The chlorites form an extensive isostructural series with a high degree of isomorphous substitution, within which it has always been difficult to define or delimit species; until recently, owing to the lack of adequate X-ray studies; several structurally distinct species were included with the group, further complicating the problem. The group comprises aluminosilicates of magnesium and iron (ferrous and ferric); a few contain appreciable amounts of chromium, nickel, or manganese, and one (pennantite) contains manganese as a major constituent.The first step towards the understanding of the relations of the chlorites was taken by G. Tschermak (1890, 1891), who divided them into two groups: the orthochlorites, with compositions between (Mg,Fe")2Al2SiO5(OH)4 and (Mg,Fe")2Si2O5(OH)4, and the leptochlorites, with compositions not explicable on this basis, and in general richer in trivalent ions (often including considerable Fe"′) relative to silicon and divalent ions. The two orthochlorite end-members have the composition of amesite and serpentine respectively, but it is now known that neither of these two minerals has the chlorite structure.

SummaryCorrelated data prove the approximate constancy of the number of oxygen atoms in the unit cells of several nepheline and elaeolite specimens. Thence the number of atoms of each kind per unit cell have been counted. The cell-volumes and optical properties have slso been correlated with the chemical composition. An approximate structure is suggested which, together with the chemical work, explains the variable composition of nepheline. The contents of the unit cell may be written Si16−nAln(Na,K,½Ca)n where n ranges from 6.6 to 8.2. Kaliophilite is shown to possess a much larger cell than that of nepheline, and its Lauegram exhibits higher symmetry. 'Pseudonepheline' (rich in potassium) has a slightly greater cell-volume than normal nepheline, but its Lauegram is almost identical and its axial ratio only slightly less.

Concentrates from the platiniferous norites of the Bushveld, Transvaal, are not completely soluble in aqua regia. The insoluble portion consists of steel-grey fragments first analysed chemically by R. A. Cooper and considered by him to be a new platinum mineral represented by the formula Pt(As,S)2. The name cooperite was proposed for the new mineral by F. Wartenweiller, and after further work Cooper decided that the arsenic found in the early analysis was due to the presence of sperrylite, and he changed the formula to PtS2. H. Schneiderhöhn observed simple twinning and, less frequently, polysynthetie lamellae on polished sections of mineral grains from the same deposits, and he suggested that cooperite is probably orthorhombic and isomorphous with marcasite. The latest account of the new mineral has been published by H. R. Adam who gave several analyses of cooperite from the Rustenburg and Potgietersrust districts and concluded that the ‘mineral is PtS2 with a small amount of excess metal (platinum, palladium, and nickel) present in solid solution’.

SummaryGeorgeite, an amorphous copper carbonatehydrate, has been found in the oxidation zone of the Carr Boyd nickel deposit, Western Australia. It forms thin coatings mostly associated with malachite and chalconatronite on partly weathered tremolite rock containing disseminated copper and iron sulphides.Physical properties: Colour light blue, streak pale blue, lustre vitreous to earthy, fracture conchoidal, soft, sp. gr. 2.55; transparent to sub-opaque (aggregates), n(NaD) = 1.593, isotropic. Amorphous to X-rays and electron beam.Chemical microanalysis gave (wt%) CuO 54.9, ZnO 0.4, Na2O 2.7, CO2 20.8, H2O 21.7, sum 100.5. After deduction of all Na2O and corresponding amounts of CuO, CO2, and H2O as chalconatronite (12.35 wt%) the atomic ratios correspond to an empirical formula (Cu5.0, Zn0.05)(CO3)3(OH)4.12.6.3H2O, the ideal formula being Cu5(CO3)3(OH)4.6H2O.

No abstract