Strontioborite, which was first described in 1960 and later discredited by the then named Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names of the International Mineralogical Association (IMA CNMMN), has been re-investigated (electron microprobe, single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction, crystal structure determination and IR spectroscopy) on two specimens, including the holotype, and revalidated by the IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC). Strontioborite is known only at the Chelkar salt dome (North Caspian Region, Western Kazakhstan), in halite rocks with bischofite, magnesite, anhydrite, halurgite, boracite, ginorite and celestine. It forms colourless lamellar, scaly or tabular crystals up to 2 mm across. The chemical composition (wt.%, H2O is calculated for (OH)4 = 4 H apfu, according to structural data; holotype/neotype) is: CaO 1.42/0.27, SrO 23.10/23.79, B2O3 67.37/67.57, H2O 8.73/8.72, total 100.62/100.37. The empirical formulae [calculated based on 15 O apfu = O11(OH)4 pfu] of the holotype and neotype specimens are Sr0.92Ca0.10B7.98O11(OH)4 and Sr0.95Ca0.02B8.02O11(OH)4, respectively. The idealised formula is Sr[B8O11(OH)4]. Strontioborite is monoclinic, space group P21, a = 7.6192(3), b = 8.1867(2), c = 9.9164(3) Å, β = 108.357(4)°, V = 587.07(3) Å3 and Z = 2. The strongest reflections of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d,Å(I)(hkl)] are: 7.22(100)(100), 5.409(61)(110), 4.090(64)(020), 3.300(48)(210), 2.121(30)($\bar{1}$24) and 2.043(37)(040, 024, $\bar{2}$24). The crystal structure, solved from single-crystal X-ray diffraction data (R = 0.0372), is based upon the (100) layers of polymerised B–O–OH polyanions [B8O11(OH)4]2– and Sr-centred nine-fold polyhedra SrO6(OH)3. The B–O–OH polyanion is the cluster of three tetrahedra and three triangles; these clusters are decorated by the [B2O2(OH)3] pyro-group consisting of two triangles. The layers are linked via vertices of Sr-centred polyhedra, which share seven vertices with B-centred polyhedra of one layer and two vertices with B-centred polyhedra of the adjacent layer, and by the system of H bonds. The crystal chemistry of strontioborite is discussed in comparison with other natural and synthetic borates.

Hydroxylbastnäsite-(La), the OH- and La-dominant member of the bastnäsite group, in fact known for many years, was studied in detail and has been approved by the IMA–CNMNC as a new mineral species with the ideal, end-member formula La(CO3)(OH). The holotype originates from the Vuoriyarvi (another spelling: Vuorijärvi) alkaline-ultrabasic complex, Northern Karelia, and the cotype from the Mochalin Log REE deposit, Potaniny Mts, South Urals, both in Russia. At Vuoriyarvi, hydroxylbastnäsite-(La) occurs as clusters (up to 1 mm) of light brown, honey-yellow or colourless hexagonal tabular to short-prismatic crystals up to 0.15 mm associated with fluorite and ancylite-(Ce) in cavities of calcite–dolomite carbonatites. At Mochalin Log, hydroxylbastnäsite-(La) forms light brown grains up to 0.2 mm included in massive aggregates of other LREE minerals: bastnäsite-(Ce), bastnäsite-(La), percleveite-(Ce), percleveite-(La), biraite-(Ce), biraite-(La), törnebohmite-(La), ferriperbøeite-(Ce), allanite-(Ce), etc. Dmeas is 4.75(2) and Dcalc is 4.778 g cm–3 (holotype). Hydroxylbastnäsite-(La) is optically uniaxial (+), ω = 1.76(1) and ε = 1.86(1) (holotype). The chemical composition (wt.%, electron microprobe, CO2 and H2O calculated: holotype/cotype) is: CaO 0.23/0.00, SrO 0.07/0.00, La2O3 39.47/39.58, Ce2O3 33.51/31.99, Pr2O3 1.03/1.51, Nd2O3 1.95/2.38, F 0.76/3.33, CO2 20.49/20.34, H2O 3.77/2.58, –O=F 0.32/1.40, total 100.96/100.31. The empirical formulae, calculated based on the sum of metal cations of 1 apfu and one CO3 group pfu, are (La0.52Ce0.44Nd0.02Pr0.01Ca0.01)Σ1.00(CO3)[(OH)0.90F0.09]Σ0.99 (holotype) and (La0.53Ce0.42Nd0.03Pr0.02)Σ1.00(CO3)[(OH)0.62F0.38]Σ1.00 (cotype). Hydroxylbastnäsite-(La) is hexagonal, P6̅, unit-cell parameters (from powder XRD data, holotype/cotype) are: a = 12.537(3)/12.533(1), c = 9.968(2)/9.908(1) Å, V = 1356.8(5)/1347.9(3) Å3 and Z = 18. Strong reflections of the powder XRD pattern [d,Å(I)(hkl)] are (holotype): 4.98(39)(002), 3.616(88)(300), 2.926(100)(302), 2.089(41)(330), 2.052(46)(304) and 1.927(40)(332). The crystal structure of holotype hydroxylbastnäsite-(La) was refined by the Rietveld method, Rwp = 0.0071, Rp = 0.0050, Robs = 0.0466. It is isostructural to hydroxylbastnäsite-(Ce) and synthetic bastnäsite-type hydroxyl-carbonates REE3+(CO3)(OH) (REE = La–Er), but differs from fluorine-dominant bastnäsites which adopt the space group P6̅2c.

