Belmonteite (IMA 2024-040), ideally CaMn2(AsO4)2(H2O)5⋅2H2O, is a new arsenate mineral discovered in the Gambatesa mine, Graveglia Valley, Ne, Genoa Province, Liguria, Italy. It occurs as aggregates up to 0.5 mm in length, formed by thin tabular crystals, white in color, with a silky luster and white streak. A perfect {010} cleavage was observed. Associated minerals are tennantite-(Cu), calcite, and a still unidentified (Ca,Cu)-arsenate secondary phase. Calculated density is 2.677 g cm−3. The empirical chemical formula of belmonteite is (Ca0.86Mn0.11K0.01)Σ0.98(Mn1.90Cu0.08Al0.02)Σ2.00As2.01O8⋅7H2O. Unit-cell parameters are a=8.8418(9), b=23.031(2), c=13.5270(14) Å, V=2754.6(5) Å3, space group Cmce, Z=8. The crystal structure of belmonteite was refined to R1=0.0385 for 1195 unique reflections with F>4σ(F) and 129 refined parameters. It can be described as being formed by {010} layers of six-fold-coordinated Mn atoms decorated on both sides by (AsO4) groups and Ca atoms. These heteropolyhedral layers are connected along b through H bonds. Belmonteite displays {010} layers topologically similar to those occurring in switzerite. The genesis of belmonteite is probably related to the circulation of As-rich oxidizing fluids within the Mn ore deposit exploited at the Gambatesa mine during its late-stage evolution. The name honors Donato Belmonte (born 1978) for his earlier contribution to the knowledge of the mineralogy of Liguria.
Introduction
Manganese ore deposits of eastern Liguria, hosted in Jurassic cherts belonging to the “Diaspri di Monte Alpe” Formation, are classic Italian mineralogical localities owing to the occurrence of both well-crystallized specimens, found mainly during the former mining activity, and rare mineral species, showing peculiar chemical compositions. Manganese-rich ore bodies were affected by prehnite–pumpellyite facies metamorphism (P=0.25±0.05 GPa, T=275±25 °C) and by a hydrothermal remobilization along fractures under decreasing T–P conditions, leading to the genesis of polyphase mineral assemblages (Cabella et al., 1991, 1998). In particular, the late-stage hydrothermal fluids were able to further concentrate dispersed elements such as As, V, and Te, promoting the crystallization of minerals with unusual crystal chemical features, e.g., tiragalloite (Gramaccioli et al., 1980) and medaite (Gramaccioli et al., 1982). These two species were among the first hints of the interesting mineral assemblages of the Mn ore deposits of eastern Liguria.
Whereas Te minerals are very rare, having been discovered in very low amounts (e.g., Bindi et al., 2013; Carbone et al., 2013; Castellaro et al., 2021), V and As minerals are more widespread. At the beginning of the 1980s, Antofilli et al. (1983) cited the presence of conichalcite and sarkinite, along with the arsenato–trisilicate tiragalloite, and the vanadium oxy–salt minerals volborthite, medaite, and saneroite. Since then, a relatively large number of As and V minerals have been reported from the Mn ores of eastern Liguria (see, for instance, https://www.mindat.org/loc-21863.html, last access: 24 July 2026), and some of them were first described from these ore deposits.
Our re-examination of mineral specimens kept in the mineralogical collection of the Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita (DISTAV) of the University of Genoa yielded an unknown phase accompanied by a hand-written label bearing the wording “Ca-Mn arsenate?”. The specimen was found by the mineral collector Corrado Balestra on the dumps of the Gambatesa mine at the beginning of the 1990s and at that time was given for analysis to Andrea Palenzona, who added it to his personal collection and later donated it to the DISTAV. Further investigations by X-ray diffraction revealed that the Ca–Mn arsenate kept in the DISTAV collection did not correspond to any known species. The new mineral, its name, and its symbol (Bmo) have been approved by the IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (proposal IMA # 2024-040) as belmonteite. The name honors Donato Belmonte (born 1978) for his contributions to the mineralogy of Liguria. He co-authored the description of seven new mineral species from this region: cerchiaraite-(Fe) (Kampf et al., 2013), alpeite (Kampf et al., 2017), ramazzoite (Kampf et al., 2018), arsenmedaite (Biagioni et al., 2019), isselite (Biagioni et al., 2020), cortesognoite (Ma et al., 2023), and marioantofilliite (Biagioni et al., 2025). Moreover, he participated in the study of the 1M polytype of lavinskyite (Kolitsch et al., 2018). He also gave original insights into the understanding of the mineral associations in rodingitic and meta-rodingitic rocks from the Ligurian Alps and Apennines (e.g., Belmonte et al., 2018; Haws et al., 2021; Xiong et al., 2024; Xiong et al., 2026).
