ALBERT

Description: 〈span〉Fanfaniite, Ca〈sub〉4〈/sub〉Mn〈sup〉2+〈/sup〉Al〈sub〉4〈/sub〉(PO〈sub〉4〈/sub〉)〈sub〉6〈/sub〉(OH,F)〈sub〉4〈/sub〉·12H〈sub〉2〈/sub〉O, is a new secondary phosphate mineral from the Foote spodumene mine, North Carolina, USA and the Hagendorf-Süd pegmatite, Bavaria, Germany. At the Foote mine, it forms radial aggregates up to 0.5 mm in diameter of colourless, transparent, thin blades, flattened on {010} and elongated on [001], associated with whiteite-(CaMnMn). At Hagendorf-Süd, the mineral occurs as isolated very thin laths on the surface of fibrous spheroids of kayrobertsonite and is associated with altered triplite–zwieselite and whiteite-(CaMnMn). The measured density (Foote mine) is 2.58(2) g cm〈sup〉−3〈/sup〉. Optically, fanfaniite (Foote mine) is biaxial (–), with α = 1.573(2), β = 1.582(2), γ = 1.585(2) and 2〈span〉V〈/span〉(meas) = 57(1)°. Dispersion was not observed. The optical orientation is: 〈span〉Z〈/span〉 = 〈strong〉b〈/strong〉, 〈span〉X〈/span〉 ^ 〈strong〉c〈/strong〉 ≈ 40° in β obtuse. Pleochroism was not evident. Electron microprobe analyses gave the empirical formulas Ca〈sub〉3.91〈/sub〉Mn0.772+Mg〈sub〉0.10〈/sub〉Zn〈sub〉0.02〈/sub〉Al〈sub〉3.89〈/sub〉Fe0.213+(PO〈sub〉4〈/sub〉)〈sub〉6〈/sub〉(OH)〈sub〉3.90〈/sub〉(H〈sub〉2〈/sub〉O)〈sub〉12.10〈/sub〉 (Foote mine) and Ca〈sub〉3.73〈/sub〉Mn0.762+Mg〈sub〉0.25〈/sub〉Zn〈sub〉0.08〈/sub〉Al〈sub〉3.89〈/sub〉Fe0.293+(PO〈sub〉4〈/sub〉)〈sub〉6〈/sub〉F〈sub〉1.10〈/sub〉(OH)〈sub〉3.08〈/sub〉(H〈sub〉2〈/sub〉O)〈sub〉11.82〈/sub〉 (Hagendorf-Süd). Fanfaniite has monoclinic symmetry, space group 〈span〉C〈/span〉2/〈span〉c〈/span〉, with 〈span〉a〈/span〉 = 10.021(4) Å, 〈span〉b〈/span〉 = 24.137(5) Å, 〈span〉c〈/span〉 = 6.226(3) Å, β = 91.54(2)° and 〈span〉V〈/span〉 = 1505(1) Å〈sup〉3〈/sup〉. The crystal structure was refined to 〈span〉R〈/span〉〈sub〉obs〈/sub〉 = 0.043 for 1909 unique reflections to a resolution of 0.7 Å. Fanfaniite is the Mn〈sup〉2+〈/sup〉-dominant analogue of montgomeryite. The name honours Luca Fanfani who structurally characterised many phosphate minerals including montgomeryite.〈/span〉

Description: 〈span〉Fanfaniite, Ca〈sub〉4〈/sub〉Mn〈sup〉2+〈/sup〉Al〈sub〉4〈/sub〉(PO〈sub〉4〈/sub〉)〈sub〉6〈/sub〉(OH,F)〈sub〉4〈/sub〉·12H〈sub〉2〈/sub〉O, is a new secondary phosphate mineral from the Foote spodumene mine, North Carolina, USA and the Hagendorf-Süd pegmatite, Bavaria, Germany. At the Foote mine, it forms radial aggregates up to 0.5 mm in diameter of colourless, transparent, thin blades, flattened on {010} and elongated on [001], associated with whiteite-(CaMnMn). At Hagendorf-Süd, the mineral occurs as isolated very thin laths on the surface of fibrous spheroids of kayrobertsonite and is associated with altered triplite–zwieselite and whiteite-(CaMnMn). The measured density (Foote mine) is 2.58(2) g cm〈sup〉−3〈/sup〉. Optically, fanfaniite (Foote mine) is biaxial (–), with α = 1.573(2), β = 1.582(2), γ = 1.585(2) and 2〈span〉V〈/span〉(meas) = 57(1)°. Dispersion was not observed. The optical orientation is: 〈span〉Z〈/span〉 = 〈strong〉b〈/strong〉, 〈span〉X〈/span〉 ^ 〈strong〉c〈/strong〉 ≈ 40° in β obtuse. Pleochroism was not evident. Electron