USGS ScienceSearch

Geology topics

E.E. Foord

Publications and source records attributed to E.E. Foord.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

A reexamination of the turquoise group: The mineral aheylite, planerite (redefined), turquoise and coeruleolactite

The turquoise group has the general formula: A (sub 0-1) B 6 (PO 4 ) (sub 4-x) (PO 3 OH) x (OH) 8 .4H 2 O, where x = 0-2, and consists of six members: planerite, turquoise, faustite, aheylite, chalcosiderite and an unnamed Fe (super 2+) -Fe (super 3+) analogue. The existence of "coeruleolactite" is doubtful. Planerite is revalidated as a species and is characterized by a dominant A-site vacancy. Aheylite is established as a new member of the group, and is characterized by having Fe (super 2+) dominant in the A-site. Chemical analyses of 15 pure samples of microcrystalline planerite, turquoise, and aheylite show that a maximum of two of the (PO 4 ) groups are protonated (PO 3 OH) in planerite. Complete solid solution exists between planerite and turquoise. Other members of the group show variable A-site vacancy as well. Most samples of "turquoise" are cation-deficient or are planerite. Direct determination of water indicates that there are 4 molecules of water. Planerite, ideally []Al 6 (PO 4 ) 2 (PO 3 OH) 2 (OH) 8 .4H 2 O, is white, pale blue or pale green, and occurs as mamillary, botryoidal crusts as much as several mm thick; may also be massive; microcrystalline, crystals typically 2-4 micrometres, luster chalky to earthy, H. 5, somewhat brittle, no cleavage observed, splintery fracture, D m 2.68(2), D c 2.71, not magnetic, not fluorescent, mean RI about 1.60. a 7.505(2), b 9.723(3), c 7.814(2) Aa, alpha 111.43 degrees , beta 115.56 degrees , Gamma 68.69 degrees , V 464.2(1) Aa 3 , Z = 1. Aheylite, ideally Fe (super 2+) Al 6 (PO 4 ) 4 (OH) 8 .4H 2 O, is pale blue or green, and occurs as isolated and aggregate clumps of hemispherical or spherical, radiating to interlocked masses of crystals that average 3 micrometres in maximum dimension; porcelaneous-subvitreous luster, moderate to brittle tenacity, no cleavage observed, hackly to splintery fracture, not magnetic, not fluorescent, biax. (+), mean RI is about 1.63, D m 2.84(2), D c 2.90. a 7.400(1), b 9.896(1), c 7.627(1) Aa, alpha 110.87 degrees , beta 115.00 degrees , gamma 69.96 degrees , V 460.62(9) Aa 3 , Z = 1.

Mineralogical Magazine

Ordonezite from the Theodoso Soto Mine, Sapioris, Durango, Mexico: New data and structure refinement

A new occurrence of the rare mineral species ordonezite has been found at the Theodoso Soto tin mine, near Sapioris, Durango, Mexico. The average composition of the samples is (Zn 0.98 Fe 0.02 ) Σ1.00 Sb 2.00 O 6 ; the core of the crystals is slightly richer in Fe than the rim. The mineral is uniaxial (+), with all n greater than 2.30 (n calc is 2.38 at 589 nm); D obs 6.66 g/cm 3 , D calc 6.67 g/cm 3 . It is isostructural with ferrotapiolite, with a 4.668(2), c 9.269(6) A (from powder-diffraction data), space group P4 2 /mnm, and is twinned on {103}. Its crystal structure, refined to R=4.1, wR=4.3% using 163 observed reflections, is fully cation-ordered.

Durango

Ruby and sapphire from Jegdalek, Afghanistan

This study provides detailed mining and gemological information on the Jegdalek deposit, in east-central Afghanistan, which is hosted by elongate beds of corundum-bearing marble. Some facet-grade ruby has been recovered, but most of the material consists of semitransparent pink sapphire of cabochon or carving quality. The most common internal features are dense concentrations of healed and nonhealed fracture planes and lamellar twin planes. Color zoning is common, and calcite, apatite, zircon, mica, iron sulfide minerals, graphite, rutile, aluminum hydroxide, and other minerals are also present in some samples. Although the reserves appear to be large, future potential will depend on the establishment of a stable government and the introduction of modern mining and exploration techniques.

