Carlosturanite (not ‘picrolite’) from Taberg, Sweden

Abstract

AbstractThe second occurrence of the asbestiform silicate carlosturanite is reported. The mineral occurs in Taberg, Sweden, and it was previously reported as ‘picrolite’, that is fibrous antigorite. Carlosturanite from Taberg is non-pleochroic, green in colour and has positive optical elongation. The unit cell parameters are a = 36.55, b = 9.31, c = 7.27Å, β = 101.05°. Based on the determined formula, (Mg20.47Fe0.59Mn0.06Cr0.01Ti0.01) (Si11.68Al0.28)O27.81(OH)34.19H2O carlosturanite can be expected to crystallize within the pure MgO-SiO2-H2O system as a low-grade metamorphic mineral.Because there are close similarities in structure and properties of carlosturanite and the picrolite variety of antigorite, their distinction requires careful attention to X-ray and electron diffraction patterns and chemical compositions. The present identification of the Taberg specimen as carlosturanite puts a lower limit of 33.7 Å to the known range of a parameters of antigorite.