[7]

Distribution

As of 2012, bobfergusonite is known from the Nancy pegmatite in Argentina and the Gottcha Claim in Manitoba, Canada.[3] The type material is held at the University of Manitoba and the Royal Ontario Museum in Toronto.[2]

References

  1. ↑ "Bobfergusonite". Webmineral. Retrieved June 11, 2012.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Bobfergusonite" (PDF). Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineral Data Publishing. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  3. 1 2 3 4 "Bobfergusonite". Mindat. Retrieved June 8, 2012.
  4. ↑ Ercit, p. 600.
  5. ↑ Roberts, Andrew C. (1988). "New Mineral Names" (PDF). American Mineralogist. 73: 189–199.
  6. 1 2 Ercit, p. 605.
  7. 1 2 3 Ercit, p. 599.
  8. ↑ Hawthorne, Frank C. (December 1986). "Special Issue Dedicated to Robert Bury Ferguson" (PDF). Canadian Mineralogist. Mineralogical Association of Canada. 24: 597–598.

Bibliography

Further reading

External links

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