Type material for belmonteite is deposited in the mineralogical collection of the Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra dell'Ambiente e della Vita (DISTAV) of the University of Genoa, under catalogue number MO720. The sample used for single-crystal X-ray diffraction studies is kept in the mineralogical collection of the Museo di Storia Naturale, University of Pisa, Via Roma 79, Calci (Pisa, Italy), under catalogue number 20076.
Occurrence and physical properties
Belmonteite was discovered in a sample collected in the dumps of the Gambatesa mine (latitude 44°21′34′′ N, longitude 9°26′59′′ E), Graveglia Valley, Ne, Genoa Province, Liguria, Italy. This mine exploited braunite ore bodies hosted near the base of an Upper Jurassic metachert sequence (“Diaspri di Monte Alpe” Formation) which overlays Middle Jurassic ophiolites of the northern Apennine (Cabella et al., 1998). The Gambatesa mine is the type locality for six additional mineral species: cavoite (Basso et al., 2003), gravegliaite (Basso et al., 1991), poppiite (Brigatti et al., 2006), reppiaite (Basso et al., 1992), saneroite (Lucchetti et al., 1981), and vanadomalayaite (Basso et al., 1994).
Belmonteite, aggregates of thin tabular crystals, white in color, with calcite; in the center, at the top, bluish spherulae of the mahnertite-like mineral can be observed. Gambatesa mine, Ne, Graveglia Valley, Genoa Province, Liguria, Italy. Holotype specimen, catalogue number MO720. Mineralogical collection of the Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, dell'Ambiente e della Vita of the University of Genoa. Photo Cristian Biagioni.
Belmonteite occurs as aggregates, up to 0.5 mm in size, of thin tabular crystals, white in color, with a white streak and a silky luster (Fig. 1). The mineral is transparent, and it does not fluoresce under short- and long-wavelength UV radiation. Belmonteite is brittle, and it shows a perfect {010} cleavage. Calculated density is 2.677 g cm−3 based on the empirical formula and unit-cell parameters measured using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. Owing to the very low amount of material available for the mineral characterization, optical properties were not measured. The mean refraction index of belmonteite is 1.578, as obtained from the Gladstone–Dale relationship (Mandarino, 1979, 1981).
Belmonteite occurs in vugs of a carbonate vein, in association with tennantite-(Cu), calcite, and a still unidentified Cu secondary phase. Qualitative EDS chemical analysis of this latter phase revealed the occurrence of Ca, Cu, As, Cl, and minor S, whereas its X-ray powder diffraction pattern is similar but not identical to that of mahnertite, ideally (Na,Ca,K)Cu3(AsO4)2Cl(H2O)3⋅2H2O. In the same mineral assemblage, luzonite has been identified through X-ray powder diffraction and EDS analysis (Donato Belmonte, personal communication, 2026).
The genesis of belmonteite is probably related to the circulation of As-rich oxidizing fluids during the late-stage evolution of the Mn ore deposit formerly exploited at the Gambatesa mine.
