Crystal chemistry of Xonotlite Ca6Si6O 17(OH)2 Part I: Determination of polytypes using X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD)

Bernstein, S.; Fehr, K. T. and Hochleitner, Rupert (2009): Crystal chemistry of Xonotlite Ca6Si6O 17(OH)2 Part I: Determination of polytypes using X-Ray Powder Diffraction (XRPD). In: Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Abhandlungen, Vol. 186, No. 2: pp. 153-162

Abstract

The crystal chemistry of xonotlite is mainly controlled by its four different polytypes. Ten natural xonotlites from three different lithologies were studied in order to determine their polytypes by powder methods as X-ray powder diffraction (XRPD). The chemical compositions were obtained by electron microprobe analysis (EMPA) and show constant compositions with minor substitutions of Mn and AI. To determine the 4 ordered polytypes known for xonotlite (M2a2b2c, M2a2bc, Ma2b2c, Ma2bc), the theoretical diffraction patterns were calculated based on atom coordinates of HEJNY \& ARMBRUSTER (2001). For each polytype characteristic reflections can be chosen. The assignments were conducted by means of pattern matching. The results reveal that xonotlite mainly occurs in nature as intergrowths of two up to four polytypes. It could be demonstrated that X-ray powder diffraction is a useful and fast method to determine the different polytypes of xonotlite.

• Item Type: Journal article
• Faculties: Geosciences > Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences > Crystallography and Materials Science
• Subjects: 500 Science > 550 Earth sciences and geology
• Language: English