Abstract
Dyrnaesite-(La), Na7.89(Ce0.94Ca0.06)Σ1.00(La1.14Ce0.40Pr0.10Nd0.24Ca0.12)Σ2.00(PO4)6 is orthorhombic, Pnma, a = 18.4662(7), b = 16.0106(5), c = 7.0274(2) Å, V = 2077.7(1) Å3, Z = 4. The crystal structure is related to the group of Na3REE(XO4)2 compounds (with X = P, V, As), based on the aphthitalite/glaserite
structural type. Dyrnaesite is distinct in having ordered Na vacancies, and a rare-earth element (REE) site occupied preferentially by Ce4+. This also distinguishes it from closely related vitusite-(Ce) [Na3REE(PO4)2]. The relation of their unit cells is: ad = bv, bd = 3av, cd = 1/2cv. The distinct Ce4+ site in dyrnaesite-(La) has smaller coordination with shorter bond lengths than the other REE site in the same structure or the REE sites in vitusite-(Ce). It is adjacent to the predominately vacant Na site, which in its turn has the largest coordination of all Na sites in the structure. REE sites, or Na sites in a [010] row (similar to [100] in vitusite-(Ce)) assume two types of coordinations with and without mirror symmetry and two different configurations of surrounding PO4 tetrahedra. This summarizes the topological difference to vitusite-(Ce) where the corresponding coordinations are similar in the same row and intermediate in character to the two types in dyrnaesite-(La).
structural type. Dyrnaesite is distinct in having ordered Na vacancies, and a rare-earth element (REE) site occupied preferentially by Ce4+. This also distinguishes it from closely related vitusite-(Ce) [Na3REE(PO4)2]. The relation of their unit cells is: ad = bv, bd = 3av, cd = 1/2cv. The distinct Ce4+ site in dyrnaesite-(La) has smaller coordination with shorter bond lengths than the other REE site in the same structure or the REE sites in vitusite-(Ce). It is adjacent to the predominately vacant Na site, which in its turn has the largest coordination of all Na sites in the structure. REE sites, or Na sites in a [010] row (similar to [100] in vitusite-(Ce)) assume two types of coordinations with and without mirror symmetry and two different configurations of surrounding PO4 tetrahedra. This summarizes the topological difference to vitusite-(Ce) where the corresponding coordinations are similar in the same row and intermediate in character to the two types in dyrnaesite-(La).
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Journal | Mineralogical Magazine |
| Volume | 81 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| Pages (from-to) | 199-208 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| ISSN | 0026-461X |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - Feb 2017 |
Keywords
- Faculty of Science