Raman spectroscopy
The Raman spectrum of belmonteite was collected in the range of 100–4000 cm−1 on an unpolished grain in nearly backscattered geometry using a Horiba Jobin-Yvon XploRA Plus apparatus, equipped with a motorized x–y stage and an Olympus BX41 microscope with a 50× objective. The Raman signal was excited by an unpolarized green diode-pumped solid-state laser (λ=532 nm) and detected by a CCD detector. The minimum lateral and depth resolution was set to a few µm. The system was calibrated using the 520.6 cm−1 Raman band of silicon before each experimental session. Spectra were collected through multiple acquisitions (3) with single counting times of 30 s and laser power of 2.5 mW. Backscattered radiation was analyzed with a 1200 gr mm−1 grating monochromator. The possible thermal damage of the measured points was excluded by visual inspection of the excited surface after measurement by observation of possible decay of the spectral features in the start of the excitation and by checking for thermal downshift of Raman lines. The Raman spectrum of belmonteite is shown in Fig. 2.
Raman spectrum of belmonteite in the full range (100–4000 cm−1).
The region between 100 and 1200 cm−1 is characterized by a strong band at 839 cm−1, with shoulders at 815 and 891 cm−1. These bands can be attributed to the ν1 and ν3 stretching modes of AsO4 groups. Weaker bands at 336, 406, and 467 cm−1 can be interpreted as being due to the ν4 and ν2 bending modes of AsO4 groups (e.g., Kloprogge, 2021). This band interpretation is in keeping with those proposed for other manganese arsenates (e.g., Frost and Weier, 2006; Kampf et al., 2016; Koshlyakova et al., 2026). In the O–H-stretching region (Fig. 2), a weak band and a broad band occur at 2900–3700 cm−1, in agreement with the occurrence of H2O groups in belmonteite (see below).
Note that H2O content was based on stoichiometry; e.s.d. denotes estimated standard deviation; n denotes number of spot analyses.
Chemical data
Quantitative chemical analyses of belmonteite were carried out using a Cameca SX 100 electron microprobe (WDS mode, 15 kV, 10 nA, 10 µm beam diameter) on a polished crystal surface at the National Museum, Prague, Czech Republic. The results (average of eight spot analyses) are given in Table 1. Other sought elements (Na, P, Mg, Si, Pb, S, Cl, Sr, Fe, Zn, F, N, V, and Cr) were below detection limits. Matrix correction by PAP algorithm (Pouchou and Pichoir, 1985) and automatic corrections of overlaps F–As and P–Ca were applied to the data. The occurrence of H2O groups was confirmed by micro-Raman spectroscopy. Because insufficient pure material is available for a direct determination of H2O, its amount has been calculated based upon the known stoichiometry from structure analysis. Belmonteite partly dehydrated in the electron microprobe chamber, and it is probable that it is also unstable under electron beam, as testified to by the high total after the addition of calculated H2O (i.e., 116.74 wt %).
The empirical formula of belmonteite, on the basis of 15 O atoms per formula unit (apfu) and considering the results of the crystal structure study (see below), can be written as (Ca0.86Mn0.11K0.01)Σ0.98(Mn1.90Cu0.08Al0.02)Σ2.00As2.01O8⋅7H2O. The end-member formula is CaMn2(AsO4)2⋅7H2O, corresponding to (in wt %) As2O5 41.49, CaO 10.12, MnO 25.61, H2O 22.77, sum 100.00.
X-ray powder diffraction data (d in Å) for belmonteite.
Note that Icalc and dcalc were obtained using PowderCell 2.4 (Kraus and Nolze, 1996) on the basis of the structural model of belmonteite given in Table 4. Only calculated reflections with Icalc>2 (if not observed) are reported. The Iobs values were visually estimated: s – strong, mw – medium–weak; w – weak; vw – very weak. Values of dcalc* were calculated on the basis of the unit-cell parameters refined using X-ray powder diffraction data.
CrystallographyPowder X-ray diffraction
Powder X-ray diffraction data of belmonteite were collected using a Bruker D8 Venture single-crystal diffractometer equipped with a Photon III CCD area detector (microfocus Cu Kα radiation) simulating a Gandolfi-like geometry (CISUP, University of Pisa, Italy). The observed X-ray diffraction lines are reported in Table 2, along with the calculated pattern based on the structural model discussed below. Unit-cell parameters were refined by the least-square program of Burnham (1962) as a=8.854(7), b=23.02(2), c=13.533(13) Å, V=2759(3) Å3.
