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Identity HelpParakuzmenkoite from Russia

13th Apr 2012 02:15 UTCReiner Mielke Expert

I have a sample of Parakuzmenkoite labeled as coming from the Kovdor Massif, has anyone know if this mineral is found there?

13th Apr 2012 12:45 UTCPavel Kartashov Manager

The specimens photo able to help.

If it is from Kovdor Iron mine - it is rather labuntsovite-Mg, or lemmleinite-Ba, or both them.

13th Apr 2012 13:57 UTCMaggie Wilson Expert

working from home has its advantages... :)

13th Apr 2012 22:24 UTCPavel Kartashov Manager

This is really Kovdor specimen with catapleiite and minor anatase. More similar to lemmleinite-Ba.

14th Apr 2012 00:35 UTCReiner Mielke Expert

Here are some closeups. There are small blue anatase xls and what looks like blades of catapleiite as well as the orange mineral in question. Also present are crystals of pyrite, some sort of mica, albite? quartz, and some other mineral that looks like a carbonate.

I was told that EDS was done on it and that Parakuzmenkoite was the best match? Unfortunately I don't have a copy of the results and they are not available. Is it possible to distinguish the labuntsovite species by EDS? From what I can see from the published formulas they should be but then maybe in reality they are not compositionally that well defined? It would seem that Parakuzmenkoite is distinctive in that it has Fe and no Na whereas lemmleinite-Ba does?

14th Apr 2012 01:52 UTCPavel Kartashov Manager

Reiner, if EDS in your interpretation is only spectrum without quantitative data, I wouldn't believe it in labuntsovite group minerals identification.

3rd May 2012 23:51 UTCReiner Mielke Expert

Hello Pavel,

Here is the qualitative EDS pattern for the sample. The thin vertical white lines mark where Ba should be, any thoughts on what it is based on this? Except for the color, Lemmleinite-K would seem to be a good fit.