The new eudialyte-group mineral amableite-(Ce), ideally Na15[(Ce1.5Na1.5)Mn3]Mn2Zr3□Si[Si24O69(OH)3](OH)2⋅H2O, was discovered in a peralkaline pegmatite at Saint-Amable Sill, Montérégie, Québec, Canada. The associated minerals are albite, microcline, aegirine, serandite, natrolite, yofortierite, and an unidentified titanosilicate forming minute grains. Amableite-(Ce) occurs as yellow equant or thick tabular crystals up to 2 mm across. The observed crystal forms are {0001}; the subordinate forms are {11$\bar{2}$0}, {10$\bar{1}$1}, and {10$\bar{1}$0}. Amableite-(Ce) is brittle, with a Mohs hardness of 5. D(meas) = 2.89(1), D(calc) = 2.899 g⋅cm–3. Amableite-(Ce) is optically anomalously biaxial (+) with α ≈ β = 1.603(2) and γ = 1.608(2). The chemical composition is (wt.%, electron microprobe, H2O measured by means of a modified Penfield method): Na2O 14.20, K2O 0.41, CaO 1.89, MnO 8.25, Fe2O3 2.40, La2O3 3.10, Ce2O3 4.19, Pr2O3 0.16, Nd2O3 0.59, SiO2 49.41, ZrO2 11.17, HfO2 0.24, TiO2 0.68, Nb2О5 1.54, Cl 0.26, H2O 1.70, –O≡Cl –0.06, total 100.13. The crystal structure was determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data and refined to R1 = 0.0423. Amableite-(Ce) is trigonal, space group R3, with a = 14.1340(3) Å, c = 30.3780(11) Å and V = 5255.6(3) Å3. The crystal-chemical formula is (Na12.93K0.27Ce0.06)Σ13.26[(Mn2.49Ce0.30Ca0.21)Σ3.00(Ce1.14Na1.04Ca0.82)Σ3.00](Mn1.05Fe0.90□1.05)Σ3.00(Zr2.85Ti0.12Hf0.03)Σ3.00(□0.40Nb0.36Si0.24)Σ1.00(Si0.88□0.12)Σ1.00[Si24(O70.44(OH)1.56)Σ72.00][(OH)2.20(H2O)1.27]Σ3.47Cl0.22 (Z = 3). Infrared and Raman spectra are given. The strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, Å (I, %)(hkl)] are: 11.34 (51)(101), 7.06 (76)(110), 4.312 (63)(205), 3.783 (38)(033), 3.538 (43)(027, 220), 2.963 (84)($\bar{3}$45), 2.837 (100)(404). The mineral is named after the discovery locality.

The new columbite-supergroup mineral dmitryvarlamovite, ideally Ti2(Fe3+Nb)O8, was discovered in weathered alkaline metasomatic assemblages formed after late Riphaean sedimentary carbonate rocks of the Verkhne-Shchugorskoe deposit, Middle Timan Mts., Russia. The associated minerals are columbite-(Fe), pyrochlore-group minerals, monazite-(Ce), xenotime-(Y), baryte, pyrite, drugmanite and plumbogummite. Dmitryvarlamovite occurs as isolated anhedral equant grains up to 0.5 mm across. The colour of dmitryvarlamovite is black, the streak is black and the lustre is submetallic. The new mineral is brittle, with the mean VHN hardness of 753 kg mm–2 corresponding to the Mohs’ hardness of 6. No cleavage is observed. The fracture is conchoidal. The calculated density is 4.891 g⋅cm–3. In reflected light, dmitryvarlamovite is light grey; no pleochroism is observed. The reflectance values (Rmin, % / Rmax, % / λ, nm) are: 19.8/20.3/470, 18.3/18.9/546, 17.8/18.5/589 and 17.3/17.8/650. The chemical composition is (electron microprobe data, with iron divided into Fe2O3 and FeO based on the charge balance, wt.%): MnO 0.11, FeO 1.51, V2O3 0.89, Cr2O3 0.28, Fe2O3 19.26, TiO2 37.72, Nb2O5 40.08, total 99.85. The IR and Raman spectra indicate the absence of H-, C- and N-bearing groups. The empirical formula is (Fe2+0.08V3+0.05Cr3+0.01Fe3+0.92Ti1.79Nb1.15)Σ4.00O8. The crystal structure was determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data and refined to R = 0.048. Dmitryvarlamovite is orthorhombic, space group P21212, a = 4.9825(6), b = 4.6268(4), c = 5.5952(6) Å and V = 5.5952(6) Å3 (Z = 1). The structure is related to those of wolframite-group minerals but differs in the scheme of cation ordering. The crystal-chemical formula derived based on the structural data is (Ti0.57Nb0.21Fe3+0.15Fe2+0.04V0.02Cr0.01)2(Nb0.36Ti0.33Fe3+0.31)2O8. The strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, Å (I, %) (hkl)] are: 3.58 (40) (011), 2.911 (100) (111), 2.809 (40) (002), 2.497 (38) (020), 2.447 (29) (103), 1.7363 (32) (103) and 1.7047 (29) (220). Dmitryvarlamovite is named after Dmitry Anatol'evich Varlamov (b. 1965).