Single-crystal X-ray diffraction
Single-crystal X-ray diffraction intensity data were collected using a Bruker D8 Venture single-crystal diffractometer equipped with an air-cooled Photon III CCD detector and microfocus Mo Kα radiation (CISUP, University of Pisa, Italy). The detector-to-crystal distance was 38 mm. Data were collected using ω and φ scan modes, in 0.5° slices, with an exposure time of 60 s per frame. A total of 1675 frames was collected. The frames were integrated with the Bruker SAINT software package using a narrow-frame algorithm. Data were corrected for Lorentz-polarization, absorption, and background using the Apex4 software package (Bruker AXS Inc., 2022). Unit-cell parameters, refined on the basis of the XYZ centroid of 5787 reflections above 20σ(I) with 4.645° <2θ<56.44°, are a=8.8418(9), b=23.031(2), c=13.5270(14) Å, V=2754.6(5) Å3.
The statistical tests on the distribution of |E| values (|E2-1|=1.074) suggest the occurrence of a center of symmetry. According to the systematic absences, the crystal structure of belmonteite was solved using Shelxtl (Sheldrick, 2015a) and refined in the space group Cmce using Shelxl-2018 (Sheldrick, 2015b). Neutral scattering curves, taken from the International Tables for Crystallography (Wilson, 1992), were used. Four independent cation sites, namely As(1), As(2), Mn(1), and Ca(2), and 12 anion positions were initially located, giving a structural model converging to R1=0.1298. Two of the anion sites are mutually exclusive and are related to the positional disorder of the As(2)-centered tetrahedron. Consequently, their site occupancy was refined, restraining their sum to 1. The refinement indicated that they are half-occupied, and, for this reason, their site occupancy was fixed. Moreover, the Ueq value of the Ca(2) site was relatively large, and the site occupancy at this site was also refined, pointing to a partial occupancy of this position. After the modeling of the anisotropic displacement parameters for the cation positions, the examination of the difference Fourier maps revealed the occurrence of two other maxima represented by a split-O position. In the final stages of the refinement, the splitting of some O positions was further modeled, and their site occupancy was fixed to 0.5. After several cycles of anisotropic refinement for both cations and anions, the conventional R1 factor converged to 0.0385 for 1195 unique reflections with F>4σ(F) and 129 refined parameters.
Crystal and experimental data for belmonteite.
Crystal data Crystal size (mm)0.100×0.050×0.030Crystal system, space groupOrthorhombic, Cmcea (Å)8.8418(9)b (Å)23.031(2)c (Å)13.5270(14)V (Å3)2754.6(5)Z8Data collection and refinement Radiation, wavelength (Å)MoKα, 0.71073Temperature (K)300(2)2θmax (°)52.74Measured reflections29 235Unique reflections1507Reflections with F>4σ (F)1195Rint0.0954Rσ0.0403Range of h, k, l10≤h≤11, 28≤k≤28, 16≤l≤16R1 [F>4σ (F)]0.0385R1 (all data)0.0525wR2 (on F2)0.1047Goof1.069Number of least-squares parameters129Maximum and minimum residual peak (e Å−3)0.78 [at 1.05 Å from As(2)] -0.80 [at 1.39 Å from As(1)]
Sites, Wyckoff positions, site occupancy (s.o.), fractional atomic coordinates, and equivalent isotropic displacement parameters (in Å2) for belmonteite.
Note that a means that O(8) is bonded to As(2) and Ca(2) through the long Ca(2)–O(8) distance of 2.78 Å; b O(8) bonded to As(2) and Ca(2) through the short Ca(2)–O(8) distance of 2.29 Å; c O(8) bonded to As(2) and two Ca(2); d Ow(10)/Ow(11) bonded to one Ca(2) at the longest Ca–Ow distance (2.93 and 2.65 Å, respectively); e Ow(10)/Ow(11) bonded to one Ca(2) at the shortest Ca–Ow distance (2.39 and 2.42 Å, respectively); and f Ow(10)/Ow(11) bonded to two Ca(2).
