Journal/NDM39 2004 eng

New Data on Minerals, vol.39, 2004

New Data on Minerals. Moscow.: Ocean Pictures, 2004. volume 39, 172 pages, 92 color images.
Editor-in-Chief Margarita I. Novgorodova. Publication of Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Russian Academy of Science.

Summary

Articles of the volume give a new data on komarovite series minerals, jarandolite, kalsilite from Khibiny massif, presents a description of a new occurrence of nikelalumite, followed by articles on gemnetic mineralogy of lamprophyllite-barytolamprophyllite series minerals from IujaVritemalignite complex of burbankite group and mineral composition of rare-metal-uranium, berrillium with emerald deposits in Kuu granite massif of Central Kazakhstan. Another group of article dwells on crystal chemistry and chemical properties of minerals: stacking disorder of zinc sulfide crystals from Black Smoker chimneys, silver forms in galena from Dalnegorsk, tetragonal Cu₂₁S in recent hydrothermal ores of Mid-Atlantic Ridge, ontogeny of spiralsplit pyrite crystals from Kursk magnetic Anomaly. Museum collection section of the volume consist of articles devoted to Faberge lapidary and nephrite caved sculptures from Fersman Mineralogical Museum.
The volume is of interest for mineralogists, geochemists, geologists, and to museum curators, collectors and amateurs of minerals.

Editorial Board

• Editor-in-Chief Margarita I .Novgorodova, Doctor in Science, Professor
• Editor-in-Chief of the volume: Elena A.Borisova, Ph.D
• Moisei D. Dorfman, Doctor in Science
• Svetlana N. Nenasheva, Ph.D
• Marianna B. Chistyakova, Ph.D
• Elena N. Matvienko, Ph.D
• Мichael Е. Generalov, Ph.D
• N.A.Sokolova — Secretary
• Translators: Dmitrii Belakovskii, Yiulia Belovistkaya, Il'ya Kubancev, Victor Zubarev

Publishing group

• Photo: Michael B. Leibov, Michael R. Кalamkarov, Boris Z. Kantor, Natalia A. Pekova
• Leader of publishing group Michael B. Leibov
• Executive Editor Ludmila А. Cheshko (Еgorova)
• Art Director Nikolay О. Parlashkevich
• Editor Andrey L. Cheshko, Ekaterina V. Yakunina
• Design Dmitrii Ershov
• Layout Sophia B. Dvoskina

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© Design, Ocean Pictures, 2004
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Сontent

New Minerals and Their Varieeties: New Finds of Rare Minerals, Mineral Paragenesis

Igor V. Pekov, Yulia V. Azarova, Nikita V. Chukanov New data on komarovite series minerals, p. 5 - 13

The complex (electron microprobe, Xray diffraction, IRspectroscopy etc.) research was accomplished for representative collection of samples of komarovite series minerals, occurred in pseudomorphs after vuonnemite from Lovozero and Khibiny alkaline massifs (Kola Peninsula), representations about their cation composition are much extended. New and earlier published materials on these minerals are critically considered and generalized. In light of their strongly pronounced zeolitelike structure, the schemes of isomorphism and decationization are discussed. Ideal general formula for komarovite series members: (Na,M)_6-xСa(Nb,Ti)₆[Si₄O₁₂](O,OH)₁₄(F,OH)₂·nH₂O where M = Ca, Sr, Ba, K, Pb, REE, Th etc. In this series, it is propesed to distinguish two mineral species: komarovite (decationized, corresponds to original komarovite, with x > 3) and natrokomarovite (cationsaturated, with x < 3). Within the limits of the modern nomenclature the latter term is represented more correct than earlier used for this mineral name «Na-komarovite». Komarovite and natrokomarovite strongly differ in chemical composition but are close on X-ray powder diagrams and IR-spectra. In chemical relation, oxosilicates of the komarovite series occupies an intermediate position between oxides of the pyrochlore group and silicates of the labuntsovite group. That causes a place of natrokomarovite in general scheme of evolution of niobium mineralization in differentiates of alkaline complexes: it appears as an intermediate product at fluctuations of the activity of silica in pegmatitichydrothermal systems. Komarovite is a typical transformational mineral species formed by solidstate transformation (decationization, ion exchange, additional hydration) of natrokomarovite under late hydrothermal and probably in hypergene conditions. читать далее...