The problem to be solved is whether Al is a necessary component of Fe-Mg chlorites. Very unusual Al-depleted and Fe-enriched trioctahedral chlorites with the empirical formulae Na0.05Ca0.05(Fe2+3.01Mg2.01Ti0.14Fe3+0.04)Σ6.00[(Si3.53Fe3+0.41Al0.06)Σ4.00O10](OH)8·nH2O (Sample 1) and Na0.05Ca0.01(Fe2+3.26Mg1.97Fe3+0.75Mn0.01Ti0.01)Σ6.00[(Si3.16Fe3+0.75Al0.09)Σ4.00O10](OH)8 (Sample 2) have been discovered in Al-depleted dolomite carbonatites of the Kovdor complex of ultramafic, alkaline rocks and carbonatites, Kola Peninsula, Russia. The presence of substantial amounts of Ti in Sample 1 is another unusual feature of this mineral. In both samples, chlorites are intimately intergrown with cronstedtite-1T which is an indication of a low stability of chlorite structure in the absence of aluminum in the tetrahedral sheet. The crystal structure of chlorite in Sample 1 was solved by the Rietveld method. The mineral is triclinic (IIb-4-module), space group C-$1$, a = 5.4153(4), b = 9.3805(7), c = 14.5743(12) Å, α = 90.137(5)°, β = 96.928(5)°, γ = 90.043(6)°, V = 734.95(10) Å3, and Z = 2. A problem to be solved is how stable are Al-free chlorites belonging to the clinochlore–chamosite solid-solution series and whether their existence in natural mineral assemblages is possible. The results obtained indicate that even though Al-depleted chlorites belonging to the clinochlore–chamosite solid-solution series exist in Nature as metastable phases, these minerals are extremely rare and much less stable than Al-poor serpentines.

Mangani-eckermannite, ideally NaNa2(Mg4Mn3+)Si8O22(OH)2, is a new member of the amphibole supergroup found at Tanohata Mine, Shimohei District, Iwate Prefecture, Japan. It occurs as prismatic crystals up to 0.3 × 0.2 mm and their aggregates up to 1 mm intergrown with braunite, vittinkiite and quartz. Mangani-eckermannite is cherry-red to very dark red and reddish-brown in thicker grains. It is translucent with a pinkish white streak and vitreous lustre. It is brittle, fracture is stepped along crystal elongation and uneven across a crystal. Cleavage is perfect on {110}. Mohs hardness is 6. Dmeas = 3.16(2) and Dcalc = 3.186 g/cm3. The mineral is optically biaxial (–), with α = 1.645(3), β = 1.668(2), γ = 1.675(3) (589 nm); 2Vmeas = 60(10)°, 2Vcalc = 57°. The empirical formula derived from electron microprobe analysis, secondary-ion mass spectrometry and single-crystal structure refinement and calculated on the basis of 24 (O+OH) atoms per formula unit (apfu) is A(Na0.74K0.24□0.02)Σ1.00 B(Na1.52Ca0.24Mn2+0.24)Σ2.00 C(Mg2.54Mn2+1.45Mn3+0.71Fe3+0.26Ti0.04)Σ5.00 T(Si7.97Al0.03)Σ8.00O22W[(OH)1.52O0.48]Σ2.00. Mangani-eckermannite is monoclinic, space group C2/m, a = 9.9533(4), b = 18.1440(7), c = 5.2970(2) Å, β = 103.948(4)°, V = 928.39(6) Å3 and Z = 2. The strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, Å (I, %)(hkl)] are: 8.52(100)(110); 4.54(25)(040); 3.41(29)(131); 3.16(23)(310,201); 2.721(37)(151); 2.533(26)($\bar{2}$02). The crystal structure was refined to R1 = 0.0264 for 1001 independent reflections with I > 2σ(I). The place of mangani-eckermannite in the nomenclature of the amphibole supergroup is discussed and the status of mangano-ferri-eckermannite as a valid mineral species and successor of ‘kôzulite’ is questioned.