Details of the data collection and crystal structure refinement are given in Table 3. Atom coordinates and isotropic or equivalent isotropic displacement parameters are reported in Table 4, whereas Table 5 gives selected bond distances. Bond-valence calculation, shown in Table 6, was performed using the bond parameters of Gagné and Hawthorne (2015).
Crystal structure of belmonteite as seen down a(a). In (b), a {010} layer formed by Mn-centered Mn(1) sites and As-centered tetrahedra is shown. Symbols: magenta denotes Mn(1) octahedra, and violet denotes As(1) tetrahedra. Circles: red denotes O sites, light blue denotes H2O groups, blue denotes Ca(2) sites, and violet denotes As(2) sites.
Crystal structureGeneral structural features
The crystal structure of belmonteite (Fig. 3) is formed by {010} layers of six-fold-coordinated Mn atoms, decorated on both sides by (AsO4) groups and Ca atoms. These heteropolyhedral layers are connected along b through H bonds (Fig. 3a). Manganese-centered Mn(1) octahedra form zig-zag ribbons through edge-sharing, running along a, and are connected to adjacent ribbons along c through corner-sharing (Fig. 3b). Along every ribbon, to avoid too-short O⋅⋅⋅O distances (∼1.96 Å), two possible, mutually exclusive O positions are statistically occupied, i.e., O(7a) and O(7b). This disorder is related to the orientation of one of the (AsO4) groups, i.e., that centered by As(2) (Fig. 4). Moreover, the Ca(2) site is only half-occupied. Such a disorder also affects the O(8), Ow(10), Ow(11), and Ow(12) sites. Specifically, Ow(12) is split into two positions, Ow(12a) and Ow(12b). The former is too close to Ca(2) and is occupied only when Ca(2) is empty; on the other hand, when Ca(2) is occupied, Ow(12b) occurs. Both Ow(12a) and Ow(9) are free H2O groups as they are not bonded to any cation and are involved in H bonds.
Coordination of As atoms hosted at As(1) (a) and As(2) (b). Below, an ordered distribution of O atoms around As(2) is shown.
Cation coordination
Arsenic atoms are hosted at the As(1) and As(2) sites and show the typical tetrahedral coordination of As5+. At the As(1) site, As is coordinated by O atoms at one O(6) site, two O(4) sites, and one O(1) site, with average bond distance of 1.674 Å, slightly shorter than the value given by Majzlan et al. (2014), i.e., 1.685 Å. Its bond-valence sum is 5.18 valence units (v.u.). The As(2) tetrahedron suffers some rotational disorder, and two ordered configurations are possible (Fig. 4), related to the occupancy of the O(8) and the mutually exclusive O(7a) and O(7b) sites. The average bond distance is 1.683 Å, and the corresponding bond-valence sum is 5.08 v.u.
Coordination of Mn atoms hosted at Mn(1) in accordance with the occupancy of the O(7a) (a) and O(7b) (b) sites.
Manganese is hosted at the Mn(1) site, and it is octahedrally coordinated. Two possible configurations occur, involving O(7a) or O(7b) (Fig. 5) and related to the rotation of the As(2) tetrahedra. In the former case, the average 〈Mn–O〉 distance is 2.191 Å, with a bond-valence sum of 2.09 v.u.; in the latter case, an average distance of 2.211 Å is observed, with a bond-valence sum of 1.98 v.u. Both configurations agree with the occurrence of Mn2+ at the Mn(1) site. In Table 6, the average configuration involving half-occupied O(7a) and O(7b) is considered, resulting in an average bond-valence sum of 2.04 v.u.