Atali A. Agakhanov, Leonid A. Pautov, Yulia A. Uvarova, Elena V. Sokolova, Frank C. Hawthorne, Vladimir Yu. Karpenko, Vyacheslav D. Dusmatov , Eugenii I. Semenov Arapovite, (U,Th)(Ca,Na)₂(K_1-x□_x)Si₈O₂₀·H₂O, — new mineral, p. 14 - 19

New mineral, uranium analogue of turkestanite, arapovite, was found among alkaline rocks of Darai-Pioz (Tajikistan). The mineral is represented by zonal areas 0.10.3 mm width in turkestanite crystals from polylithioniteaegirinemicrocline rock. It is associated with stillwellite-(Ce), sogdianite, zektzerite, pyrochlore, hyalotekite, tazhikite group minerals, albite, and quartz. The mineral has darkgreen color; it is transparent in the thin sections. The hardness is 5.56.0 on Mohs' scale, Dexp.= 3.43(2), Dcalc.=3.414 g/cm³. The mineral is optically uniaxial, negative, nо=1.615(2); nе=1.610(2). It is partially metamict. Crystal structure was studied by singlecrystal method. The mineral is tetragonal, sp. gr. P4/mcc. Unit cell parameters are following: a=7.6506(4), c=14.9318(9)Å, V=873.9(1)ų, Z=2. Crystal structure refinement was made on annealed material by 528 independent reflexes with R1= 2.9%. Unit cell parameters of annealed mineral are following: a=7.5505(4), c= 14.7104(4)Å, V=838.6(1)Å. The main lines on powder Xray diagram are [d, Å, (I, %), (hkl)]: 7.57 (14) (010), 7.39 (12) (002), 5.34(23) (100), 5.28 (38) (012), 3.37 (100) (120), 3.31 (58) (014), 2.640 (64) (024), 2.161(45) (224). Chemical composition (electron microprobe method, wt %, H₂O — Penfield method) is following: SiO₂ 53.99, UO₂ 16.63, ThO₂ 10.57, Ce₂O₃ 0.55, La₂O₃ 0.14, Pr₂O₃ 0.05, Nd₂O₃ 0.62, Sm₂O₃ 0.11, Eu₂O₃ 0.14, Gd₂O₃ 0.03, Dy₂O₃ 0.13, PbO 0.82, CaO 8.11, Na₂O 2.54, K₂O 4.52, H₂O⁺ 1.80, total 100.76. The empiric formula of arapovite is (U_0.55Th_0.36 Pb_0.03Ce_0.03 Nd_0.03La_0.01 Sm_0.01 Eu_0.01 Dy_0.01)_1.04 (Ca_1.29 Na_0.73)_2.02 (K_0.85 0.15)_1.00Si₈O_20.06·0.89H₂O. The ideal formula is (U,Th)(Ca,Na)₂(K_1-x□_x)Si₈O₂₀·H₂O. The IR-spectrum is given. The mineral was named after Yu.A. Arapov, geologist, petrographer, worked at TurkestanAlay Range. читать далее...

Leonid A. Pautov, Atali A. Agakhanov, Yulia A. Uvarova, Elena V. Sokolova, Frank C. Hawthorne Zeravshanite, Cs₄Na₂Zr₃(Si₁₈O₄₅)(H₂O)₂, new cesium mineral from Darai-Pioz massif (Tajikistan), p. 20 - 25