Napoliite, ideally Pb2OFCl, is a new fluoroxychloride mineral found in a specimen from a fumarole formed subsequent to the 1944 eruption of Vesuvius volcano, Naples Province, Italy. It occurs as well-shaped lamellar crystals up to 0.25 × 0.25 × 0.01 mm typically forming clusters up to 0.4 × 0.4 mm on the surface of volcanic scoria in association with anglesite, artroeite, atacamite, calcioaravaipaite, cerussite, challacolloite, cotunnite, hephaistosite, manuelarossiite, matlockite and susannite. Napoliite is colourless with white streak and adamantine lustre. It is brittle and has a laminated fracture. Cleavage is perfect on {001}. Dcalc = 7.797 g cm–3. The calculated mean refractive index is 2.10. Chemical composition (wt.%, electron microprobe) is: PbO 91.71, F 3.89, Cl 7.34, –O=(F+Cl) –3.30, total 99.64. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of 3 anions is Pb1.999O0.997F0.996Cl1.007. Raman spectroscopy confirms the absence of OH– groups and H2O molecules in the mineral. Napoliite is tetragonal, space group P42/mcm, a = 5.7418(11), c = 12.524(4) Å, V = 412.9(2) Å3 and Z = 4. The strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, Å (I, %) (hkl)] are: 3.860 (85) (111); 3.139 (20) (004); 2.914 (100) (113); 2.866 (63) (200); 2.118 (19) (204); 2.027 (19) (220); 1.665 (20) (313); and 1.642 (23) (117). The crystal structure was refined to R1 = 0.024 for 222 reflections with F > 4σ(F). It is based on lead oxide blocks derived from that of litharge PbO, which alternate with layers of chloride ions. Napoliite represents a new structure type with a unique order/disorder pattern of fluorine and oxygen atoms. The new mineral is dimorphous with rumseyite. It is named after the city of Naples (Napoli in Italian).

Bystrite is redefined as a four-layer cancrinite-group mineral with the four-layer Losod-type framework and the end-member formula Na7Ca(Al6Si6O24)S52–Cl–. The mineral is known only at the Malo–Bystrinskoe gem lazurite deposit, Baikal Lake area, Siberia, Russia. The associated minerals are calcite, lazurite, sodalite, fluorapatite, phlogopite, diopside, dolomite and plagioclase. Bystrite is brittle, with the Mohs hardness of 5 and distinct cleavage on {10$\bar{1}$0}. The yellow colour of bystrite is due to the presence of S52– anions occurring in Losod (LOS) cages of the aluminosilicate framework with the ABAC stacking sequence. Measured and calculated density is, respectively, 2.43(1) and 2.412 g cm–3 for the holotype and 2.42(1) and 2.428 g cm–3 for the cotype sample. Bystrite is uniaxial (+), ɛ = 1.660(2) and ω = 1.584(2). The mineral was characterised by infrared and Raman spectra. The empirical formulae of the holotype and cotype samples are Na6.97K0.04Ca0.98(Si6.03Al5.97O24)(S52–)0.93[(SO42–)0.15Cl0.83] and Na6.75K0.04Ca1.11(Si6.09Al5.91O24)(S52–)1.04[(HS–)0.17Cl0.85], respectively. Bystrite is trigonal, space group P31c. The unit-cell parameters are: a = 12.8527(6) Å, c = 10.6907(5) Å, V = 1529.4(1) Å3 and Z = 2. The strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, Å (I, %) (hkl)] are: 4.821 (32) (102), 3.915 (38) (211), 3.712 (100) (300), 3.307 (50) (212), 2.782 (18) (400), 2.692 (22) (401), 2.673 (30) (004) and 2.468 (23) (402). Isomorphism and genesis of bystrite-type minerals is discussed. Bystrite and its K,HS-analogue sulfhydrylbystrite, Na5K2Ca(Al6Si6O24)S52–(HS)–, are indicators of highly reducing conditions.

Eudialyte-related compounds have been synthesised hydrothermally at T = 600°C and P = 2 kbar from a stoichiometric mixture of Na2CO3, CaO, Fe2O3, ZrOCl2 and SiO2 using the Na:Ca:Fe:Zr:Si ratios corresponding to the eudialyte end-member Na15Ca6Fe3Zr3Si(Si25O73)(OH)Cl2⋅H2O, in the presence of 1 M aqueous solutions of NaCl and NaF. The synthesis was carried out in platinum ampoules over 10 days. Natural raslakite (a Ca-deficient member of the eudialyte group) was used as a seed and added in amounts corresponding to 2 wt.% of the whole charge. The products were characterised by powder X-ray diffraction, IR and Raman spectroscopy, morphological features, and electron probe microanalyses. In experiments with NaCl, almost pure eudialyte-type compounds were obtained. Synthesis in the presence of a NaF solution resulted in the formation of a F-dominant eudialyte-type compound related to raslakite as the main product and aegirine, vlasovite and lalondeite as by-products. All synthesised eudialyte-type compounds are Zr-rich and Fe-deficient, similar to eudialyte-group minerals from hyperagpaitic rocks related to foyaites. The increased NaCl contents in the reaction system results in increased Ca content in the synthesised eudialyte-related compounds. The crystal-chemical formulae of the synthesised eudialyte-type compounds are derived based on general regularities established earlier for eudialyte-group minerals.

