The crystal structure of the mineral decrespignyite-(Y) from the
Paratoo copper mine (South Australia) has been obtained by applying δ recycling direct methods to 3D electron diffraction (ED) data followed by
Rietveld refinements of synchrotron data. The unit cell is a= 8.5462(2), c= 22.731(2) Å and V= 1437.8(2) Å3, and the chemical formula for Z=1 is
(Y10.35REE1.43Ca0.52Cu5.31)Σ17.61(CO3)14Cl2.21(OH)16.79⋅18.35H2O
(REE: rare earth elements). The ED data are compatible with the trigonal
P3‾m1 space group (no. 164) used for the structure solution (due to the
disorder affecting part of the structure, the possibility of a monoclinic
unit cell cannot completely be ruled out). The structure shows metal layers
perpendicular to [001], with six independent positions for Y, REE and Cu (sites
M1 to M4 are full, and sites M5 and M6 are partially vacant), and two other sites, Cu1 and
Cu2, partially occupied by Cu. One characteristic of decrespignyite is the
existence of hexanuclear (octahedral) oxo-hydroxo yttrium clusters
[Y6(μ6-O)(μ3-OH)8O24] (site M1) with
the 24 bridging O atoms belonging to two sets of symmetry-independent
(CO3)2- ions, with the first set (2×) along a ternary axis giving rise
to a layer of hexanuclear clusters and the second set (6×) tilted and
connecting the hexanuclear clusters with hetero-tetranuclear ones hosting
Cu, Y and REE (M2 and M3 sites). The rest of the crystal structure consists of
two consecutive M3 + M4 layers containing the partially occupied M5, M6, and
Cu2 sites and additional carbonate anions in between. The resulting
structure model is compatible with the chemical analysis of the type
material which is poorer in Cu and richer in (REE, Y) than the above-described
material.
Introduction
In the last years, 3D electron diffraction (ED) has become a routine tool
for solving the crystal structure of minerals ordered only in the nanometric
range (Kolb et al., 2007, 2008; Gemmi et al., 2019; Mugnaioli and Gemmi, 2018). In a 3D
ED experiment an almost complete intensity dataset is collected (except for
the mechanical missing wedge of the TEM goniometer), if the sample is stable
during the experiment. Recent technical advances have considerably reduced
the damage either by using weaker electron beams or by reducing the exposure
time taking advantage of fast read-out detectors enabling continuous scans
(Gemmi et al., 2015; van Genderen et al., 2016). Even if part of the structure is
significantly altered during data collection, the large amount of collected
intensities should allow recognizing the true Laue group. Systematic
extinctions (especially zonal ones) could also be determined unambiguously,
further restricting the space group choice (Camalli et al., 2012; Andrusenko et al.,
2015). Especially prone to vacuum-induced dehydration and electron beam
damage are those minerals based on self-assembly of metal clusters via H
bond networks (León-Reina et al., 2013; Capitani et al., 2014; Ventruti et al., 2015;
Majzlan et al., 2016). In such cases application of direct methods like δ recycling (δDM) (Rius, 2012a, 2014) is more complicated since
parts of the structure may not show up in the Fourier map. One such case is
represented by decrespignyite-(Y), a mineral with unknown crystal structure.
This mineral is found exclusively at the Paratoo copper mine (Yunta, Olary
Province, South Australia). Its detailed characterization was carried out by
Wallwork et al. (2002). According to these authors, decrespignyite-(Y) shows
minor variations in the REE (rare earth element) abundances for different
occurrences within the same deposit, with an approximately constant ratio
between (Y + REE) and Cu. On the basis of the powder diffraction data, they
suggested a monoclinic unit cell with a=8.899(6), b=22.77(2), c= 8.589(6) Å, β= 120.06(5)∘ and V= 1506.3(7) Å3.
As no systematic absences were noted, the possible space groups are P2, Pm and
P2/m.
To determine the crystal structure of decrespignyite-(Y), here a different
sample from the same mine is used (DCP1). The microprobe analyses of DCP1
show some differences with the chemical data presented by Wallwork et al. (2002)
obtained from their sample (DCP2). More specifically, DCP1 contains more Cu
and is (Y, REE) poorer. In this contribution these differences are rationalized
based on the crystal structure of the mineral.
ExperimentalElectron microprobe analyses (EMPA)
Quantitative chemical analyses were obtained using a JEOL 8230-JXA electron
microprobe operating in wavelength-dispersive mode (WDS), housed at LAMARX
(UNC, Córdoba, Argentina). The DCP1 sample was mounted in epoxy, mirror
polished and carbon coated. The accelerating voltage was 15 kV, the beam
current was 10 nA and the beam diameter was 5 µm.