microprobe analyses gave the empirical formulas Ca〈sub〉3.91〈/sub〉Mn0.772+Mg〈sub〉0.10〈/sub〉Zn〈sub〉0.02〈/sub〉Al〈sub〉3.89〈/sub〉Fe0.213+(PO〈sub〉4〈/sub〉)〈sub〉6〈/sub〉(OH)〈sub〉3.90〈/sub〉(H〈sub〉2〈/sub〉O)〈sub〉12.10〈/sub〉 (Foote mine) and Ca〈sub〉3.73〈/sub〉Mn0.762+Mg〈sub〉0.25〈/sub〉Zn〈sub〉0.08〈/sub〉Al〈sub〉3.89〈/sub〉Fe0.293+(PO〈sub〉4〈/sub〉)〈sub〉6〈/sub〉F〈sub〉1.10〈/sub〉(OH)〈sub〉3.08〈/sub〉(H〈sub〉2〈/sub〉O)〈sub〉11.82〈/sub〉 (Hagendorf-Süd). Fanfaniite has monoclinic symmetry, space group 〈span〉C〈/span〉2/〈span〉c〈/span〉, with 〈span〉a〈/span〉 = 10.021(4) Å, 〈span〉b〈/span〉 = 24.137(5) Å, 〈span〉c〈/span〉 = 6.226(3) Å, β = 91.54(2)° and 〈span〉V〈/span〉 = 1505(1) Å〈sup〉3〈/sup〉. The crystal structure was refined to 〈span〉R〈/span〉〈sub〉obs〈/sub〉 = 0.043 for 1909 unique reflections to a resolution of 0.7 Å. Fanfaniite is the Mn〈sup〉2+〈/sup〉-dominant analogue of montgomeryite. The name honours Luca Fanfani who structurally characterised many phosphate minerals including montgomeryite.〈/span〉

Description: 〈span〉The calcioferrite group has been formally approved by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification of the International Mineralogical Association (proposal 19-B). It comprises four minerals with 〈span〉C〈/span〉-centred monoclinic cells and general formula Ca〈sub〉4〈/sub〉〈span〉A〈/span〉〈sup〉〈span〉2+〈/span〉〈/sup〉〈span〉B〈/span〉〈sup〉〈span〉3+〈/span〉〈/sup〉〈sub〉4〈/sub〉(PO〈sub〉4〈/sub〉)〈sub〉6〈/sub〉(OH)〈sub〉4〈/sub〉·12H〈sub〉2〈/sub〉O, where 〈span〉A〈/span〉 and 〈span〉B〈/span〉 = Mg and Fe for calcioferrite, Mg and Al for montgomeryite, Mn and Fe for zodacite and Mn and Al for fanfaniite, together with the triclinic mineral kingsmountite, Ca〈sub〉3〈/sub〉Mn〈sup〉2+〈/sup〉Fe〈sup〉2+〈/sup〉Al〈sub〉4〈/sub〉(PO〈sub〉4〈/sub〉)〈sub〉6〈/sub〉(OH)〈sub〉4〈/sub〉·12H〈sub〉2〈/sub〉O. The minerals with 〈span〉B〈/span〉 = Fe form the calcioferrite subgroup and those with 〈span〉B〈/span〉 = Al form the montgomeryite subgroup.The triclinic member was recently approved as the mineral “aniyunwiyaite” (IMA2018-054). New measurements on the holotype specimen of kingsmountite, however, show that it has the same crystallographic and chemical properties as “aniyunwiyaite” and, consequently, “aniyunwiyaite” has been discredited as being kingsmountite. Kingsmountite is triclinic, 〈span〉P〈/span〉−1, with 〈span〉a〈/span〉 = 20.067(6) Å, 〈span〉b〈/span〉 = 13.197(4) Å, 〈span〉c〈/span〉 = 6.255(3) Å, α = 89.35(2)°, β = 91.21(2)°, γ = 112.20(2)°, 〈span〉V〈/span〉 = 1533.4(10) Å〈sup〉3〈/sup〉 and 〈span〉Z〈/span〉 = 2〈strong〉.〈/strong〉 The structure was solved and refined to 〈span〉R〈/span〉〈sub〉obs〈/sub〉 = 0.059 for 4351 reflections with 〈span〉I〈/span〉 〉 3σ(〈span〉I〈/span〉). The crystal structure is a superstructure of the 〈span〉C〈/span〉-centred monoclinic montgomeryite structure, having a doubled 〈span〉a〈/span〉〈sub〉〈span〉m〈/span〉〈/sub〉 cell parameter. The superstructure results from ordering of octahedrally coordinated Mn in one of four independent 8-coordinated Ca sites, and ordering of 〈span〉A〈/span〉 site cations, which in the Ca〈sub〉4〈/sub〉〈span〉AB〈/span〉〈sub〉4〈/sub〉(PO〈sub〉4〈/sub〉)〈sub〉6〈/sub〉(OH)〈sub〉4〈/sub〉·12H〈sub〉2〈/sub〉O minerals are statistically distributed over half-occupied sites.〈/span〉

