Re-Examination of Berlinite (AlPO4) from Cioclovina Cave, Romania
Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2007
Keywords
Berlinite, Cioclovina Cave, Romania, cave minerals
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.2138/am.2007.2581
Abstract
Berlinite is a mineral indicative of high-temperature formation and, therefore, it would not be expected to be present in a sedimentary environment. In this study, we review the characteristics of a berlinite-bearing deposit and present a single-crystal structure investigation based on X-ray data: the refinement converged at R1(F) = 0.0276, wR2(F2) = 0.0657 for 677 reflections (2θMoKα ≤ 70°) and 31 variables in space-group P3121 [a = 4.9458(10), c = 10.9526(20) Å, V = 232.0 Å3, Z = 3{AlPO4}]. The average bond distances within the two crystallographically unique TO4 tetrahedra are 1.734 and 1.526 Å, respectively. From the scattering power at these T sites and the stereochemistry, the presence of an AlO4 tetrahedron linked to a PO4 tetrahedron is established. Consequently, the sample from Cioclovina Cave is verified as AlPO4 (modification berlinite), reconfirming the first description of this mineral from a sedimentary occurrence, which underwent an obvious natural heating process.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
American Mineralogist, v. 92, issues 11-12, p. 1998-2001
Scholar Commons Citation
Onac, Bogdan P. and Effenberger, Herta S., "Re-Examination of Berlinite (AlPO4) from Cioclovina Cave, Romania" (2007). Geology Faculty Publications. 102.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/gly_facpub/102
Full Text URL
https://doi.org/10.2138/am.2007.2581