Jegdalek deposit

Simmonsite, Na2LiAlF6, a new mineral from the Zapot amazonite-topazzinnwaldite pegmatite, Hawthorne, Nevada, U.S.A

Simmonsite, Na2LiAlF6, a new mineral of pegmatitic-hydrothermal origin, occurs in a late-stage breccia pipe structure that cuts the Zapot amazonite-topaz-zinnvvaldite pegmatite located in the Gillis Range, Mineral Co., Nevada, U.S.A. The mineral is intimately intergrown with cryolite, cryolithionite and trace elpasolite. A secondary assemblage of other alumino-fluoride minerals and a second generation of cryolithionite has formed from the primary assemblage. The mineral is monoclinic, P21 or P21/m, a = 7.5006(6) A??, b = 7.474(1) A??, c = 7.503(1) A??, ??= 90.847(9) ??, V=420.6(1) A??3, Z = 4. The four strongest diffraction maxima [d(A??), likl, I/I100] are (4.33, 111 and 111, 100); (1.877, 400 and 004, 90); (2.25, 13T, 113, 131 and 311, 70); and (2.65, 220, 202, 022, 60). Simmonsite is pale buff cream with white streak, somewhat greasy, translucent to transparent, Mohs hardness of 2.5-3, no distinct cleavage, subconchoidal fracture, no parting, not extremely brittle, Dm is 3.05(2) g/cm3, and Dc is 3.06(1) g/cm3. The mineral is biaxial, very nearly Isotropie, N is 1.359(1) for ?? = 589 nm, and birefringence is 0.0009. Electron microprobe analyses gave (wt%) Na = 23.4, Al = 13.9, F = 58.6, Li = 3.56 (calculated), with a total of 99.46. The empirical formula (based on 6 F atoms) is Na1.98Li1.00 ooAl|ooF6. The crystal structure was not solved, presumably because of unit-cell scale twinning, but similarities to the perovskite-type structure exist. The mineral is named for William B. Simmons, Professor of Mineralogy and Petrology, University of New Orleans, New Orleans.

American Mineralogist

The Zapot pegmatite mineral county

The Zapot pegmatite is currently being mined for mineral specimens (chiefly amazonite, topaz and smoky quartz in miarolitic cavities), for gemstones (topaz and smoky quartz) and for decorative rock (amazonite). The deposit is owned and operated by Harvey Gordon Minerals of Reno, Nevada, and is the only amazonite-topaz mining operation in the state. Thousands of specimens from this operation have reached the collector market.

Mineralogical Record

The chemistry, mineralogy, and petrology of the George Ashley Block pegmatite body

The George Ashley Block (GAB) is a rockslide block located in the Pala pegmatite district of Southern California. It is layered, asymmetric, pocket containing, and peraluminous. The GAB consists of quartz (42 vol%), Na-rich plagioclase (27%), potassium feldspar (24%), muscovite (7%), Mn-rich garnet (2%), biotite (1%), and a trace of tourmaline and gahnite. It contains only small amounts of the incompatible elements that characterize differentiated pegmatite bodies. P2O5, MnO, and F are present in amounts of < 1 wt% each; B, Be, Ce, Li, Nb, Nd, and Th are < 100 ppm each. More than 90% of the garnet grains in the GAB are zoned toward Mn-rich rims, and a symmetrical change in garnet-core composition occurs across the body. The mean X site contents for garnet (in at%) are 57% Fe, 40% Mn, 3.1% Mg, and 0.4% Ca. The Mn contents of garnet range from 30 to 55 at%; Fe contents vary inversely with Mn and range from about 66 to 43 at%. It is concluded that the bulk chemistry yields little information about fractionation, but the garnet, muscovite, and biotite mineral chemistry is more useful. There may have been two separate injections of magma to form the GAB.

