Ferri-taramite, a new member of the amphibole supergroup, from the Jakobsberg Mn-Fe deposit, Varmland, Sweden

Ferri-taramite (IMA CNMNC 2021-046), ideally Na-A(B) (CaNa)(C) (Mg3Fe23+)(Si6Al2)O-22(W) (OH)(2), occurs in skarn from the Jakobsberg manganese mine, Varmland, Sweden. Associated minerals are celsian, phlogopite, aegirine-augite, andradite, hancockite, melanotekite, microcline (var. hyalophane), calcite, baryte, prehnite, macedonite and oxyplumboromeite. Conditions of formation, close to peak metamorphism (at circa 650 degrees C and 0.4 GPa), include silica undersaturation, a slightly peralkaline character and relatively high oxygen fugacities. Ferri-taramite forms poikiloblastic crystals up to 5 mm and is dark brownish black with a yellowish grey streak. The amphibole is brittle with an uneven to splintery fracture. Cleavage parallel to {110} is good. Hardness (Mohs) is similar to 6, and D-calc = 3.227(5) g cm(-3). Holotype ferri-taramite has the experimental unit formula (A)(Na0.79K0.16Pb0.01)(Sigma 0.96)(B) (Ca1.26Na0.72Mn0.022+)(Sigma 2)(C )(Mg2.66Mn0.582+ Fe0.162+Zn0.02Fe1.263+ Al0.26Ti0.06)(Sigma)(T)(5.00) (Al1.86Si6.14)Sigma 8O(22)(W) (OH)(2), based on chemical analyses (EDS, laser-ablation ICP-MS) and spectroscopic (Mossbauer, infrared) and single-crystal X-ray diffraction data. The mineral is optically biaxial (-), with alpha = 1.670(5), beta = 1.680(5) and gamma = 1.685(5) in white light and 2 V-meas = 70(10)degrees and 2 V-calc = 70.2 degrees. Ferri-taramite is distinctly pleochroic in transmitted light, with X pale yellow, Y dark brown, Z yellowish brown and absorption Y> Z> X. The eight strongest reflections in the X-ray powder pattern (d values (in angstrom), I-rel, hkl) are 8.44, 60, 110; 3.392, 25, 131; 3.281, 39, 240; 3.140, 100, 310; 2.816, 45, 330; 2.7104, 38, 151; 1.3654, 26, 461; and 1.4451, 33, (6) over bar 61. Refined unit-cell parameters from single-crystal diffraction data are a = 9.89596(13), b = 18.015(2), c = 5.32164(7) angstrom, beta = 105.003(13)degrees and V = 916.38(2) angstrom(3) for Z = 2. Refinement of the crystal structure yielded R = 2.26 % for 2722 reflections with I-0 >2 sigma (I). The Mn2+ and Fe2+ ions show preference for the M1 and M3 octahedrally coordinated sites, whereas Fe3+ is strongly ordered at M2. The A-group cations, K and Na, are split over two subsites, A (m) and A(2), respectively.

Automated summary

Ferri-taramite, a complex mineral, was found in the Jakobsberg manganese mine in Sweden. It forms poikiloblastic crystals and has unique physical and chemical properties, which are the result of its formation under high-temperature and high-pressure conditions.