The small size of the crystals precluded the use of a larger beam spot. The
following monochromator crystals, elements, lines and standards were used
for analysis in a PETJ crystal: Ca (Kα, anorthite), Y (Lα,
YPO4), La (Lα, LaB6) and Ce (Lα, CeAl2); in a LiF
crystal: Nd (Lα, NdF3), Sm (Lα, SmF3), Tb
(Lα, TbF3), Dy (Lα, DyF3), Er (Lα,
ErF3), Tm (Lα, TmSi2) and Yb (Lα, YbF3); in a LiFH
crystal: Cu (Kα, libethenite), Gd (Lα, GdF3), Pr
(Lβ, PrF3), Ho (Lβ, HoF3) and Lu (Lβ,
LuF3); and in a PETH crystal: Cl (Kα, sodalite). Intensities were
measured for 15 s on the peak and 7 s at each side of the peak. Overlaps between
REE were corrected using empirical factors. Raw intensities were processed
using the PAP method as implemented by CITZAF software, supplied by JEOL.
The very small amount of sample, and the fact that DCP1 is mixed at a very
fine scale with other phases, precluded direct analysis of C, O and H. Fixed
amounts of H2O (10.8 wt %) and CO2 (19.8 wt %), taken from
Wallwork et al. (2002), were added for accurate matrix corrections. It should be
noted that selecting one of the background positions for the measurement of
the Ho Lβ line is extremely difficult due to the number of other
emission lines in the vicinity. This may result in an overestimation of the
background intensity and consequent reduction in the peak counts, which are
per se rather weak.
The same microprobe was used for energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) to
obtain semiquantitative analyses to confirm the identification of other
phases.
Three-dimensional electron diffraction
Three-dimensional ED experiments were performed on a Zeiss Libra 120 transmission electron
microscope operating at 120 kV, equipped with a LaB6 electron source
and a Nanomegas Digistar P1000 device for precession electron diffraction.
Two datasets with tilt range up to 115∘ were recorded in
1∘ steps with a precession angle of 1∘. A 5 µm
condenser aperture was used in order to a have a parallel nanobeam in
Köhler illumination with a size of 150 nm. All the patterns have been
collected in nano-diffraction mode without selected-area aperture. The
recording device was an ASI MEDIPIX detector (14-bit, 512×512 pixels). ED
data were processed with the ADT3D package (Kolb et al., 2011) and in-house MATLAB
routines (Fig. 1), yielding a metrically hexagonal unit cell with a= 8.7(2) Å and c= 21.9(4) Å, compatible with the published
monoclinic cell within the experimental error of the method. Reflection
intensities were singularly integrated, avoiding any merging related to
symmetry. Diffraction spots are sharp in the a–b plane and show very strong
diffuse scattering along c*, suggesting stacking disorder along this
direction.
Weighted reciprocal lattice of DCP1measured by 3D electron
diffraction and projected along c* (left), b* (middle) and a* (right). Segments
represent the projected a* (red), b* (yellow) and c* (blue). The presence of very
strong diffuse scattering along c* (i.e., inside the layers in the middle and
right projections) indicates stacking disorder in this direction.
Synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction
The synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction pattern was collected at beamline
BL04 (Fauth et al., 2013) of ALBA Synchrotron (Barcelona, Spain). The sample was
mounted in a 0.7 mm diameter glass capillary, and the data were collected
with a Mythen detector (λ= 0.61913 Å). The hexagonal lattice
parameters and the parameters of the profile function (Thompson et al., 1987) were
refined with the whole-profile matching software Dajust (Vallcorba et al., 2012)
by using 1/yo as a weighting factor. These parameters were kept fixed
during the posterior structural Rietveld refinements: a= 8.5462(2), c= 22.731(2) Å and V= 1437.8(2) Å3; zero shift =-0.0368(2)∘;
wL=0.199(6)/cosθ; and wG2=0.0528(3)+0.00319(4)tanθ. Final pattern-matching figures of merit are Rwp=0.78 % and χ(I)=1.11 for the 1–35∘ 2θ
range (Δθ=0.006∘) involving 5666 data points
and 318 reflections (peak range is 20 FWHM). For completeness, the
monoclinic unit cell was also refined yielding Rwp=0.73 % and
χ(I)=1.04. Owing to the much larger number of Bragg positions in
the monoclinic case (1364 vs. 318 for the hexagonal one) and to the
identical visual aspect of both powder diffraction pattern fits, the simpler
trigonal symmetry was selected. In the pattern of DCP1 there are a few peaks
that cannot be indexed with the hexagonal or monoclinic unit cells. These
peaks show good correspondence with those of caysichite-(Y) (Hogarth et al.,
1974), whose presence was also confirmed by electron microprobe analyses.
Electron microprobe analysis of two samples of decrespignyite-(Y)
from the Paratoo mine.