Description: 〈span〉The calcioferrite group has been formally approved by the Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification of the International Mineralogical Association (proposal 19-B). It comprises four minerals with 〈span〉C〈/span〉-centred monoclinic cells and general formula Ca〈sub〉4〈/sub〉〈span〉A〈/span〉〈sup〉〈span〉2+〈/span〉〈/sup〉〈span〉B〈/span〉〈sup〉〈span〉3+〈/span〉〈/sup〉〈sub〉4〈/sub〉(PO〈sub〉4〈/sub〉)〈sub〉6〈/sub〉(OH)〈sub〉4〈/sub〉·12H〈sub〉2〈/sub〉O, where 〈span〉A〈/span〉 and 〈span〉B〈/span〉 = Mg and Fe for calcioferrite, Mg and Al for montgomeryite, Mn and Fe for zodacite and Mn and Al for fanfaniite, together with the triclinic mineral kingsmountite, Ca〈sub〉3〈/sub〉Mn〈sup〉2+〈/sup〉Fe〈sup〉2+〈/sup〉Al〈sub〉4〈/sub〉(PO〈sub〉4〈/sub〉)〈sub〉6〈/sub〉(OH)〈sub〉4〈/sub〉·12H〈sub〉2〈/sub〉O. The minerals with 〈span〉B〈/span〉 = Fe form the calcioferrite subgroup and those with 〈span〉B〈/span〉 = Al form the montgomeryite subgroup. The triclinic member was recently approved as the mineral “aniyunwiyaite” (IMA2018-054). New measurements on the holotype specimen of kingsmountite, however, show that it has the same crystallographic and chemical properties as “aniyunwiyaite” and, consequently, “aniyunwiyaite” has been discredited as being kingsmountite. Kingsmountite is triclinic, 〈span〉P〈/span〉1¯, with 〈span〉a〈/span〉 = 20.067(6) Å, 〈span〉b〈/span〉 = 13.197(4) Å, 〈span〉c〈/span〉 = 6.255(3) Å, α = 89.35(2)°, β = 91.21(2)°, γ = 112.20(2)°, 〈span〉V〈/span〉 = 1533.4(10) Å〈sup〉3〈/sup〉 and 〈span〉Z〈/span〉 = 2. The structure was solved and refined to 〈span〉R〈/span〉〈sub〉obs〈/sub〉 = 0.059 for 4351 reflections with 〈span〉I〈/span〉 〉 3σ(〈span〉I〈/span〉). The crystal structure is a superstructure of the 〈span〉C〈/span〉-centred monoclinic montgomeryite structure, having a doubled 〈span〉a〈/span〉〈sub〉〈span〉m〈/span〉〈/sub〉 cell parameter. The superstructure results from ordering of octahedrally coordinated Mn in one of four independent 8-coordinated Ca sites, and ordering of 〈span〉A〈/span〉 site cations, which in the Ca〈sub〉4〈/sub〉〈span〉AB〈/span〉〈sub〉4〈/sub〉(PO〈sub〉4〈/sub〉)〈sub〉6〈/sub〉(OH)〈sub〉4〈/sub〉·12H〈sub〉2〈/sub〉O structures are statistically distributed over half-occupied sites.〈/span〉

Description: We describe four patients with impaired platelet aggregation and 14C- serotonin secretion during stimulation with adenosine diphosphate (ADP), epinephrine, collagen, and platelet-activating factor. The response to arachidonic acid was normal in all patients with regard to aggregation and in three of the four with regard to 14C-serotonin secretion. The total platelet adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and ADP content and the ATP to ADP ratio was normal in all patients, thereby excluding storage pool deficiency as the cause of the secretion defect. Studies with 3H-arachidonic acid-labeled platelets revealed that the thrombin-induced liberation of arachidonic acid from membrane-bound phospholipids was impaired in these