A contribution to the crystal chemistry of ellestadite and the silicate sulfate apatitest
A series of calcium silicate sulfate apatites from Crestmore, California, which contain the coupled substitution Silvsvl for 2Pv, has been investigated using electron microprobe, powder diffraction, and single-crystal diffraction methods. Chemical analysis of eighteen specimens of different phosphorus contents proves that the Si: S ratio is essentially I : I and yields the idealized general formula Caro(SiOn):-*(SO4)3-^@O4)2.(OH,F,CD2, where x : 0 to 3. The members of this series for which x : 0 and 3l2 have been labelled "ellestadite" and "wilkeite", respectively, by previous workers. "Ellestadite" is actually a solid solution involving the end-members Cale(SiO a,){SOq)tZz, where Z: OH (hydroxylellestadite), F (fluorellestadite), or Cl (chlorellestadite). The term ellestadite is redefined to make it a group name for all compositions having >(Si,S) > P. Wilkeite is not a valid mineral species, since it is only one of many solid solutions involving the six end-members fluorapatite, hydroxyapatite, chlorapatite, fluorellestadite, hydroxylellestadite, and chlorellestadite. Although natural hydroxylellestadite is monoclinic, precession photographs of type "ellestadite" and "wilkeite" show hexagonal symmetry and no evidence of Si-S ordering as suggested by the Si: S ratio of I : I . The silicate sulfate apatites from Crestmore show a strong linear relationship between their P and F contents, such that these two variables simultaneously go to zero. Linear relationships also exist between their unit cell parameters and their P, F, and (Si+S) contents. These correlations imply a convergence of the Crestmore apatite series towards a hypothetical memberof composition Caro(SiOa)r (SO4)3(OH,CI)z and cell constants a:9.543 and c = 6.9174.
Fluorcaphite from hydrothermally altered teschenite at Tichá, Outer Western Carpathians, Czech Republic: compositional variations and origin
Abstract Fluorcaphite [SrCaCa3(PO4)3F] is a rare strontium-calcium member of the apatite supergroup which was previously known only from the Khibiny and Lovozero alkaline complexes. This paper presents evidence of a third fluorcaphite occurrence. It was found in hydrothermally altered Lower Cretaceous teschenite, which forms an intrusive body (probably a sill) in the Lower Cretaceous siliciclastic flysch sediments at Tichá near Frenštát pod Radhoštěm, Silesian Unit, Outer Western Carpathians (Czech Republic). Fluorcaphite occurs as an accessory mineral in hydrothermal veins and in an adjacent alteration zone within the host teschenite. Vein-hosted fluorcaphite forms euhedral crystals and skeletal crusts enclosed in analcime while the teschenite-hosted fluorcaphite forms small overgrowths on older phenocrysts of magmatic apatite. Fluorcaphite from Tichá contains 0.50-1.97 Sr apfu, 2.96-4.49 Ca apfu, 0.59-1.09 F apfu and significantly lower Na (0.01-0.05 apfu) and LREE contents (up to 0.07 apfu). Fluorcaphite formed under hydrothermal conditions after solidification of the host teschenite during post-magmatic hydrothermal activity at temperatures probably between ∼150 and 300°C. The initial 87Sr/86Sr ratio of vein-hosted analcime +fluorcaphite (0.7063) is significantly higher than those of the host teschenite (0.7041). We therefore suggest a mix of strontium sources in the vein analcime+fluorcaphite: (1) from the host teschenite plus (2) from external source(s) including the Lower Cretaceous seawater and/or surrounding sedimentary rocks of the Silesian Unit. These data indicate an open-system fluid regime and the participation of various fluid sources during the alteration event giving rise to fluorcaphite.
Variations common to the interplanetary magnetic field, the zonal atmospheric circulation and the earth's rotation
A study of the cyclic fluctuations in the earth's rotation, the geomagnetic field, the global atmospheric circulation and solar activity reveals the existence of 50-day and 120-day oscillations common to all. Our results, as well as the results obtained by radiometric measurements from the satellites Nimbus-7 and the Solar Maximum Mission (Wilson 1982; Pap 1985), suggest that their origin lies in the physical processes in the sun. The mechanism remains unexplained but from this work it follows that the role of the interplanetary magnetic field could very well be important.