The crystal structure of kudriavite, (Cd,Pb)Bi2S4

Abstract

The crystal structure of kudriavite, (Cd,Pb)Bi2S4, a new mineral species, was solved from single-crystal X-ray-diffraction data and refi ned to R = 4.9% (4.3% for a model with split mixed-cation sites). Lattice parameters are a 13.095(1), b 4.0032(3), c 14.711(1) Å, 115.59(1)°, V 695.6(1) Å3. The structure is equivalent to that of synthetic CdBi2S4, space group C2/m, Z = 4, and represents a pavonite homologue, N = 3. It is built of three-octahedron-thick columns of (311)PbS-like slabs combined by "unitcell twinning" in a quasi-mirror-glide succession. The slabs, which are intrinsically of the same topology, differ in the coordination state of bordering cations because of the relative positions of the adjacent layers. In the slabs of type I (the "non-accreting" slab common to all pavonite homologues), the central columns of octahedra are fl anked by half-octahedral (square-pyramidal) coordinations completed to split-octahedra by the addition of two S atoms from the adjacent slab. The central columns of octahedra in the slabs of type II (of varying thickness, i.e., "accreting" in pavonite homologues) are fl anked by octahedral coordinations involving a S atom from the adjacent slab. The observed chemical Cd ¿ Pb and Bi ¿ In substitutions are, according to the crystal-chemical analysis, structurally limited to Bi-containing sites. They are distributed predominantly in the boundary coordinations of the type-I slabs, and the central octahedra of the type-II slabs, with Pb preferentially entering the former, and In the latter. The marginal octahedral sites of the type-II slabs, and the central octahedral sites of the type-I slabs, have been refi ned as pure Bi and Cd sites, respectively. The crystal-chemical analysis suggests that the observed 1:1 Pb:Cd ratio in natural kudriavite represents the upper limit for the substitution of Pb in the structure. A limit of the In substitution is not possible to determine from the present data, but it most probably is less than In:Bi = 1:3. The ratio observed in type kudriavite is less than 1:10.

Original languageEnglish
JournalThe Canadian Mineralogist
Volume45
Pages (from-to)437-443
Publication statusPublished - 2007

Keywords

  • Faculty of Science
  • kudriavite
  • Cd–Bi sulfosalt
  • crystal structure

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