American Mineralogist

Geochemical characteristics and K-Ar ages of rare-metal bearing pegmatites from the Birimian of southeastern Ghana

The pegmatite-aplite rocks at Mankwadzi (Ejisimanku Hills) in southeastern Ghana are part of the pegmatite district that extends from Cape Coast to Winneba along the Atlantic coastline. The pegmatites are associated with the Cape Coast granite complex and were intruded during the waning phase of the Eburnian Orogeny (∼2.0 Ga). Three muscovite separates from pegmatite give KAr retention ages of 1909 ± 13 Ma , 1965 ± 13 Ma and 2019 ± 14 Ma. A biotite separate from granite yields a KAr age of 1907 ± 13 Ma. These ages are similar to KAr dates previously reported for the Cape Coast granites, indicating that the granites and pegmatites are coeval and probably genetically linked. The pegmatites are enriched in Li, Be, Nb and Sn and considerably impoverished in Rb, Th, Y and REEs. Microscopic examination of quartz from the pegmatites shows a large number of low salinity fluid inclusions that can be divided into two types: (1) one-phase liquid or gas-filled inclusions; and (2) two-phase liquid-vapour inclusions, with the vapour occupying 2–5% of the volume. The homogenisation temperature of the fluid inclusions clusters between 129 and 144°C. These homogenisation temperatures lead to an inferred entrapment temperature of ∼300°C at a pressure of ∼2.5 kbar, which is estimated for the metamorphism of host hornblende schists. The pegmatite fluid inclusions are interpreted as being secondary to the quartz hosts.

Journal of African Earth Sciences

Incorporation of rare earth elements in titanite: Stabilization of the A2/a dimorph by creation of antiphase boundaries

The atomic arrangement of a natural rare-earth-rich titanite and two synthetic rare-earth-doped titanites have been refined in space group A2/a, and the atomic arrangement of an undoped P21/a synthetic titanite was also refined for comparison. Previous work has shown that titanite possesses a domain structure, with domains formed of like-displaced Ti atoms in the [100] octahedral chains. P21/a titanite results when the crystal is formed of a single domain, but as Ti-reversal sites occur in the octahedral chain the apparent A2/a structure results from the average of antiphase domains. Antiphase boundaries occur at O1, which is alternately overbonded or underbonded at the boundaries, depending on the displacement of the neighboring Ti atoms. Type 2 antiphase boundaries exist where two Ti atoms are displaced away from the intervening O1 atom and are energetically unfavorable because of underbonding of that O1 atom. However, substitution of a trivalent rare earth element in the adjacent Ca2+ site relieves that underbonding, favoring the creation of type 2 antiphase boundaries and stabilization of the A2/a dimorph. The results of high-precision crystal structure analyses demonstrate that rare earth substituents for Ca stabilize the A2/a dimorph at lower substitution levels than required for octahedral substitutions.

American Mineralogist

The chemical evolution and paragenesis of uranium minerals from the ruggles and palermo granitic pegmatites, New Hampshire

A study of the chemical evolution and paragenesis of the uranium minerals at the Palermo No. 1 and Ruggles granitic pegmatites, Grafton County, New Hampshire, revealed four stages of secondary mineralization. A total of eight uranium minerals were identified in the four stages. The first stage is a mixture of uranyl oxide hydroxide-hydrates represented by mineral "A", which surrounds and replaces a uraninite core. The second stage is a carbonate stage found only at the Palermo No. 1 pegmatite, and is represented by rutherfordine. The third stage is represented by uranyl silicates. At the Palermo No. 1 pegmatite, this stage consists of ??-uranophane, and at the Ruggles pegmatite, it consists of soddyite and ??-uranophane. A final fourth stage is a phosphate stage represented by phosphuranylite and meta-autunite I. The first three stages of mineralization developed from hydrothermal and meteoric processes. With dropping temperatures, hydrothermal fluids reached meteoric temperatures and acquired the characteristics of meteoric water. The pH shifted from acidic (pH less than about 6 at 100??C) to alkaline (pH > 7 at 25??C). Since mineral "A" contains hydroxyl and a low amount of molecular water, it probably formed at a temperature greater than 100??C in the acidic environment. After the first stage, the hydrothermal fluids likely reached the temperatures of meteoric water. The initial pH of the meteoric water was acidic (pH less than about 6 at 25??C) and then slowly shifted to alkaline. The mineralizing fluids became oversaturated in CO3, Ca, K, and Si. Uraninite and mineral "A" became unstable and were replaced by rutherfordine and uranyl silicates. The fourth or phosphate stage developed from the introduction of groundwater. The uranyl phosphate minerals precipitated from an acidic fluid (pH < 7 at 25??C) that was oversaturated with Ca, K, U, and P.