patients. Further, platelet thromboxane B2 production, measured using a radioimmunoassay, was diminished during stimulation with ADP and thrombin, but was normal with arachidonic acid, indicating that the oxygenation of arachidonic acid was normal and that the diminished thromboxane production was due to a defect in the liberation of arachidonic acid. Release of arachidonic acid is mediated by phospholipases that are Ca++ dependent. To examine whether these patients may have a defect in making intracellular Ca++ available, another Ca++-dependent process, myosin light chain phosphorylation, was studied during thrombin stimulation. Platelets from three of the patients were found to behave the same as normal ones, suggesting that the deficiency in phospholipase activity may not be due to impaired Ca++ mobilization. Our studies demonstrate a novel group of patients with platelet secretion defects associated with impaired liberation of arachidonic acid from phospholipids. These patients exemplify a congenital defect, other than deficiencies of cyclooxygenase and thromboxane synthetase, by which thromboxane production may be impaired in platelets.

Description: We describe four patients with impaired platelet aggregation and 14C- serotonin secretion during stimulation with adenosine diphosphate (ADP), epinephrine, collagen, and platelet-activating factor. The response to arachidonic acid was normal in all patients with regard to aggregation and in three of the four with regard to 14C-serotonin secretion. The total platelet adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and ADP content and the ATP to ADP ratio was normal in all patients, thereby excluding storage pool deficiency as the cause of the secretion defect. Studies with 3H-arachidonic acid-labeled platelets revealed that the thrombin-induced liberation of arachidonic acid from membrane-bound phospholipids was impaired in these patients. Further, platelet thromboxane B2 production, measured using a radioimmunoassay, was diminished during stimulation with ADP and thrombin, but was normal with arachidonic acid, indicating that the oxygenation of arachidonic acid was normal and that the diminished thromboxane production was due to a defect in the liberation of arachidonic acid. Release of arachidonic acid is mediated by phospholipases that are Ca++ dependent. To examine whether these patients may have a defect in making intracellular Ca++ available, another Ca++-dependent process, myosin light chain phosphorylation, was studied during thrombin stimulation. Platelets from three of the patients were found to behave the same as normal ones, suggesting that the deficiency in phospholipase activity may not be due to impaired Ca++ mobilization. Our studies demonstrate a novel group of patients with platelet secretion defects associated with impaired liberation of arachidonic acid from phospholipids. These patients exemplify a congenital defect, other than deficiencies of cyclooxygenase and thromboxane synthetase, by which thromboxane production may be impaired in platelets.