The new eudialyte-group mineral selsurtite, ideally (H3O)12Na3(Ca3Mn3)(Na2Fe)Zr3□Si[Si24O69(OH)3](OH)Cl⋅H2O, was discovered in metasomatic peralkaline rock from the Flora mountain, northern spur of the Selsurt mountain, Lovozero alkaline massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia. The associated minerals are aegirine, albite and orthoclase, as well as accessory lorenzenite, calciomurmanite, natrolite, lamprophyllite and sergevanite. Selsurtite occurs as brownish-red to reddish-orange, equant or flattened on (0001) crystals up to 2 mm across and elongate crystals up to 3 cm long. The main crystal forms are {0001}, {11$\bar{2}$0}, and {10$\bar{1}$1}. Selsurtite is brittle, with the Mohs’ hardness of 5. No cleavage is observed. Parting is distinct on (001). D(meas) = 2.73(2) and D(calc) = 2.722 g⋅cm–3. Selsurtite is optically uniaxial (–), with ω = 1.598(2) and ɛ = 1.595(2). The chemical composition is (wt.%, electron microprobe): Na2O 6.48, K2O 0.27, MgO 0.10, CaO 6.83, MnO 4.73, FeO 1.18, SrO 1.88, La2O3 0.57, Ce2O3 1.07, Pr2O3 0.20, Nd2O3 0.44, Al2O3 0.29, SiO2 50.81, ZrO2 13.50, HfO2 0.45, TiO2 0.61, Nb2О5 1.10, Cl 1.01, SO3 0.29, H2O 8.10, –O≡Cl –0.23, total 99.68. The empirical formula is H25.94Na6.03K0.16Mg0.07Ca3.51Sr0.52Ce0.19La0.10Nd0.08Pr0.03Mn1.91Fe0.47Ti0.22Zr3.16Hf0.06Nb0.24Si24.40Al0.16S0.10Cl0.82O79.13. The crystal structure was determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data and refined to R = 0.0484. Selsurtite is trigonal, space group R3, with a = 14.1475(7) Å, c = 30.3609(12) Å, V = 5262.65(7) Å3 and Z = 3. Infrared and Raman spectra show that hydronium cations are involved in very strong hydrogen bonds and form Zundel- and Eigen-like complexes. The strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, Å (I, %)(hkl)] are: 11.38 (56)(101), 7.08 (59)(110), 5.69 (36)(202), 4.318 (72)(205), 3.793 (36)(303), 3.544 (72)(027, 220, 009), 2.970 (100)(315) and 2.844 (100)(404). The mineral is named after the discovery locality.

The columbite supergroup is established. It includes five mineral groups (ixiolite, wolframite, samarskite, columbite and wodginite) and one ungrouped species (lithiotantite). The criteria for a mineral to belong to the columbite supergroup are: the general stoichiometry MO2; the crystal structure based on the hexagonal close packing (hcp) of anions (or close to it); the six-fold coordination number of M-type cations (augmented to eight-fold in the case of slight distortion of hcp); and the presence of zig-zag chains of edge-sharing M-centred polyhedra. The ixiolite-type structure is considered as an aristotype with the space group Pbcn, the smallest unit cell volume, and the basic vectors a0, b0 and c0. Based on the multiplying of the ixiolite-type unit cell the following derivatives are distinguished: ixiolite type [ixiolite-group minerals; a = a0, b = b0 and c = c0; space group Pbcn; the members are ixiolite-(Mn2+), ixiolite-(Fe2+), scrutinyite, seifertite and srilankite]; wolframite type [wolframite-group minerals, ordered analogues of the ixiolite type with a = a0, b = b0 and c = c0; P2/c; the members are ferberite, hübnerite, huanzalaite, sanmartinite, heftetjernite, nioboheftetjernite, rossovskyite and riesite]; samarskite type [samarskite-group minerals; a = 2a0, b = b0 and c = c0; P2/c; the members are samarskite-(Y), ekebergite and shakhdaraite-(Y)]; columbite type [columbite-group minerals; a = 3a0, b = b0 and c = c0; Pbcn; the members are columbite-(Fe), columbite-(Mn), columbite-(Mg), tantalite-(Fe), tantalite-(Mn), tantalite-(Mg), fersmite, euxenite-(Y), tanteuxenite-(Y) and uranopolycrase]; and wodginite type [wodginite-group minerals; a = 2a0, b = 2b0 and c = c0; C2/c; the members are wodginite, ferrowodginite, titanowodginite, ferrotitanowodginite, tantalowodginite, lithiowodginite and achalaite]. Samarskite-(Yb), ishikawaite and calciosamarskite are insufficiently studied, tentatively considered as possible members of the samarskite supergroup. Qitianlingite, yttrocolumbite-(Y), yttrotantalite-(Y) and yttrocrasite-(Y) are questionable and need further studies. Polycrase-(Y) is discredited as identical to euxenite-(Y). Ixiolite has been renamed as ixiolite-(Mn2+), with the end-member formula (Ta2/3Mn2+1/3)O2. Ta- and Nb-dominant analogues of ixiolite with different schemes of charge balancing have the end-member formulae (M15+0.5M23+0.5)O2, M15+2/3M22+1/3)O2, M15+0.75M2+0.25)O2 or M15+0.8□0.2)O2 and the root name ‘ixiolite’ (for M1 = Ta) or ‘nioboixiolite’ (for M1 = Nb).