DCP1DCP2Wt %This workWallwork et al. (2002)La2O30.190.3Ce2O30.03b.d.l.Pr2O30.110.1Nd2O30.601.3Sm2O30.241.0Gd2O31.764.8Tb2O30.270.4Dy2O31.863.7Ho2O30.292.6Er2O32.032.5Tm2O30.27n.m.Yb2O31.01n.m.CaO0.960.5Y2O338.1942.2CuO13.7910.9Cl2.563.0CO220.10*19.8H2O(16.31)10.8O≡Cl-0.58-0.7Total(100.00)103.2
n.m.: not measured; b.d.l.: below detection limit. * calculated based on
the crystal structure and symmetry constraints; (H2O): calculated by
difference with 100 wt %. CO2 and H2O contents were measured by
Wallwork et al. (2002).
Raman spectroscopy
Raman spectra were acquired at the Laboratorio de Nanoscopía y Nanofotónica (LANN; Facultad de Ciencias Químicas, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina),
with a LabRAM HR Horiba Jobin-Yvon confocal microscope Raman system with a
50× objective lens and using a 632.8 nm (He-Ne) laser. Low laser
power was used in order to avoid laser-induced heating. Peak positions were
found fitting Gaussian curves, using the Fityk 0.9.8 software.
Sample description
Sample DCP1 consists of spherules of decrespignyite-(Y), composed of light-blue interlocking platy crystals; individual crystals reach up to about 7 µm long and less than 2 µm thick. Spherules line thin fissures in
the host rock, embedded in white kaolinite
[Al2Si2O5(OH)4, identified by X-ray powder diffraction
and confirmed with EDS]. The composition of DCP1 is given in Table 1, along
with data taken from Wallwork et al. (2002) (their Table 1) for comparison. In
DCP1 the amount of Cu is ≈ 50 % higher than in DCP2; in contrast,
the REE content (other than Y) is lower [ΣREE is 9.24 vs. 16.7 wt % in
DCP2]. The chondrite-normalized REE pattern shows a rather steep positive slope
(LaN/ErN= 0.071 for DCP1 and 0.079 for DCP2). The pattern for
DCP1 is approximately linear between La and Er, whereas it is upwards convex
for DCP2. Sample DCP1 shows a weak negative Ho anomaly, which can be
attributed to analytical error due to an overestimation of the background
intensity (see section on microprobe analysis). Sample DCP2 displays a
strong positive Ho anomaly.
Raman spectra obtained from two different spots (a, b) in the
same sample.
The calculation of the empirical formula (and of elements not measured by
EMPA) is not straightforward, as the analysis is incomplete (due to the
scarcity of material) and some H2O molecules are disordered and thus do
not diffract coherently, making their quantification impossible using X-ray diffraction (XRD).
To obtain the atomic proportions, metallic cations were normalized so that
the number of refined electrons (as obtained by XRD) matched the number of
electrons contributed by the cations, calculated using EMPA data. CO2
wt % was calculated assuming that 14 C atoms are present (as suggested by
considerations of the crystal structure, symmetry constraints and the Raman
spectrum, elaborated below), whereas the H2O wt % was calculated by
difference. The Cl≡O correction was taken into account. Some slight
burn marks were seen in the beam impact spot after the microprobe analyses.
This may imply that the sample lost some volatiles, and thus the H2O
content is probably a minimum estimate. Wallwork et al. (2002) obtained a slightly
elevated analytical total (103.2 wt %) when combining EMPA data with CHN
analysis, which was also attributed to partial dehydration of
decrespignyite-(Y) during the analysis with electron microprobe.
In coincidence with the findings of Wallwork et al. (2002) Raman spectra acquired
in different spots showed the presence of three peaks between 1050 and 1100 cm-1 that can be ascribed to (CO3)2- groups in three
independent crystallographic positions (Fig. 2). One of the peaks (at 1058 cm-1) is very sharp and probably corresponds to (CO3)2-
groups that occur in the ordered part of the decrespignyite-(Y) structure.
The peak at 1087–1088 cm-1 is not as sharp, whereas the peak located
between them ranges from moderately well defined (Fig. 2a) to very broad
(Fig. 2b). By contrast, in the Raman spectrum reported for
decrespignyite-(Y) in the RRUFF database (sample R060302,
https://rruff.info/decrespignyite/display=default/, last access: 8 October 2020) there is an intensity
shift among peaks. Here (in the spectrum measured with a 532 nm laser), the
most intense peak is detected at 1071 cm-1, whereas the peak at 1058 cm-1 is just a shoulder. The peak at 1089 cm-1 is quite sharp. It
is likely that these differences reflect variations in the degree of order
among different samples (and even among different volumes within a single
sample), where a more ordered structure produces narrower peaks, possibly
enhanced by orientation effects.