New cesium mineral zeravshanite with formula Cs₄Na₂Zr₃(Si₁₈O₄₅)(H₂O)₂ (monoclinic system, sp. group C2/c, a = 26,3511(8)Å, b = 7.5464(3) Å, c = 22.9769(8)Å, β = 107.237(1)°, V = 4363.9(4)ų, Z = 4) was found in the moraine of DaraiPioz glacier located at the joint of Zeravshan, Turkestan and Alay Ranges (Tajikistan). The mineral was named after type locality. Zeravshanite forms of grains (from 0.02 up to 0.2 mm in size) in the quartz rock with aegirine, polylithionite, pectolite, reedmergnerite, sogdianite, leucosphenite, stillwellite-(Ce), microcline, baratovite, fluorite, galena, turkestanite, minerals of tazhikite and eudialyte groups, neptunite, pekovite, cesium analogue of polylithionite etc. Zeravshanite is colorless, transparent. Hardness is 6 on Mohs’ scale. Microindentation, VHN = 838 kgs/mm². Density is 3.09(5) (exp.), 3.17 (calc.) g/cm³. Zeravshanite is biaxial, optical negative. 2V (calc.) = — 63^о. Optic angle dispersion is medium, v>r. n_p = 1.582(2), n_m = 1.598(2), n_g = 1.603(2). The IRspectrum (strong absorption bands) is following: 1089, 1045, 978, 709, 662, 585, 538 cm^–1. The chemical composition (wt %, average on 6 electron microprobe analyses) is: SiO₂ — 52.20, TiO₂ — 0.43, ZrO₂ — 16.41, SnO₂ — 0.46, Fe₂O₃ — 0.21, Na₂O — 3.06, K₂O — 0.09, Cs₂O — 26.58, H₂O (calc.) — 1.74, total — 101.18. The strong lines of X-ray powder diagram are following (d, I): 6.32(5); 3.65(5); 3.35(10); 3.25(4); 2.82(5); 2.62(7); 1.946(4); 1.891(4); 1.865(4). Crystal structure is determined with R=2.8%. The sample with new mineral is kept in the Fersman Mineralogical Museum RAS (Moscow, Russia). читать далее...

Svetlana V. Malinko , S. Anic’ic’, D. Joksimovic, A.E. Lisitsyn , V.V. Rudnev, G.I. Dorokhova, N.A. Yamnova, V.V. Vlasov, A.A. Ozol, Nikita V. Chukanov Jarandolite Ca[B₃O₄(OH)₃], calcium borate from Serbia: new name and new data, p. 26 - 31

The new data are given on calcium borate jarandolite from Jarandol basin (Serbia) which short description has been published earlier (Stojanovic’ 1992, Stojanovic’ et al. 1993) under the tentative name «srbianite». Jarandolite forms columnar aggregates of flattened individuals up to 1.5 cm in length and associates with colemanite, howlite, ulexite, veatchite, studenitsite, pentahydroborite, and montmorillonite. The mineral is colourless, semitransparent. The lustre is vitreous, cleavage is highly perfect on (001). Microindentation hardness is Haverage = 645 kg/mm² (approximately 5 on Mohs’ scale). Density (exp): 2.49 (2) g/cm³, density (calc) = 2.57 g/cm³ (from empirical formula); 2.57 g/cm³ (from structural data). The mineral is optically biaxial, positive. 2V = 60(2)°, n_p = 1.573(2), n_m = 1.586(2), n_g = 1.626(2). Dispersion of optical axes is medium, r > v. Elongation is positive. Orientation is following: Np = c, Nm = b, aNg = +8°. Pleochroism is absent. The simple forms {001}, {011}, and {11} are observed. Microtwinning is on (001). IRspectrum and thermogram are given. Chemical composition (wet analysis, wt %) is: Na₂O 0.05, K₂O 0.07, CaO 30.56, MgO 0.02, MnO 0.01, Fe₂O₃ 0.20, Al₂O₃ 0.03, SiO₂ 0.20, B₂O₃ 55.44, Cl 0.21, H₂O 13.36, –O=Cl₂ –0.05, total 100.10. The empirical formula of jarandolite is: Ca_1.02(B_2.99Si_0.01)O_4.125(OH)_2.79Cl_0.01. The spiralscrewed chains of colemanite type underlie in the base of crystal structure of jarandolite, which has been studied on monocrystal (R = 0.035). The mineral is monoclinic, the space group P2₁/a, a = 8.386(3), b = 8.142(4), c = 7.249(3) Å, β = 98.33(3)°, V = 489.7 ų. The strongest lines of X-ray powder diagram are following [d, Å (I, %) (hkl)]: 4.32 (57) (111), 3.39 (100) (201), 3.13 (50) (211), 2.93 (23) (–202), 2.606 (25) (221), 1.849 (25) (–421, 420). читать далее...