Canadian Mineralogist

Lithium-bearing fluor-arfvedsonite from Hurricane Mountain, New Hampshire: A crystal-chemical study

The structures of two crystals of Li-bearing fluor-arfvedsonite (1) (K0.32Na0.68)Na2(Li0.48Fe 2+2.83Mn2+0.10Zn 0.06Fe3+1.46Ti0.07) (Si7.88Al0.12)O22[Fu1.15(OH) 0.85] and (2) (K0.25Na0.75)Na2(Li0.48Fe 2+2.84Mn2+0.11Zn 0.05Fe3+1.45Ti0.07)(Si 7.89Al0.11)O22[F1.35(OH) 0.65] from a granitic pegmatite, Hurricane Mountain, New Hampshire, have been refined to R indices of 1.5(1.6)% based on 1380(1387) reflections measured with MoK?? X-radiation. The unit cell parameters are (1) a 9.838(4), b 17.991(6), c 5.315(2) A??, 103.78(3)??, V 913.7 A??3 and (2) a 9.832(3), b 17.990(7), c 5.316(3) A??, ?? 103.79(3)??, V 913.2 A??3. Site-scattering refinement shows Li to be completely ordered at the M(3) site in these crystals. The amphibole composition is intermediate between fluor-arfvedsonite and fluor-ferro-leakeite with a small component (???10%) of fluor-ferro-ferri-nybo??ite. These amphibole crystals project into miarolitic cavities in a pegmatitic phase of a riebeckite granite. The early-crystallizing amphibole is close to fluor-ferro-leakeite in composition, but becomes progressively depleted in Li and F as crystals project out into miarolitic cavities; the final amphibole to crystallize is a fibrous Li-poor riebeckite. Li plays a significant role in late-stage fractionation involving the crystallization of alkali amphibole in peralkaline granitic environments.

Canadian Mineralogist

Calcioaravaipaite: A new mineral and associated lead fluoride minerals from the Grand Reef mine, Graham County, Arizona

The Grand Reef mine in southeastern Arizona, best known to collectors for superb crystals of linarite, is also the type locality far a unique suite of lead fluoride minerals. Grandreefite, pseudograndreefite, laurelite, aravaipaite, and artroeite have been found nowhere else; added to this group is calcioaravaipaite, described here for the first time.

Mineralogical Record

The atomic arrangement of iimoriite-(Y), Y2(SiO4)(CO3)

Iimoriite-(Y) from Bokan Mountain, Prince of Wales Island, Alaska has been studied using single-crystal X-ray-diffraction techniques. The mineral, ideally Y2(SiO4)(CO3), crystallizes in space group P1, with a 6.5495(13), b 6.6291(14), c 6.4395(11)A??, ?? 116.364(15), ?? 92.556(15) and ?? 95.506(17)??. The atomic arrangement has been solved and refined to an R value of 0.019. The arrangement of atoms consists of alternating (011) slabs of orthosilicate groups and carbonate groups, with no sharing of oxygen atoms between anionic complexes in adjacent slabs. Y1 atoms separate adjacent tetrahedra along [100] within the orthosilicate slab, and Y2 atoms separate adjacent carbonate groups along [100] within the carbonate slab. Adjacent orthosilicate and carbonate slabs are linked in (100) by bonding Y atoms from each slab to oxygen atoms of adjacent slabs, in the form of YO8 polyhedra. The Y1 atoms exist in Y12O14 dimers in the orthosilicate slab, and the Y2 atoms exist in continuous [011] ribbons of edge-sharing Y2O8 polyhedra in the carbonate slab.

Canadian Mineralogist

Mineralogical and geochemical evolution of micas from miarolitic pegmatites of the anorogenic pikes peak batholith, Colorado