Caysichite-(Y) was identified by EMPA in the periphery of the
decrespignyite-(Y) spherules, as radiating aggregates of crystals, of about
10 µm in diameter. Its formula, based on Si + Al = 4.00 apfu (atoms per formula unit), is
Y2.00(Ca1.54Y0.19Er0.05Dy0.05Yb0.04Gd0.04La0.02Nd0.02Tb0.01Ho0.01)Σ1.98(Si3.95Al0.05)Σ4.00O10(CO3)3(H2O0.55OH0.45)Σ1.00⋅3H2O (with
C and H calculated from stoichiometry and charge balance). Finally, a few
rounded grains included in the decrespignyite-(Y) aggregates occur; these
grains show only Ce and O by EDS, and they are probably cerianite-(Ce),
ideally Ce4+O2. This is consistent with the highly oxidizing
environment indicated by the low content of Ce3+ in decrespignyite-(Y)
(Wallwork et al., 2002)
Laue class analysis of the 3D ED data of DCP1 (dmin=1.05 Å) [RintF=Σ|Fo-Fo(mean)|/ΣFo].
LaueRint(F)No. unique refl. Completenessclass(%)measuredall(%)6/mmm27.7427333681.256/m27.3640847885.363‾1m27.1043852483.593‾m121.6846657381.333‾20.4775790383.832/m18.071090149173.10Solving the structure model of decrespignyite-(Y)Application of δ recycling direct methods to 3D electron
diffraction data
The reduction of the 3D ED data of DCP1 was performed with a hexagonal unit
cell. Table 2 summarizes the residuals obtained for all Laue classes
compatible with the hexagonal metric (and also for 2/m, for completeness)
ordered according to their RintF value (residual among
symmetry-equivalent reflections). A clear gap between the first three classes
and the last three ones is evident. The RintF variations among the 3‾m1, 3‾
and 2/m classes were considered not too significant, owing to the reduction
in the number of averaged symmetry-related reflections as symmetry decreases.
Consequently, 3‾m1, the Laue class with the highest symmetry, was chosen, and
since no systematic absences were detected, the centrosymmetric trigonal P3‾m1 space group (no. 164) was finally selected for structure solution. In
general, phasing of 3D ED data by multisolution δDM is
straightforward if data reach atomic resolution (Rius et al., 2013). However, in
the case of DCP1, the material suffered a fast deterioration due to
dehydration induced by the vacuum inside the transmission electron microscopy (TEM) column and by beam damage.
Also, an important diffuse scattering along c* was always observed, which can
be again the consequence of structure deterioration or can be related to
the occurrence of pervasive stacking disorder in the pristine sample (Fig. 1). Consequently, δDM application supplied multiple solutions with
similar figures of merit, being impossible to automatically identify the true one.
However, inspection of the final Fourier maps clearly showed that only one
subset of solutions containing hexa- and tetranuclear metal clusters joined
by two symmetry-independent sets of carbonate anions was chemically sound.
This model contains 16 metal sites, i.e., M1 (6×), M2 (6×), M3 (2×) and M4
(2×) plus an additional weaker peak (2×) assigned to a Cl atom (respective
Fourier-peak heights were normalized to 1000 and are 1000, 506, 847, 948 and
662), as well as the O ligands O1, O2, O3, O4, O5, O6, O8 and O9 (Fig. 3). The
validity of this partial model (the Fourier map region at z≈1/2 shows no clear peaks) was checked through a preliminary
Rietveld refinement in which the C atoms were added to allow restraining the
geometry of the located carbonate anions. At the end of the refinement (Fig. 4a), the input model remained practically unchanged.
View of the partial model of DCP1 derived from 3D ED data with atom
labeling. The 24 bridging O atoms of each (octahedral) hexanuclear
oxo-hydroxo yttrium cluster [Y6(μ6-O)(μ3-OH)8O24] (M1 sites) belong to two sets of symmetry-independent CO32- ions: (i) one set (C1) centered along a ternary
axis giving rise to layers of hexanuclear clusters and (ii) a second set (C2)
connecting (via O5) the octahedral clusters with the cubane-like
hetero-tetranuclear clusters formed by 3 M2 (Cu, Y) and 1 M3 (Y, REE) sites.
The cubane-like core has 3 μ3-OH (O8) and a chlorine atom (Cl1)
replacing the fourth apical one. The probable O2-H⋯Cl1 hydrogen
bond (O2⋯Cl1 distance is 3.08 Å) is represented as a single
line. For clarity, O1–M1 bonds are not plotted.
Plots of the Rietveld refinement results corresponding to (a) the
partial structure model of DCP1 found by 3D ED (Fig. 3) and (b) the final model
derived from synchrotron powder diffraction data. Respective χ values
(=Rwp/Rmodel-free) are 1.62 and 1.20. Observed patterns (red
dots), calculated ones (black line) and difference profile (blue bottom
line). The vertical markers show the Bragg reflection positions.