Vladimir Yu. Karpenko, Atali A. Agakhanov, Leonid A. Pautov, Tamara V. Dikaya, G.K. Bekenova New occurrence of nickelalumite on Kara-Chagyr, South Kirgizia, p. 32 - 39

The finds of rare nickelalumite was made on occurrences of vanadiumbearing schists of Kara-Chagyr and Kara-Tangi (Batkensk Region, Kirgizia). The mineral forms radiatefibrous segregations, spherulites up to 1–2 mm in size in assemblage with ankinovichite, volborthite, tyuyamunite, allophane. The mineral colour is from light blue, almost colourless, to dark green. The intensive green colour is due to increased content of vanadium, which enters in the mineral as isomorphous admixture (up to 6.54% V₂O₅). Refractive index of vanadiumfree nickelalumite are n_g = 1.533(2), n_p = 1.524(2), highvanadium nickelalumite n~1.575–1.580 (average index). In the article there are a table of chemical compositions of nickelalumite and the diagrams of correlation dependence for pairs Ni — (sum of divalent cations), S–V, Si–V, Al–Si, Al–S. Highzinc nickelalumite is characteristic for Kara-Tangi, some analyses corresponds to zinc analogue of this mineral. The following scheme of heterovalent isomorphism is proposed: Al³⁺+(SO₄)^2- ↔ Si⁴⁺+(VO₄)^3-, that is also confirmed by IR-spectroscopy data. Taking into account this scheme, the formula of nickelalumite is (Ni,Zn,Cu⁺²)(Al,Si)₄[(SO₄),(VO₄)](OH)₁₂·3H₂O. The origin of this mineral is connected to lowtemperature alteration of carboniferous-siliceous schists, having increased contents of nickel and zinc. The find of nickelalumite is, obviously, the second in the world. читать далее...

Olga A. Ageeva, Boris Ye. Borutzky Kalsilite in the rocks of Khibiny massif: morphology, paragenesis, genetic conditions, p. 40 - 49

Kalsilite in Khibiny massif is typical for poikilitic nepheline syenites (ristschorrites) where it occurs in close intergrowth with nepheline and orthoclase. This mineral is observed in the nepheline grains as veinlets, segregations of irregular shape or rims at the boundaries of nepheline and orthoclase grains. Also it occurs in the composition of radiatefibrous kalsiliteorthoclase intergrowths, as a rule, framing nepheline grains. Formation of kalsilite is determined to concern to most early stage of KSimetasomatosis, influencing on massive coarsegrained urtites. It is caused by strong increasing activity of potassium relatively to sodium. Nepheline of initial rocks was the matrix for kalsilite formation, which was accompanied and changed by formation of other potassium minerals, including the main rockforming mineral of ristschorrites — potassium feldspar. Different chemical activity of potassium and silica, which has determined kalsilite presence, degree of its development, and other peculiarities of ristschorrites mineralogy, is caused by both the character of replaced rocks, and the chemical composition of influencing solutions (the potassium concentration in them). читать далее...