Calcium cations are hosted at the Ca(2) site. In its first coordination sphere (d<3.0 Å), there are 10 O sites, but some of them cannot be fully occupied, i.e., O(8), Ow(10), Ow(11), and Ow(12a)/Ow(12b). In particular, the occupancy of the Ca(2) site is mutually exclusive with Ow(12a), which is too close to Ca(2), i.e., 1.139(12) Å. In an ordered model, Ca atoms at the Ca(2) site show a distorted octahedral coordination. Oxygen atoms at O(6), O(7b), and Ow(12b) always belong to the coordination sphere of Ca(2), whereas different configurations for O(8), Ow(10), and Ow(11) can be hypothesized. There are eight different combinations (Table 7), corresponding to average bond distances in the range of 2.33–2.54 Å and bond-valence sums ranging from 1.56 to 2.18 v.u. Considering the partial occupancy of some ligand positions, the weighted bond-valence sum at the Ca(2) site is 1.87 v.u. (Table 6), agreeing with occurrence of Ca2+, and the average bond distance is 2.433 Å, to be compared with the value of 2.371 Å proposed by Hawthorne and Gagné (2024) for six-fold-coordinated Ca2+ ion. However, as will be discussed below, an ordered model can be proposed, and, even if some of the eight possible configurations reported in Table 7 give physically reasonable average distances and bond-valence sums, only one configuration seems more probable.
Anion coordination and possible H bonds
In the crystal structure of belmonteite, 12 O sites have been located, with 2 of them being split. The examination of bond-valence sums at the anion positions (Table 6) allows us to identify three groups of anions, i.e., (i) anions with bond-valence sums close to 2 v.u., corresponding to O2− anions; (ii) anions with bond-valence sums ranging from ∼1.3 and 1.7 v.u., probably corresponding to O2− anions acting as acceptors in H bonds; and (iii) anions with bond-valence sums less than 0.6 v.u., represented by H2O groups.
An accurate description of the H-bond system in belmonteite cannot be given, owing to the disorder affecting several atom positions and the missing location of H atoms. However, some features can be described. Oxygen atoms at the O(1) site are the acceptors of three H bonds from two H2O groups hosted at Ow(2) and one hosted at Ow(9). Considering a bond strength of 0.25 v.u. for each H bond, three of them give 0.75 v.u., which allows the bond-valence sum at O(1) to be increased up to ∼2 v.u.
Oxygen atoms at the O(6) site have bond-valence sums lower than the ideal one, but they are acceptors of H bonds from Ow(10) and, when present, from Ow(12a). This could increase the bond-valence sum up to 2 v.u. Other O atoms with relatively low bond-valence sums are those at the O(7b) (affected by splitting) and O(8) sites. Atoms at this latter site may act as acceptors from Ow(11) (and also Ow(12a), when present), whereas O(7a) and O7(b) may be acceptors of H bonds from Ow(5) and Ow(12a), respectively. In this way, their bond-valence sums approach 2 v.u.
Other H bondings involving H2O groups are more difficult to accurately describe. Ow(2) and Ow(5) act as donors to two O(1) sites and to O(7a) and Ow(9), respectively, whereas the actual H bonds involving Ow(9), Ow(10), Ow(11), and the pair Ow(12a)–Ow(12b) are affected by the local ordering. However, all of these positions are occupied by H2O groups.
Structural disorder in belmonteite and the search for an ordered scheme
Notwithstanding the satisfactory R1 value and the soundness of the crystal chemical features shown by belmonteite, the half-occupancy of the Ca(2) site and the rotational disorder of the As(2) site give reason for some further discussion. Indeed, one may think about a missing superstructure or wrong space group symmetry. With regards to the first point, the examination of the X-ray diffraction patterns did not reveal any hints of superstructure reflections, even if the diffraction quality and the small crystal size may prevent the collection of weak reflections.
The C-centered orthorhombic cell can be reduced to a P-monoclinic cell with unit-cell parameters a=12.3308(13), b=13.5241(14), c=8.8420(9) Å, β=110.986(4)°, V=1376.7(2) Å3, and space group P21/c, similar to those of the Mn–phosphate switzerite, Mn3(PO4)2⋅7H2O (Zanazzi et al., 1986). However, the solution of the crystal structure of belmonteite in the monoclinic setting led to a worse R factor and to the appearance of several split-O positions. Other solutions were checked in different space groups belonging to the orthorhombic setting according to the systematic absences and the solutions proposed by Shelxtl (Sheldrick, 2015a), i.e., Cmc21, Abm2 (cell transformed according to [0 0 1| 1 0 0 | 0 1 0]) and Aba2 (transformation matrix [0 0 1 | 0 1‾ 0 | 1 0 0]). The structural models solved and refined in the space groups Cmc21 and Abm2 still show the disorder associated with the As-centered tetrahedra (namely the As(2) site in the Cmce model). This disorder was removed in the structural model refined in the space group Aba2, but, in this case, the As-centered tetrahedron is distorted, with one of the O atoms possibly being split. Moreover, the ratio of the racemic twin component, 0.49(6), as well as some features like the occurrence of an O site close to one Ca site, like the pair Ca(2) / Ow(12a) in the model discussed above, still occurred. For this reason, the crystal structure of belmonteite has been proposed in the space group Cmce.