This partial model was then combined with the available DCP2 data to get
further information on the (CO3)2- ions. Following Wallwork et
al. (2002), the expected number of carbonate anions in the unit cell of DCP2 is
≈ 14.3, and the corresponding Raman spectrum shows three strong and
narrow bands in the range 1050–1100 cm-1, which were assigned to
stretching vibrations of planar carbonate anions, thus indicating at least three sets of symmetry-independent anions; as already mentioned, these bands are
also clearly seen in DPC1. Our decrespignyite-(Y) model already explains two
sets (with 6× and 2× multiplicities), so that the presence in the empty
region of our model of a third set with 6× multiplicity would explain both
the 14.3 carbonate anions and the three Raman bands (14.3≈6+2+6). In space group P3‾m1, the six C atoms of this third set (hereafter C3) can
only occupy either the 6i or the 6h positions (respective site symmetries are
m and 2). Normalizing the published formula of DCP2 to 14
(CO3)2- ions, it becomes
(Y11.65REE2.84Ca0.30Cu4.24)Σ19.03(CO3)14Cl2.64(OH)21.91⋅9.08H2O,
with the total number of metal and O atoms adding up to 19 and 71.6,
respectively. Consequently, if the 16 metal sites of the partial model are
fully occupied, there must be three additional metal atoms in DCP2 (necessarily
bonded to the third set of carbonate anions) which can either sit on the two
2d and 1b positions (with respective 3m and 3‾m site symmetries) or occupy
the 3f position (site symmetry is 2/m).
Model refinement using synchrotron X-ray powder diffraction data
The refinement was performed with RIBOLS (Rius, 2012b) in P3‾m1 (no. 164). Due
to the severe limitations imposed by the sample quality (stacking disorder
combined with small crystallite size) and large c parameter [22.7226(13) Å], it was difficult to determine accurate interatomic
distances from powder data. This limitation, however, did not hamper finding the approximate
structural model of DCP1. To minimize the bias that inaccurate restraints
involving disordered positions would introduce in the Rietveld refinement,
restraints were applied only to polyhedra showing less variable geometries.
These are (i) the internal distances (C-O; O⋯O) of the two
symmetry-independent carbonate anions, C1 and C2; (ii) the planarity of the
C1 carbonate anion, which was forced to lie on the plane described by the
three closest M(1) sites; and (iii) the shortest M1-O2 distance of the octahedral
Y cluster which was restrained to 2.16(3) Å (this restraint was
introduced once confirmed that the unrestrained refinements always gave a
distance between 2.14 and 2.18 Å). During the refinement, besides the
Fourier peaks of the initial model, several new peaks assigned to sites M5,
M6, Cu1 and Cu2 (all of them with low occupations) and to atoms O11, O12 and
O13 were identified (Fig. 5). These three O atoms form a triangle consistent
with a carbonate anion having its C atom (C3) on a mirror plane (6i
position), so that the position of C3 could be calculated. This allowed
introducing as additional restraint the C-O distance of the C3 carbonate
anion (the C3 site was assumed to be fully occupied). The respective refined
scattering powers (s.p.'s) in electrons (e) in the metal sites M1, M2, M3,
M4, M5, M6, Cu1 and Cu2 are 39 (fixed), 32.3(4), 49.6(6), 41.0(7), 3.8(7),
6.8(7), 9.2(6) and 10.2(8), which yields a total of 662.2 e in the metal
sites and allows scaling the atomic proportions from EMPA to
Y10.35REE1.43Ca.52Cu5.31Cl2.21 (average atomic number
of REE in DCP1 is 65.7 e, calculated from EMPA data). That the REE content (other
than Y) in M1 cannot be significant was confirmed by the similarity between
the refined individual atomic displacement parameter of M1 (Y) and the
overall one [1.1 vs. 1.2(1) Å2]. Additional features are (i) the
refinement of the s.p. of O7 to 3.8(7) e and (ii) the marked R value improvement
when changing the s.p. of O10 from 8 to 10 e (which is consistent with its
role as an H2O molecule). Site occupancies were modeled using Y at M1, M3,
M4, M5 and M6, while a mixed occupancy by Cu and Y was used to model the
s.p. at site M2. The figures of merit in the final refinement for 48
structural parameters are Rwp=0.94 % (Langford and Louër,
1996), Rp=0.62 % and χ (Rwp/Rmodel-free)=1.20,
corresponding to the
(Y10.35REE1.43Ca0.52Cu5.31)Σ17.61(CO3)14Cl2.21 (OH)16.79⋅18.35H2O structural formula. The final atomic coordinates are listed in Table 3, and the corresponding Rietveld plot is given in Fig. 4b.
Final atomic coordinates of DCP1 obtained from Rietveld refinement
with standard uncertainties in parentheses. Overall B value: 1.2(1) Å2.