The new sodalite-group mineral bolotinaite, ideally (Na7□)(Al6Si6O24)F⋅4H2O, was discovered in a volcanic ejectum of trachitoid sanidinite collected from the In den Dellen (Zieglowski) pumice quarry, Laach Lake (Laacher See) palaeovolcano, Eifel region, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany. The associated minerals are sanidine, nepheline, annite and zircon. Bolotinaite occurs as isolated interpenetration prismatic twins on (111) up to 1.3 mm long, complex twins, and rare non-twinned rhombic dodecahedra up to 0.2 mm across. The colour of bolotinaite is pale yellow to pinkish coloured, the streak is white and the lustre is vitreous. Weak orange–yellow fluorescence under longwave ultraviolet radiation (λ = 330 nm) is due to the presence of trace amounts of the S2•– radical anion. Bolotinaite is brittle, with a Mohs’ hardness of 5. No cleavage is observed. The fracture is uneven. D(meas) = 2.27(2) g⋅cm–3, D(calc) = 2.291 g⋅cm–3. Bolotinaite is optically isotropic, with n = 1.488(2) (λ = 589 nm). The chemical composition is (wt.%, electron microprobe, CO2 determined by quantitative IR spectroscopy analysis, H2O calculated from the empirical formula with four H2O molecules per formula unit): Na2O 18.30, K2O 3.87, CaO 0.57, Al2O3 28.85, SiO2 37.97, CO2 1.66, SO3 1.37, F 1.60, Cl 0.57, 2.22, H2O 7.21, –O≡(F,Cl) –0.80, total 101.17. The empirical formula is (Na5.92K0.82Ca0.10H0.08)(Si6.33Al5.67O24)(SO4)0.17F0.84Cl0.16(H2O)3.96(CO2)0.38. A high content of H2O and the presence of CO2 molecules and H+ cations as well as trace amounts of S2•– are confirmed by means of infrared and Raman spectroscopy. The crystal structure was determined using single-crystal X-ray diffraction data and refined to R = 0.0335. Bolotinaite is cubic, space group I$\bar{4}$3m, with a = 9.027(1) Å, V = 735.7(2) Å3 and Z = 1. The strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, Å (I, %) (hkl)] are: 6.36 (47) (110), 4.502 (10) (200), 3.679 (100) (211), 2.851 (28) (310), 2.603 (29) (222) and 2.126 (18) (330). The mineral is named in honour of the Russian crystallographer and crystal chemist Dr. Nadezhda Borisovna Bolotina (b. 1949).