Yulia V. Belovitskaya, Igor V. Pekov Genetic mineralogy of the burbankite group, p. 50 - 64

The burbankite group consists of six mineral species with general formula А₃В₃(СО₃)₅ where А = Na > Ca, REE³⁺, ; B = Sr, Ca, Ba, REE³⁺, Na: burbankite, khanneshite, calcioburbankite, remondite-(Ce), remondite-(La), and petersenite-(Ce). The burbankite structural type (space group P63mc) is exclusively stable for chemical composition variations: khanneshite, calcioburbankite, remondite hexagonal analogue, and burbankite are isostructural and form the system of continous solid solutions. All chemical compositions (94 analyses) of the burbankite group minerals can be described within the isomorphous system with end members: (Na₂Ca)М²⁺₃(CO₃)₅ and Na₃(REE₂Na)(CO₃)₅, where М²⁺=Sr, Ba, Ca. There are three genetic types of the burbankite mineralization: 1) in carbonatites where the minerals with the “most averaged” chemical composition and increased contents of Ba and Ca are formed; 2) in alkaline hydrothermalites where the range of chemical compositions of the burbankitelike phases is extremely wide; 3) in pectolite metasomatites where burbankite is strongly REEdepleted. In carbonatites the burbankite group minerals are early phases formed under hightemperature conditions, whereas in nepheline syenite massifs they are formed during hydrothermal stages under low temperatures, which is due to different regime of CO₂. Under alkalinity decrease the burbankite group minerals are replaced by a whole series of secondary minerals, among which the alkalifree carbonates of REE, Sr, Ba, and Ca prevail. читать далее...

Yulia V. Azarova Genesis and typochemism of lamprophyllite-barytolamprophyllite series minerals from lujavrite-malignite complex of Khibiny massif, p. 65 - 70

The detail analysis of chemical composition and character of postmagmatic alteration of lamprophyllite-barytolamprophyllite series minerals from lujavritemalignites of Khibiny massif was made by local roentgenospectral and electron-microscopic methods. It is determined that in lujavrites high-barium lamprophyllite is a typomorphic accessory mineral. In malignites two stages of lamprophyllite alteration are ascertained, which correspond to two stages of their formation: 1) at the stage of primary rocks (lujavrite or titanite trachytoid melteigite-urtites) transformation in result of K,Si-metasomatosis the recrystallization of primary Ba-lamprophyllite without change of chemical composition (in case of lujavrites) and enrichment of primary strontium lamprophyllite by barium and potassium (in case of melteigiteurtites) take place; 2) at the stage of lowtemperature rocks transformation by action of solutions enriched by strontium and/or calcium the replacement of Balamprophyllite by strontium analogue (in malignites genetically connected to lujavrites) and development of titanite after Ba,K-lamprophyllite (in malignites connected to ijolite-urtites) occur. It is detected that the character of postmagmatic alteration of primary strontium lamprophyllite in «porphyraceous malignites» is also the evident of primary rocks (trachytoid ijolites) transformation during K,Si-metasomatosis. читать далее...

Andrei A. Chernikov, Moisei D. Dorfman Mineral composition of raremetaluranium, beryllium with emerald and other deposits in endo- and exocontacts of the Kuu granite massif (Central Kazakhstan), p. 71 - 79

The Permian granite massif of Kuu, making part of the Akchatau orebearing complex of the Central Kazakhstan, is characterized by occurences of quartzfelspathic pegmatites, some of which comprise accumulations of ore minerals — wolframite, molybdenite, cassiterite, monazite, beryl and less often others. Molybdenite is also present in some aplite dikes. Diverse veined formations, greisens, quartz and quart-zore veins are common in the Kuu massif.
The rare-metal-uranium deposit Komsomolskoye is confined to greisenization zones in western endo- and exocontacts of granite massif, and the southern contact of Kuu massif comprises a beryllium deposit. The exocontact of massif, where quartz mineralization passes from granite into schistose ultrabasites, comprises an emerald manifestation and molybdenum deposit Shalguiya. This paper considers features of mineral composition of these deposits and ore manifestations and the history of geological evolution of mineralization. читать далее...

Crystal Chemistry, Minerals as Prototypes of New Materials, Physical and Chemical Properties of Minerals

Margarita I. Novgorodova Nanocrystals of native Gold and their intergrowths, p. 81 - 90

Nanocrystals of native gold showing morphological similarity to their synthesized analogs were discovered as inclusions in quartz and sulfides. Nanocrystals tens of nanometers in size are of cubic, cubooctahedral crystalline and dodecahedral quasicrystalline form. Numerous twins, absent in gold macrocrystals, including polysynthetic twins by (100), and penetration twins by cube were found, reducing the symmetry of the facecentered cubic structure of gold. читать далее...