Different ligand configurations around the Ca(2) site (d in Å; bond-valence sum, BVS, in v.u.).
The [100] rods of Ca(2) polyhedra. In (a) and (b) are two possible ordered sequences, related to the different rotation of the As(2) tetrahedra. In (c), the superposition of the (a) and (b) ordered sequences give rise to the observed disordered configuration. Same symbols as in Fig. 3.
The disorder observed in belmonteite is related to the rotation of the As(2) tetrahedron, which influences the coordination of both Mn(1) and Ca(2) sites. Figure 6 shows two possible ordered configurations of Ca(2) sites along a. The ordering has been obtained considering the two possible rotational configurations of the As(2) site and then avoiding too-short O⋅⋅⋅O contacts. Moreover, it has been considered to be the case that every O(6) atom belonging to the As(1) tetrahedra should be bonded to one Ca(2) atom. Indeed, if the O(6) were to be shared between two Ca(2) atoms, its bond-valence sum would be too high (2.31 v.u.), whereas it would be too low if it were not to be bonded to any Ca(2) atom (1.33 v.u.). Considering these rules, the two ordered sequences, shown in Fig. 6a and b, can be obtained. In both cases, the bond distances around Ca(2) correspond to configuration no. 1 in Table 7. The disordered configuration observed in belmonteite (Fig. 6c) is the result of the superposition of the two configurations shown in Fig. 6a and b. The ordering seems to be unidirectional and does not significantly affect the overall topology of the {010} Mn layers that simply show a tilting of Mn(1) octahedra related to the orientation of As(2) tetrahedra. Consequently, every rod of Ca(2) polyhedra running along a may show a different orientation with respect to adjacent ones. This could result in the presence of streaks along a* in the X-ray diffraction patterns, as observed in other species characterized by one-dimensional disorder, such as volaschioite and parnauite (Biagioni et al., 2011; Mills et al., 2013). Unfortunately, owing to the bad diffraction quality of belmonteite, reflection streaking was not observed.
Structural formula
On the basis of the crystal structure analysis, the structural formula of belmonteite can be written as Ca(2)(Ca□)Mn(1)Mn2As(1)+As(2)(AsO4)2(H2O)5⋅2H2O (Z=8). Note that Ca(2)□ is not reported in the mineral formula as it is dictated by structural constraints.
Comparison among the crystal structures of belmonteite (a), switzerite (b), metaswitzerite (c), and castellaroite (d). An ordered distribution of Ca and O atoms is shown for belmonteite.
Minerals belonging to the CaO–MnO–As2O5–H2O system.
NameChemical formulaa (Å)b (Å)c (Å)α (°)β (°)γ (°)s.g.Ref.BelmonteiteCaMn2(AsO4)2⋅7H2O8.8423.0313.53909090Cmce[1]BrandtiteCa2Mn(AsO4)2⋅2H2O5.8812.965.6890108.090P21/c[2]FluckiteCaMn(AsO3OH)2⋅2H2O8.467.616.9782.298.295.9P1‾[3]GiftgrubeiteCaMn2Ca2(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2⋅4H2O18.509.489.999096.890C2/c[4]ParabrandtiteCa2Mn(AsO4)2⋅2H2O5.897.035.6496.8109.3108.5P1 or P1‾[5]VillyaelleniteMnMn2Ca2(AsO4)(AsO3OH)2⋅4H2O18.559.5210.019097.090C2/c[6]WallkilldelliteCa2Mn3(AsO4)2(OH)4⋅9H2O6.516.5123.499090120P63/mmc, P63mc or P6‾2c[7]
Note that s.g. denotes space group. [1] This work; [2] Herwig and Hawthorne (2006); [3] Catti et al. (1980); [4] Meisser et al. (2019); [5] Dunn et al. (1987); [6] Sarp (1984); [7] Dunn and Peacor (1983).
