The hydroxy-sulphide yushkinite from the type deposit has been re-examined by electron probe microanalysis and reflectance measurement. The EPMA indicates minor Cu (up to 1.5 wt.%) and confirms an excess of V. Taking into account its composite structm-e (brucite-like hydroxide layer alternating with a berndtite-type sulphide layer) the proposed structural formula is, with the addition of minor intercalated Cu: [(Mgo,71Alo.36Vo.03)El.lo(OH)2,1800.02 ]Cuo.02 [VS2]. At the crystal scale, some crystal edges give a variable excess of Si and A1 (in the 1/1 ratio), indicating a late topotactic intergrowth with a layered alumino-silicate (or a composite silicate-sulphide). New specular reflectance data are given in air and oil from 400 to 800 nm, with the polarization plane parallel or perpendicular to the elongation. The refractive index n and absorption coefficient k are given; no absorption band exists in the perpendicular position, with constant n close to 1.9, and k to 0.3. In a parallel position, a pseudo-transparency window is centred around 500-520 nm (-2.4 eV). The main absorption band, centred around 730 nm (-1.7 eV), corresponds probably to a transition t2g ~ eg related to intra-layer V -V bonding. Charge transfer from the brucite-type layer to the VSz one, strictly controlled throtigh H-bonding, induces a mean formal valency of V close to 3.6. Yushkinite is compared with other synthetic layered hydroxy-sulphides, as well as brucite-type intercalated compounds.KEYWORD$" yushkinite, hydroxy-sulphide, vanadium, electron microprobe data, specular reflectance data, charge transfer, hydrogen bonding.
IntroductionYUSHKINITE is a complex lamellar hydroxysulphide of V discovered by Makeev et al. (1984) in quartz-calcite hydrothermal veins near the Sylova-Yaha river (Pai-Hoi anticlinorium, Komi Autonomous Republic, in the former Soviet Union). To date, this is the only known occurrence of yushkinite, and it has not been synthetized. Makeev et al. (1984) revealed the hybrid, non-commensurate character of the crystal structure of yushkinite, and showed that it was related to those of valleriite and tochilinite. In yushkinite, a brucite-like hydroxide layer alternates with a V-containing octahedral sulphide layer. Makeev et al. (1984) gave the structural formula:Organova (1989) proposed a new crystal chemical formula on the basis of the ratio of the t w o i n t r a -l a y e r s u b -c e l l s : Makovicky and Hyde (1992), in a general study of the group of minerals with incommensurate sandwiched layered structure ('2D-misfit compounds'), highlighted the close relationship between the sulphide layer of yushkinite and the pseudo-hexagonal VS2 layer of synthetic (PbS)I.12VS2, which is closely related to the layered structure of berndtite, SnS2.During the study of synthetic lanthanide-V sulphides of the misfit type (Carlo, 1998) compound close to (SmS)l.21VS2 revealed optical properties (purple colour and reflectance data) very similar to those of yushkinite. This led to the current re-examination of yushkinite, in order to u...