Nadezhda N. Mozgova, Natalija I. Organova, Yuriy S. Borodaev, Nikolay V. Trubkin, Margareta Sundberg Stacking disorder of zinc sulfide crystals from Black Smoker Chimneys (Manus Back-Arc basin, Papua-New Guinea region), p. 91 - 98

Hexagonal ZnS platelets and prisms (up to 1 mm in size) from black smoker chimneys of hydrothermal field of Manus backarc basin (PapuaNew Guinea) were studied using a set of methods (ore microscopy, SEM, electron microprobe analysis, X-ray and electron diffraction, and HRTEM). The most prominent isomorphic admixture is Fe (6.6–9.6 mol.% in the ZnS structure). Both Xray and electron diffraction patterns and HRTEM images have shown that ZnS-crystals despite of their hexagonal habitus contain three different modifications in nanoscale: polytypes 3C and 2H and defect phase with alternating layer stacking. This fact is a result of nonequilibrium growth conditions. 2 tab читать далее...

Irina F. Gablina, Yury S. Borodaev, Nadezhda N. Mozgova, Yu. A. Bogdanov, Oksana Yu. Kuznetzova, Viktor I. Starostin, Farajalla Fardust Tetragonal Cu₂S in recent hydrothermal ores of Rainbow (Mid-Atlantic Ridge, 36° 14'N), p. 99 - 105

The ores samples were investigated taken from active chimneys of the Rainbow hydrothermal field (MAR, 36° 14’ N) at a depth of 2,276 m in Cruise R/V 47 of research vessel «Academician Mstislav Keldysh» (2002). Optical, microprobe and Xray analytical methods were used. The basic method of mineral identification was X-ray analysis (Debye powder photomethod). Samples were fragments of small hydrothermal chimneys having a zonal structure: in direction from the channel to the external wall, isocubanite zone («phase Y») is replaced by chalcopyrite zone, then follows bornite zone, which to the periphery gradually passes into a copper sulfide zone. For the first time the tetragonal form of Cu2S — metastable isomorph of chalcocite, which stability is limited by the field of high pressure (above 0.8 kilobar) and temperature (above 102° C) – was discovered in modern ocean ore. Tetragonal Cu2S was identified in one sample in a mixture with chalcocite and djurleite, in the other — in a mixture with bornite. The parameters of its lattice cell designed from an Xray powder pattern are: a = 4.0042Å, c = 11.3475 Å, V = 181.938 ų, average composition of 4 measurements is Cu_2.02S. The find of hightemperature tetragonal isomprph of chalcocite in modern deepwater active smokers seems natural. Formation of Rainbow sulfide ore occurs under the pressure of water column more than 2000 m and at temperature of 250–362°C. Tetragonal chalcocite is not met in earlier investigated by us inactive (relict) constructions of more ancient Logachev field. After the extinction of hydrothermal activity Cu₂S soon passes into nonstoichiometric sulfide minerals more stable in seawater ambient. читать далее...

Oksana L. Sveshnikova On forms of silver in galena from some leadzinc deposits of the Dalnegorsk district, Primor’ye, p. 106 - 112

Galenas with silver and antimony admixtures from 7 leadzinc mainly hydrothermal deposits of Dalnegorsk district of Primorsky Territory were investigated. A special technique of chemical phase analysis has been used for determination of silver forms in galena. It was established that the amount of isomorphic silver in galena changes from 0.003 % to 0.01 %. The ratio of isomorphic silver in total silver in galena is insignificant and rarely accedes 10 % of its total in the mineral. The basic part of silver in galena, about 90 rel %, is related to inclusions of various silver minerals (visible or invisible). Sulfide mineral form dominates among inclusions (sulphosalts + Ag₂S), which share is 62 % to 87 % from total silver in the mineral. Much less silver is related to inclusions of native silver and intermetallic compounds, and very little with inclusions of silvercontaining cogwhell. The epitaxial intergrowth with galena was established for invisible inclusions of argnetite and native silver using methods of electronic microsclpy. читать далее...