Kaznakhtite, ideally Ni6Co3+2(CO3)(OH)16⋅4H2O, is a new member of the hydrotalcite group within the hydrotalcite supergroup. The mineral was discovered at the Kaznakhtinskiy ultrabasic massif, Altai Republic, SW Siberia, Russia. It occurs as powdery aggregates forming flattened lenses up to 1.5 × 0.5 cm and veinlets up to 1 cm long and up to 1 mm thick in aggregates of chrysotile, lizardite, stichtite and dolomite. Other associated minerals include brucite, chromite, heazlewoodite, manganochromite, magnetite and magnesioferrite. Kaznakhtite aggregates are composed of tiny platy grains up to 0.01 mm across. Kaznakhtite is light green and translucent in aggregates. It has an earthy lustre and white streak. Cleavage is micaceous on {001}. Dcalc = 2.864 g cm–3. The mineral is optically uniaxial (–) with ɛ = 1.657(3) and ω = 1.676(3), and weakly pleochroic in greenish hues, ω > ɛ. Chemical composition (wt.%, electron microprobe, Co valence state determined by XANES spectroscopy, CO2 and H2O calculated by stoichiometry) is: MgO 2.15, NiO 47.40, ZnO 0.22, Al2O3 0.16, Cr2O3 0.98, Co2O3 17.42, Cl 0.63, CO2 5.05, H2O 24.60, –O=Cl –0.14, total 98.47. The empirical formula calculated based on the sum of all metal cations = 8 apfu is (Ni5.54Mg0.47Zn0.02)Σ6.03(Co3+1.83Cr0.11Al0.03)Σ1.97C1.00O2.99(OH)15.84Cl0.16⋅4H2O. Infrared spectroscopy confirmed the presence of CO32– anions, OH– groups and H2O molecules. The crystal structure was refined by the Rietveld method with RB = 0.19%. Kaznakhtite is trigonal, space group R͞3m, a = 3.0515 (3), c = 23.180 (3) Å, V = 186.93 (4) Å3 and Z = 3/8. The strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, Å (I, %) (hkl)] are: 7.72 (100) (003); 3.863 (24) (006); 2.630 (4) (101); 2.576 (10) (012); 2.294 (6) (015); 1.950 (4) (018); 1.526 (4) (110); and 1.497 (4) (113). Kaznakhtite is a Co3+ analogue of reevesite, Ni6Fe3+2(CO3)(OH)16⋅4H2O. The mineral is named after its type locality.

Gurzhiite, ideally Al(UO2)(SO4)2F⋅10H2O, is a new uranyl sulfate mineral from the Bykogorskoe U deposit, Northern Caucasus, Russia. It occurs as fine-grained aggregates forming veinlets up to 50 cm long in cracks of the brecciated rock. Gurzhiite aggregates are composed of small bladed crystals up to 0.1 mm across. Associated minerals include khademite and quartz. Gurzhiite is pale yellow in crystals, lemon yellow in aggregates, transparent with a vitreous lustre and a white streak. It is brittle and has an irregular fracture. Cleavage is good on {001}. The new mineral exhibits a bright yellow–green fluorescence under both longwave and shortwave UV radiation. Mohs hardness is ~2. Dmeas = 2.52(3) g/cm3 and Dcalc = 2.605 g/cm3. The mineral is biaxial (–) with α = 1.528(3), β = 1.538(2), γ = 1.544(3) (589 nm); 2Vmeas= 80(10)° and 2Vcalc = 75.1°. The empirical formula calculated on the basis of 21(O + F) atoms per formula unit (apfu) is Al0.92Zn0.05Fe3+0.03Na0.03U0.95S2.00O9.85F0.99⋅10.16H2O. Gurzhiite is triclinic, with space group P$\bar{1}$, a = 7.193(2), b = 11.760(2), c = 11.792(2) Å, α = 67.20(3), β = 107.76(3), γ = 89.99(3)°, V = 867.7(4) Å3 and Z = 2. The five strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d, Å (I, %)(hkl)] are: 10.24(100)(001); 5.40(14)($\bar{ 1}\bar{1}$1); 5.11(54)(002); 3.405(11)($\bar{2}$11); and 3.065(11)($\bar{1}\bar{1}$3). The crystal structure of gurzhiite is based upon uranyl sulfate chains of the same type as in bobcookite and svornostite. Between the chains are two types of Al-octahedra – Al1(H2O)6 and Al2F2(H2O)4. The entire structure stability is maintained by a complex network of H bonds. The new mineral honours Russian mineralogist and crystallographer Dr. Vladislav V. Gurzhiy in recognition for his contributions to uranium mineralogy and crystallography.

A rare earth element (REE)-, Cr- and Mg-bearing variety of the vanadium epidote-group mineral mukhinite occurs in a calcite–dolomite carbonatite dyke cutting metamorphosed volcano-sedimentary rocks exposed in the walls of the quarry of the Svetlinsky gold deposit, South Urals. This mineral was found in a paragene assemblage including native sulphur, phlogopite and fluorophlogopite, together with accessory pyrite, other sulfides and sulfosalts, gold, Cr- and V-bearing muscovite, margarite, Cr- and V-bearing dravite, fluoro-tremolite, actinolite, fluoro-pargasite, anhydrite, apatite, uranium hydroxides, V-rich titanite, V- and Nb-rich rutile, spinel and corundum. The contents of ΣREE2O3 and V2O3 in mukhinite vary in the ranges of 4.01–9.69 and 5.34–7.46 wt.%, respectively. A Raman spectrum of REE-rich mukhinite is provided. The main schemes of isomorphic substitutions in mukhinite are ΣREE + Mg ↔ Ca + Al and V+Cr ↔ Al. The crystal structure of REE-rich mukhinite has been studied by single-crystal X-ray diffraction analysis. The mineral is monoclinic, with the space group P21/m, and unit-cell parameters are: a = 8.8972(11) Å, b = 5.6221(6) Å, c = 10.1519(12) Å, β = 115.169° and V = 459.60(11) Å3. The crystal structure of REE-rich mukhinite is similar to that of its synthetic analogue; the refined crystal-chemical formula of the sample studied is (Z = 2): {A1CaA2(Ca0.8REE0.2)}{M1(Al0.95Cr0.05)M2AlM3[(V,Cr)3+0.40Al0.35Mg0.25]}(Si2O7)(SiO4)O(OH).

