Quintinite-1M from the Mariinsky Deposit, Ural Emerald Mines, Central Urals, Russia

Abstract

The paper describes the first finding of quintinite [Mg₄Al₂(OH)₁₂][(CO₃)(H₂O)₃] at the Mariinsky deposit in the Central Urals, Russia. The mineral occurs as white tabular crystals in cavities within altered gabbro in association with prehnite, calcite, and a chlorite-group mineral. Quintinite is the probable result of late hydrothermal alteration of primary mafic and ultramafic rocks hosting emerald-bearing glimmerite. According to electron microprobe data, the Mg: Al ratio is ~2: 1. IR spectroscopy has revealed hydroxyl and carbonate groups and H₂O molecules in the mineral. According to single crystal XRD data, quintinite is monoclinic, space group C2/m, a =5.233(1), b = 9.051(2), c = 7.711(2) Å, β = 103.09(3)°, V = 355.7(2) ų. Based on structure refinement, the polytype of quintinite should be denoted as 1M. This is the third approved occurrence of quintinite-1M in the world after the Kovdor complex and Bazhenovsky chrysotile–asbestos deposit.