The crystal structure of decrespignyite-(Y) shows layers of polyhedra
perpendicular to [001]. The layer sequence is M1 – (M2 + Cu1) – (M3 + M4)
– (M5 + M6 + Cu2) – (M3 + M4) – (M2 + Cu1) – M1 (Fig. 5). When cation
sites in M2 and M3 (but not M4) are considered together, they define a
tetranuclear complex which will be treated as a single unit. The plane
defined by (M5 + M6 + Cu2) is kinked. As described below, many of these
sites show partial occupancies, in part due to the short distances that
preclude simultaneous occupation of both sites. Carbonate anions are
oriented either normally (C1) or tilted (C2 and C3) with respect to [001].
In the structural model presented here, the space between the planes defined
by (M3 + M4) and (M5 + M6 + Cu2) is less densely populated, making it a
suitable location for at least some of the disordered H2O molecules.
Perspective view along b of approximately half the unit cell of DCP1 (as obtained from the Rietveld refinement) showing (i) the coordination of sites M3 and M4 (both capped trigonal prisms); (ii) the dual behavior of O3, either as part of a hydroxyl group (68 %) or as ligand of the linearly
coordinated Cu atom (32 %), i.e., O3-Cu1-O7; and (iii) the C3 carbonate anions (at z∼0.44 and 0.56) and the partially occupied metal positions
(Cu2, M5 and M6) between two consecutive M3 + M4 layers (at z∼0.30 and 0.70). Sites M5 and Cu2 are too close (∼ 1.64 Å)
to be simultaneously filled and therefore can only host a maximum of 2
atoms. For its part, M6 (at z=1/2) can coexist either with M5 or with Cu2
(respective distances are ∼ 5.13 and ∼ 4.94 Å), so that the maximum total number of metal atoms in Cu2, M5 and M6 is
3; in DCP1, the resulting number is ∼ 1 atom (=0.70+0.18+0.17, Table 4), so that some additional protons should most probably
be present.
Metal distribution in DCP1 derived from EMPA and from synchrotron
powder diffraction data. The average atomic number of REE is 65.7 (scattering
powers, s.p.'s, are given in electrons). Numbers in bold correspond to sites
with low occupancy.
AtomNo. of atomsAtomic distribution (EMPA)M1M2M3M4M5M6Cu1Cu2ΣY10.3562.001.200.980.090.0810.35REE1.430.800.530.050.0451.43Ca0.520.450.040.040.54Cu5.314.000.630.705.33Σ6621.960.180.170.630.70s.p. (cal.)3932.349.641.03.86.99.110.2s.p. (ref.)3932.3(4)49.6(6)41.0(7)3.8(7)6.8(7)9.2(6)10.2(8)
The metal distribution along the different sites derived from EMPA and from
the Rietveld analysis is given in Table 4. As shown in Fig. 5, there is,
centered at the origin, the octahedral Y cluster generated by the M1 site
(at z≈0.07) and its related partially occupied Cu1 position at z≈0.30. The M2 site with shared occupation by Cu and Y atoms is
found at z≈0.20. The M3 and M4 sites have same coordination types
(a capped trigonal prism) and form a layer at z≈0.30. While M3 is
occupied exclusively by REE and Y atoms, M4 also hosts some Ca. The distance
between the M4 and M5 sites at z≈0.44 is 2.94 Å. This
apparently too short distance is a consequence of the low occupation
(≈9 %) of M5; i.e., the refined M4 position predominantly
corresponds to the situation where M5 is empty. Finally, sites M6 and Cu2
(both at z≈0.5) and site M5 are the partially occupied metal
sites in the more disordered part of the structure.
The hexanuclear Y complex: the M1 and Cu1 sites
The M1 site forms a hexanuclear oxo-hydroxo yttrium cluster similar to that
found for Nd by Wang et al. (2000) with formula [Nd6(μ6-O)(μ3-OH)8(H2O)24]. In addition to the
replacement of Nd by Y, the main difference between both clusters is the
substitution of the four water molecules bound to one Y by the four bridging
O atoms belonging to two carbonate anions, i.e., O4 (2×) and O5 (2×), at
expected approximate bond lengths of 2.42 Å. The two
symmetry-independent carbonate anions to which each octahedral Y cluster is
connected have their molecular planes oriented either normally, C1, or
tilted with respect the threefold axis, C2. The former are responsible for
the propagation of the octahedral Y clusters along the z=0 plane (each
carbonate anion belongs to three such clusters), thus producing a layer of
octahedral Y clusters (Fig. 5). Since each bridging O atom transfers 0.33
valence units to the Y atom (corresponding to an Y-O bond length of 2.42 Å), and since the respective formal charges of the μ6-O atom
(O1) and the 8 μ3-OH anions (O2 and O3) are 2- and 1-, the
resulting charge balance of the cluster is neutral, i.e., 2+8+24⋅0.33=18 negative charges, that compensate for the 18
positive ones of the 6 Y3+ ions. In DCP1, however, the distances from
each M1 to the four closest μ3-OH are not equal. The refined
values indicate a significant shortening of one distance, namely M1-O2 ≅ 2.16 Å. This shortening causes an excess positive charge at O2 which is transferred by H bonding to the neighboring Cl1 chlorine atom. (Refined distances of M1 to the nine O ligands: 2.60(1) to O1, 2.41(2) to O22a
(2×), 2.16(2) to O22b, 2.45(8) to O3, 2.44(1) to O4 (2×) and 2.32(4) Å to O5 (2×); a: -y, x–y, z; b: -x, -y, -z).