Relation to other species
Belmonteite is a new member of the quaternary chemical system CaO–MnO–As2O5–H2O (Table 8). Its Ca/Mn atomic ratio is the same as those in manganlotharmeyerite, but this latter species is a Mn3+ phase belonging to the tsumcorite group (Brugger et al., 2002).
The {010} Mn layer occurring in belmonteite has the composition Mn4O10(H2O)4 (Z=4) and a and c translations of 8.84 and 13.53 Å, respectively. This layer is topologically similar to those occurring in switzerite, ideally Mn3(PO4)2⋅7H2O, and its dehydration product metaswitzerite, Mn3(PO4)2⋅4H2O (Fig. 7). The in-plane translations are 8.53 and 13.17 Å for the former and 8.50 and 13.17 Å for the latter (Fanfani and Zanazzi, 1979; Zanazzi et al., 1986). As discussed by Kampf et al. (2016), this kind of layer occurs in other phosphate minerals, and the first arsenate one characterized by this structural feature was castellaroite, Mn3(AsO4)2⋅4.5H2O (Kampf et al., 2016) (Fig. 7). A distorted but similar layer was also observed in picaite, NaCa[AsO3OH][AsO2(OH)2] (Kampf et al., 2019), even if the general topology of the crystal structure is different from that shown by belmonteite.
Conclusion
Belmonteite is further evidence of the most striking feature shown by arsenic minerals in metamorphic–hydrothermal environments – that is, the geochemical association between As and Mn, as stressed by Majzlan et al. (2014). Indeed, it is the sixth mineral species containing both As and Mn, having a type locality in the Mn ore deposits of eastern Liguria, after tiragalloite (Gramaccioli et al., 1980), coralloite (Callegari et al., 2012), castellaroite (Kampf et al., 2016), arsenmedaite (Biagioni et al., 2019), and monteneroite (Kampf et al., 2020).
The identification of belmonteite as a new mineral species has been possible after more than 30 years from its sampling. As described in the Introduction, a portion of the only known specimen was kept in the public mineral collection of the DISTAV, where it was easily accessible to researchers. In this way, publicly accessible mineral collections can be an important source of new mineral species because technological advancements make possible the crystal chemical investigation of mineral samples that could not be fully investigated with the analytical techniques available some decades ago. The discovery of belmonteite offers new information about the systematics of manganese arsenates and improves our knowledge of the complex mineral assemblages of the Mn ore deposits of eastern Liguria, a field of research that promises new, interesting findings, which may be hidden in some old mineral collection.
Data availability
The Crystallographic Information File of belmonteite is available in the Supplement.
The supplement related to this article is available online at https://doi.org/10.5194/ejm-38-531-2026-supplement.
Author contributions
CB carried out the X-ray diffraction and Raman studies. JS and ZD conducted the electron microprobe analysis. CB wrote the paper, with inputs from the other authors.
Competing interests
At least one of the (co-)authors is a member of the editorial board of European Journal of Mineralogy. The peer-review process was guided by an independent editor, and the authors also have no other competing interests to declare.
Disclaimer
Publisher's note: Copernicus Publications remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims made in the text, published maps, institutional affiliations, or any other geographical representation in this paper. The authors bear the ultimate responsibility for providing appropriate place names. Views expressed in the text are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the publisher.
Acknowledgements
The comments of Anthony R. Kampf and Igor V. Pekov improved the original paper.
Financial support
This research has been supported by the Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic (long-term project DKRVO 2024-2028/1.II.c; National Museum, 00023272) through funding to Jiří Sejkora and Zdeněk Dolníček.
Review statement
This paper was edited by Cristiano Ferraris and reviewed by Anthony Kampf and Igor Pekov.
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