Yakubovichite, CaNi2Fe3+(PO4)3, a new nickel phosphate mineral of non-meteoritic origin

Abstract

Yakubovichite, CaNi2Fe 3+ (PO4)3, a new mineral containing up to 20 wt.% NiO, represents a novel type of terrestrial phosphate mineralisation featuring an extreme enrichment in Ni. The mineral was discovered in the Hatrurim Formation (Mottled Zone) -pyrometamorphic complex whose outcrops are exposed in Israel and Jordan in the area coincident with the Dead Sea Transform fault system. Nickel-rich minerals in these assemblages also include Ni phosphides: halamishite Ni5P4, negevite NiP2, transjordanite and orishchinite -two polymorphs of Ni2P, nazarovite Ni12P5, polekovskyite MoNiP2; Ni-spinel trevorite NiFe2O4, bunsenite NiO, and nickeliferous members of the hematiteeskolaite series, Fe2O3-Cr2O3 containing up to 2 wt.% NiO. Yakubovichite forms polycrystalline segregations up to 0.2 mm in size composed of equant crystal grains, in association with crocobelonite, hematite, other phosphates and phosphides. It has a deep yellow to lemon-yellow colour; transparent to translucent with vitreous luster, with no cleavage. Mohs hardness = 4.Yakubovichite is orthorhombic, Imma, unit cell parameters of the holotype material: a 10.3878(10),

Deynekoite, Ca9□Fe3+(PO4)7 – a new mineral of the merrillite group from phosphide-bearing contact facies of paralava, Hatrurim Complex, Daba-Siwaqa, Jordan

“…The phosphides discovered were transjordanite, Ni 2 P; zuktamrurite, FeP 2 ; murashkoite, FeP; orishchinite, Ni 2 P; and nickolayite, FeMoP. The phosphates were crocobelonite, CaFe 3+ (PO 4 )O; moabite, NiFe 3+ (PO 4 )O; yakubovichite, CaNi 2 Fe 3+ (PO 4 ) 3 ; and nazarchukite, Ca 2 NiFe 3+ 2 (PO 4 ) 4 (Britvin et al, 2019a(Britvin et al, , 2019b(Britvin et al, , 2020(Britvin et al, , 2021a(Britvin et al, , 2021b(Britvin et al, , 2022a(Britvin et al, , 2022b(Britvin et al, , 2023a(Britvin et al, , 2023bMurashko et al, 2022).…”