From the refinement it follows that the O3 atom can play a dual role: as
part of a hydroxyl group in approximately 68 % of the cases or as a
ligand of the linearly coordinated Cu atom in the remaining cases, i.e.,
O3-Cu1-O7 with O7 having one negative charge (respective refined Cu1-O3 and
Cu1-O7 bond lengths are 1.9(1) and 1.7(2) Å). According to its s.p.
value, the occupation of O7 is 48(9) %, which is slightly higher than that
of Cu1, 32(2) %. This discrepancy could be ascribed to some Cl-
replacing O7.
The tetranuclear complex: the M2 and M3 (as well as Cu2) sites
Besides the octahedral Y clusters, DCP1 also contains tetranuclear complexes
formed by the M2 (3×) and M3 sites (Fig. 5). It is known that both REE and
Cu2+ can produce clusters with cubane-like core structures of type
[REE4(μ3-OH)4]8+ (Plakatouras et al., 1994; Xiao-Ming et al., 1997) and [Cu4(μ3-OH)4]4+ (Dedert et al., 1982;
Sletten et al., 1990). In DCP1 the cubane-like core has 3 μ3-OH (O8)
and a chlorine atom (Cl1) replacing the fourth apical one. The refined
M2⋯M2 and M2⋯M3 distances are ∼ 3.20 Å (3×) and ∼ 3.28 Å (3×), respectively. The refined
s.p., 32.3(4) e in site M2 indicates a shared occupancy by Cu
(∼ 67 %) and Y (∼ 33 %) atoms. The
coordination of the Cu2+ ion is a distorted octahedron with four
ligands in planar configuration, i.e., O5 (2×) at 2.02(4) Å and the O8
hydroxyl group (2×) at 2.04(5) Å, and two more distant apical ones, O9
at 2.39(5) and Cl1 at 2.88(4) Å. The coordination of the Y3+ ion is
eightfold; i.e., in addition to the ligands of Cu2+, Y3+ is also
bonded to two O6 ligands (at 2.81(3) Å) of C2 carbonate anions (Fig. 3).
Due to the different ionic sizes and charges of Y and Cu, only when M2 hosts
the larger Y3+ ion can the O8 hydroxyl group form an H bond with O7.
This mechanism explains why the refined occupations of Cu1 (32 %) and of Y at M2 (33 %) are similar and, in addition, helps to understand why M2 can
host both divalent and trivalent cations. Like the M2 site, M3 also has
shared occupation. The composition which results from its refined s.p. value
(∼ 49.6 e) is Y (∼ 60 %) + REE (∼ 40 %). The coordination polyhedron of M3 is a capped trigonal prism formed
by ligands O8 at 2.35(5) (3×), O9 at 2.32(5) and O11 at 2.33(5) Å.
The Cu content of Cu in DCP1 amounts to 5.31 atoms in the unit cell
distributed among sites M2 and Cu1 (4 and 0.63 atoms). Consequently, the
number of unallocated Cu atoms is 0.68. From all partially occupied sites,
only the Cu2 position has the required number of atoms, 0.70 (derived from
its refined s.p.) (Table 4). The coordination polyhedron of Cu2 is formed by
ligands O13 at 2.06(7) (3×) and O11 at 2.41(5) Å (3×).
Sites M4, M5 and M6
Once the total atomic content in sites M1, M2, M3, Cu1 and Cu2 is fixed, the
remaining 1.15 Y, 0.63 REE and 0.52 Ca atoms have to be placed among the M4, M5
and M6 sites. By assuming that these three sites (all three not belonging to
clusters) have no marked preferences for Y, REE or Ca, the occupations of the
average atom (∼ 50 %Y +∼ 27 % REE +∼ 23 % Ca) can be calculated from the corresponding site
s.p.'s, yielding ∼ 98 % for M4, ∼ 9 % for M5
and ∼ 16 % for M6; i.e., site M4 may be regarded as full
(Table 4). The coordination polyhedron of M4 is formed by ligands O6 at
2.45(4) (3×), O9 at 2.65(5) (3×), and O10 at 2.83(4) Å (3×) and
corresponds to a capped trigonal prism like M3 but ∼ 13 %
larger (M4 hosts ∼ 23 % Ca2+). Regarding sites M5 and
Cu2, these are too close (∼ 1.64 Å) to be simultaneously
occupied (Fig. 5). Their distances to the O ligands are M5-O10 = 2.6(2)
(3×), M5-O13 = 2.5(2) Å (3×) and M6-O12 = 2.41(6) (6×) and M6-O13 = 2.90(4) Å (6×).