Juri M. Dymkov, Victor A. Slyotov, Vasiliy N. Filippov To the ontogeny of spiralsplit cubooctahedral block-crystals of pyrite from the Kursk magnetic anomaly, p. 113 - 118

The morphology and structure of cubooctahedral split crystals of pyrite with spiral rosettes of subindividuals on octahedral faces are described. It is supposed that such blockcrystals were formed around axially twisted cubic germs and are in itself germinal centers of spherocrystals. читать далее...

Mineralogical Museums and Collections

Marianna B. Chistyakova Faberge lapidary in the Fersman Mineralogical Museum collection (RAS), p. 120 - 136

The Faberge collection of the Fersman Mineralogical Museum comprises a diverse group of Peter Carl Faberge masterpieces: functional items, flowers, animals, human figures, and Easter presentations. Numerous cut gems from the Faberge lapidary workshops and others from their family collections are exhibited there.
This article describe these items. читать далее...

Daria D. Novgorodova Chinese jade disks from the Fersman Mineralogical Museum (RAS) collection. Experience in attribution. Significance and place in Chinese traditions, p. 137 - 146

The gem and stone art collection of Fersman Mineralogical Museum, RAS, Moscow, contains three jade disks. In 1998, these were identified as Chinese ritual bi disks, and their attribution begun. This paper presents the study results, along with a brief historical review of the bi disks as symbols inherent in Chinese cultural traditions, from the Neolithic period to present. Relevant functions and rituals are described, as well as the attribution problems associated with this jade lapidary type.
Exquisite lapidaries from Fersman Museum collection combine a great academic and aesthetical value, and Chinese jade articles are among the most interesting of these. Their historical and cultural significance in the traditional Chinese culture makes an innate part of their value as the museum exhibits. читать далее...

Dmitrii I. Belakovskiy New Acquisitions to the Fersman Mineralogical Museum, Russian Academy of Sciences. 2002–2003, p. 147 - 158

A total of 1,356 new mineral specimens were cataloged into the Fersman Mineralogical Museum main collections during the period 2002 to 2003. These specimens represent 640 different mineral species from 62 countries. Among these, 285 are new species for the Museum, including 10 species that were discovered by Museum staff members and 40 species that were discovered during this period by others. Of the minerals obtained, 54 are either type specimens or fragments of type specimens or cotypes. By the end of 2003 the number of valid mineral species in the Museum reached 2,910. Of the newly acquired items, approximately 51% were donated by 138 people and by 8 institutions, 18% were purchased, 15% specimens were collected by the Museum staff, 12% were exchanged with collectors and other museums, 3% were acquired as type specimens and 1% obtained in other ways. A review of the new acquisitions is presented by mineral species, geography, acquisition type, and source. The review is accompanied by a list of new species for the Museum along with a list of species that the Museum desires to obtain. читать далее...

Mineralogical Notes

Boris Z. Kantor On the malachite spiral crystals, p. 160 - 163

The main reason for spiral bending of malachite crystals from Tyrol is probably the zinc admixture. The admixture entails formation of thermodynamically stable «sandwich» structures and their curling under mechanical tension due to noncoincidence of element sizes in adjacent layers. читать далее...

Vyacheslav D. Dusmatov , Igor V. Dusmatov Diamond images on the postal stamps of the world, p. 164 - 167

The main reason for spiral bending of malachite crystals from Tyrol is probably the zinc admixture. The admixture entails formation of thermodynamically stable «sandwich» structures and their curling under mechanical tension due to noncoincidence of element sizes in adjacent layers. читать далее...

In memoriam: Vyacheslav Dzhuraevich Dusmatov, p. 168 - 169

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Igor V. Pekov, Valentina I. Popova, and Vladimir A. Popov In memoriam: Alexander Kanonerov, p. 170 - 171

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Books reviews

Books reviews, p. 172

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