A suite of 29 micas from miarolitic pegmatites associated with granitic units of the anorogenic Pikes Peak batholith (1.08-1.02 Ga), Colorado range in composition, and follow in paragenetic sequence, from 1M siderophyllite (N = 1), and 3T or 2M1 lithian biotite (N = 5) to 1M zinnwaldite (N = 20) and 1M ferroan lepidolite (N = 1). Locally, 1M (?) phlogopite (N = 1) and ferroan 2M1 muscovite (N = 1) are also present. Pervasive, late-stage hydrothermal alteration along with possible supergene weathering of many of these micas produced vermiculite. Additionally, some vugs and cavities were filled with chlorite and/or smectite. Early crystallized micas form tapered columnar crystals in graphic pegmatite, growing toward, and adjacent to the miarolitic cavity zone which contains the later crystallized micas. Principal associated minerals are quartz, microcline perthite (mostly amazonite), and albite, with local topaz or fluorite, and rarely tourmaline (schorl-elbaite). Progressively younger micas of the main crystallization sequence display increasing Si, Li, F, and Al/Ga, and decreasing total Fe, Mg, and octahedral occupancy. The zinc content of all micas is considerably elevated, whereas Mn, Rb, Cs, and Sc are moderate and T1 is very low. Early siderophyllite and lithian biotite show a narrow range of FeO/Fe2O3 (5.6-8.0), whereas later zinnwaldite is much more variable (2.4-40.3). Annite of the host granite and early graphic pegmatite is compositionally homogeneous, but most mica crystals from cavities show remarkable compositional and abrupt, sharp and distinct color zoning. Most cavity-grown zinnwaldite crystals show a decrease, from core to rim, in total Fe and Mg, whereas Si, Li and F increase and Mn, Rb, Cs and Na are essentially constant. A few to more than 100 color zones have been identified in some mica crystals. The zones are well correlated with the Ti content (<0.2 wt. % TiO2 colorless, 0.4-0.6 wt.% TiO2 red-brown). The total Fe content may or may not correlate with color zoning, whereas Zn variations (up to 1.1 wt. %) are entirely independent. The dark color zones probably reflect Fe-Ti charge transfer. The mica composition sequence described here is typical of the extreme fractionation observed in pegmatites of the NYF family, associated with anorogenec granites. Elevated Fe, Zn, and enhanced Sc contents are characteristic of this family. Strong enrichment in Li, Rb, and F is present, particularly in the micas of the miarolitic cavities. Sharp color zonation and compositional variation in cavity-grown zinnwaldite and ferroan lepidolite crystals suggest rapid changes in the intensive parameters, particularly the f(O2), of the parent fluid during the final stages of pegmatite consolidation ?? 1995 Springer-Verlag.

Mineralogy and Petrology

A new U-Ti-Ca-HREE hydrated oxide and associated niobian rutile from Topaz Valley, Utah

In October of 1988, specimens of yellow and/or white acicular needles growing out of equant to platy hematite were collected from the east side of Topaz Valley. For the past five years, attempts have been made by all of the authors to completely characterize what is believed to be a new mineral species. Because of several major factors the space group, exact formula, and structure are still unknown. The potentially new mineral and some associated minerals are described here with the hope that elsewhere in the world better and more material exists that will allow complete characterization. -from Authors

Mineralogical Record

McCrillisite, NaCs(Be,Li)Zr2(PO4)4.1-2H2O, a new mineral species from Mount Mica, Oxford County, Maine, and new data for gainesite

McCrillisite, a member of the gainesite group, occurs in the Mount Mica granitic pegmatite, South Paris, Oxford County, Maine. The mineral is a product of late-stage hydrothermal alteration and is associated with approximately 20 other silicate, oxide, carbonate, arsenite and phosphate minerals. Crystals occur in mm- to cm-sized cavities, and individuals are up to 1.2 mm in maximum dimension. The crystallography and mineral chemistry of McCrillisite are described. -from Authors

Canadian Mineralogist

Kosnarite, KZr2(PO4)3, a new mineral from Mount Mica and Black Mountain, Oxford County, Maine

Kosnarite, ideally KZr2(PO4)3, has been identified as part of a late-stage, secondary phosphate mineral assemblage from the Mount Mica pegmatite at Paris, and from the Black Mountain pegmatite, Rumford, Oxford County, Maine. Kosnarite from Mount Mica occurs as pseudocubic rhombohedral crystals, as much as 0.9 mm in maximum dimension, that display the dominant {102} form. Color ranges from pale blue to blue-green to nearly colorless. The mineral has a white streak, is transparent, has a vitreous luster, and is nonfluorescent in ultraviolet light. It has a hardness of 4.5, is brittle with a conchoidal fracture, and has perfect {102} cleavage. Kosnarite from Black Mountain is almost pure KZr2(PO4)3 with only trace amounts of Hf, Mn, Na, and Rb. The mineral is one of three known alkali zirconium phosphates; the others are gainesite and the Cs analogue of gainesite. -from Author

American Mineralogist