Comparison of samples DCP1 and DCP2
According to the present study the unit cell formula of DCP1 is
(Y10.35REE1.43Ca0.52Cu5.31)Σ17.61(CO3)14Cl2.21(OH)16.79⋅18.35H2O
(Dc=3.51 g cm-3); i.e., it contains a total of 77.1 O
atoms, from which 69.6(=11×6+1+2+0.6) have been considered
in the refinement (this number also includes the six O10 atoms clearly
identified as H2O molecules). The difference of ∼ 8 O
atoms should correspond to disordered H2O molecules. For DCP2, the
corresponding number of metal and Cl atoms (also based on 14
CO32- ions) is Y11.65REE2.84Ca0.30Cu4.24 and
Cl2.64. Whereas in DCP1 the 5.31 Cu atoms are distributed among sites
M2, Cu1 and Cu2 (∼ 4, ∼ 0.63 and ∼ 0.70, respectively), in DCP2, due to the lower Cu content (4.24 atoms), Cu1
(with O7) and Cu2 should be vacant. Consequently, sites M5 (2d) and M6 (1b) can
be occupied by three (Y, REE, Ca) atoms. Also, the role played by O7 in DCP1, i.e.,
the H bonding between O8 and O7, could be assumed by some Cl-.
Consequently, a higher Cl content should be expected in DCP2 compared to
DCP1, which is indeed the case, i.e., 2.6 vs. 2.2 atoms.
Wallwork et al. (2002) proposed that decrespignyite-(Y) should have a layered
structure and that CO32- groups should not be oriented in a
parallel fashion (regardless of their orientation with respect to symmetry
elements), by analogy with other REE minerals with low birefringence. They
speculated that decrespignyite-(Y) might share more structural features with
kamphaugite-(Y) than with bastnäsite-(Ce). Our findings confirm their
clever deductions.
Although the present study has been performed assuming trigonal symmetry, we
also consider it possible that the real symmetry is monoclinic, as discussed
before. The available dataset does not allow a robust refinement in a lower
symmetry, but some aspects of the crystal structure (such as the shared
occupancy of site M2 by Cu and Y atoms) suggest that the atomic positions
may actually be independent, each with its own particular coordination
environment. In addition to that, several atomic positions (such as M5 and
M6) are partially vacant, and that involves a local rearrangement (plus
possibly protonation) in order to maintain the local charge balance. All this
contributes to some diffuse electron density that cannot be adequately
modeled.
Our study indicates that, in several sites, occupancy by a particular cation
must be coupled with the entry of another element in a nearby site, thus
inducing short-range order. There is a possibility that our sample and that
studied by Wallwork et al. (2002) do not represent strictly the same species, as
their chemical formulae are related to each other (possibly forming a
continuum) but not the same. However, as the crystal structure of the sample
studied by Wallwork et al. (2002) remains unknown, and because of the fact that
some important information (like the precise amount of H2O and its
speciation) is not known with high precision, it is more reasonable to wait
until more information becomes available before drawing a limit. Since the
structure of decrespignyite-(Y) represents a novel type, it has been
described here in spite of the aforementioned shortcomings, hoping that
better specimens are found in the future to allow the elucidation of finer
details.
Data availability
The experimental synchrotron powder diffraction pattern of decrespignyite (DCP1) and the output of the last Rietveld refinement are included in the Supplement.
The supplement related to this article is available online at: https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-32-545-2020-supplement.
Author contributions
FC performed the electron microprobe analyses, the sample description and the interpretation of the Raman spectra.
EM and MG carried out the 3D electron diffraction experiments and the subsequent data reduction.
OV performed the synchrotron powder diffraction experiments and the subsequent data reduction.
XT carried out the crystal structure refinement from X-ray diffraction data.
JR solved the decrespignyite structure by applying direct methods to 3D electron and powder diffraction data and unified the contributions of the different co-authors into a publication.
Competing interests
The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.
Acknowledgements
We acknowledge the kindly assistance of Graciela Lacconi (LANN) with
the acquisition of the Raman spectrum. The review work of Taras L. Panikorovskii and Allan Pring is greatly appreciated.
Financial support
This research received financial support from the Spanish MINECO (project RTI2018-098537-B-C21), from FEDER and from the European Union Fund for Regional Development POCTEFA (grant no. EFA 194/16 TNSI). We acknowledge support for the publication fee from the CSIC Open Access Publication Support Initiative through its Unit of Information Resources for Research (URICI).
Review statement
This paper was edited by Sergey Krivovichev and reviewed by Taras Panikorovskii and Alan Pring.
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