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| Ekplexite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Sulfide mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | (Nb,Mo)S2•(Mg1−xAlx)(OH)2+x |
| IMA symbol | Ekp |
| Crystal system | Trigonal |
| Crystal class | 3m, 32 or 3m |
| Space group | P321, P3m1, P3m1 |
| Unit cell | a = 3.79, c = 11.3 (approximated) Z = 2 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Iron-black |
| Crystal habit | micaceous flakes (may be arranged in chaotic or radiating aggregates), in lenticular nests |
| Cleavage | {001}, perfect |
| Tenacity | Flexible |
| Mohs scale hardness | 1 |
| Luster | Metallic |
| Diaphaneity | Opaque |
| Density | 3.63 |
| Pleochroism | light gray to dark gray (strong) |
| Common impurities | W, V, Fe |
| References | |
Ekplexite is a unique sulfide-hydroxide niobium-rich mineral with the formula (Nb,Mo)S2•(Mg1−xAlx)(OH)2+x. It is unique because niobium is usually found in oxide or, eventually, silicate minerals. Ekplexite is a case in which chalcophile behaviour of niobium is shown, which means niobium present in a sulfide mineral. The unique combination of elements in ekplexite has to do with its name, which comes from a Greek world on "surprise". The other example of chalcophile behaviour of niobium is edgarite, FeNb3S6, and both minerals were found in the same environment, which is a fenitic rock of Mt. Kaskasnyunchorr, Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia. Analysis of the same rock has revealed the presence of two analogues of ekplexite, kaskasite (molybdenum-analogue) and manganokaskasite (molybdenum- and manganese-analogue). All three minerals belong to the valleriite group, and crystallize in the trigonal system with similar possible space groups.
Notes on chemistry
Beside niobium, molybdenum, sulfur, magnesium and aluminium ekplexite contains also relatively small amounts of tungsten, vanadium and iron.
Association and environment
The rock in which contains ekplexite is classified as fenite. In this rock ekplexite associates with fluorophlogopite, nepheline, orthoclase-anorthoclasee (silicates), alabandine, edgarite, pyrite, molybdenite, tungstenite (sulfides), corundum, graphite and monazite-(Ce).
Crystal structure
Crystal structure of ekplexite is described as non-commensurate. It is composed of two modules:
- MeS2 sulfide module
- brucite-like (hydroxide) module
References
- Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
- Pekov., I.V., Yapaskurt, V.O., Polekhovsky, Y.S., Vigasina, M.F., and Siidra, O.I., 2014. Ekplexite (Nb,Mo)S2·(Mg1−xAlx)(OH)2+x, kaskasite (Mo,Nb)S2·(Mg1−xAlx)(OH)2+x and manganokaskasite (Mo,Nb)S2·(Mn1−xAlx)(OH)2+x, three new valleriite-group mineral species from the Khibiny alkaline complex, Kola peninsula, Russia. Mineralogical Magazine 78(3), 663-679.
- ^ "Ekplexite: Ekplexite mineral information and data". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
- "Ekplexite - Handbook of Mineralogy" (PDF). Handbookofmineralogy.org. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
- ^ Pekov., I.V., Yapaskurt, V.O., Polekhovsky, Y.S., Vigasina, M.F., and Siidra, O.I., 2014. Ekplexite (Nb,Mo)S2·(Mg1−xAlx)(OH)2+x, kaskasite (Mo,Nb)S2·(Mg1−xAlx)(OH)2+x and manganokaskasite (Mo,Nb)S2·(Mn1−xAlx)(OH)2+x, three new valleriite-group mineral species from the Khibiny alkaline complex, Kola peninsula, Russia. Mineralogical Magazine 78(3), 663-679.
- "Edgarite: Edgarite mineral information and data". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-04.
- Pekov., I.V., Yapaskurt, V.O., Polekhovsky, Y.S., Vigasina, M.F., and Siidra, O.I., 2014. Ekplexite (Nb,Mo)S2·(Mg1−xAlx)(OH)2+x, kaskasite (Mo,Nb)S2·(Mg1−xAlx)(OH)2+x and manganokaskasite (Mo,Nb)S2·(Mn1−xAlx)(OH)2+x, three new valleriite-group mineral species from the Khibiny alkaline complex, Kola peninsula, Russia. Mineralogical Magazine 78(3), 663-679
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