Zolotarevite (IMA2020-076), ideally Na5Zr[Si6O15(ОН)3]⋅2–3H2O, is а new mineral of the lovozerite group. The mineral was found in a leucocratic nepheline syenite from Kedykverpakhk Mt., Lovozero alkaline massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia. It occurs as anhedral grains up to 1 mm across and is associated with microcline–perthite, nepheline, sodalite, aegirine, lamprophyllite, lueshite, umbozerite, lomonosovite, nastrophite, a mineral of the kazakovite–tisinalite series, sphalerite and löllingite. Zolotarevite is cherry red, with a vitreous lustre and white streak. The mineral is brittle, with a Mohs hardness of 5. Cleavage was not observed; the fracture is uneven. The measured density is 2.75(5) g⋅cm–3, the density calculated using the empirical formula and single-crystal unit-cell parameters is 2.85 g⋅cm–3. Zolotarevite is anomalously biaxial (–), α = 1.580(2), β = 1.600(2) and γ = 1.602(2) (for λ = 589 nm); 2Vmeas < 10°. Chemical data (electron microprobe, wt.%) are: Na2O 20.41, СаО 0.42, MnO 3.49, Fе2O3 0.55, SiO2 52.46, ТiO2 1.34, ZrO2 11.33, H2O (calculated from the structural formula) 10.20, total 100.20. The empirical formula based оn 6 Si atoms per formula unit is Na4.53Zr0.63Mn0.34Ti0.11Ca0.05Fe3+0.05Si6O14.43(ОН)3.56(H2О)2.11. Zolotarevite is trigonal, space group R${\bar 3}$m, with a = 10.294(6) Å, c = 13.115(8) Å, V = 1203.7(16) Å3 and Z = 3. The crystal structure was solved from single-crystal data and refined to R1 = 0.049. The strongest lines of the powder X-ray diffraction pattern [d in Å (I) (hkl)] are: 7.37 (69) (101); 5.26 (56) (012); 3.686 (64) (202); 3.330 (79) (113); 3.265 (99) (211), 2.640 (100) (024) and 2.576 (60) (220). Zolotarevite is unique in that it is a highly hydrated lovozerite-group mineral with the B site occupied by variable amounts of H2O.

Calciolangbeinite, ideally K2Ca2(SO4)3, exists in two modifications, cubic and, first described in the present paper, orthorhombic. They are topologically-similar polymorphs which can be designated as calciolangbeinite-C and calciolangbeinite-O. Calciolangbeinite-O is the first natural orthorhombic langbeinite-like sulfate. It clearly differs from calciolangbeinite-C in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern, optical data and Raman spectrum. Calciolangbeinite-O is found in sublimates of the active Arsenatnaya fumarole at the Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka, Far Eastern Region, Russia and in pyrometamorphic rocks of the Hatrurim Complex at Jabel Harmun, Judean Desert, Palestinian Autonomy and Har Parsa, Negev Desert, both in Israel. Calciolangbeinite-C is known only in fumarole sublimates at Tolbachik. Calciolangbeinite forms a continuous solid-solution system with langbeinite K2Mg2(SO4)3. The majority of the system is represented by cubic phases, and only members with compositions K2(Ca2.0–1.9Mg0.0–0.1)(SO4)3 have orthorhombic symmetry under room-temperature conditions. The crystal structure of calciolangbeinite-O was studied on a single crystal, chemically very close to K2Ca2(SO4)3, from Tolbachik (R1 = 2.75%). The unit-cell parameters are: a = 10.3330(2), b = 10.5027(2), c = 10.1763(2) Å, V = 1104.37(4) Å3 and Z = 4; space group is P212121. Calciolangbeinite-O is a low-temperature modification of K2Ca2(SO4)3 belonging to the K2Cd2(SO4)3 structure type whereas calciolangbeinite-C (space group P213), a high-temperature modification, has the langbeinite-type structure. The significant Mg admixture in calciolangbeinite-C from Tolbachik probably stabilises its cubic structure at room temperature. In both high-temperature fumaroles and pyrometamorphic rocks calciolangbeinite crystallises in the cubic modification, and during cooling its chemical variety close to the end-member K2Ca2(SO4)3 undergoes phase transition to calciolangbeinite-O, whereas the Mg-enriched varieties of the mineral remain calciolangbeinite-C.