Epifanovite, NaCaCu 5 (PO 4 ) 4 [AsO 2 (OH) 2 ] 7H 2 O, is a new natural arsenate-phosphate of copper, sodium and calcium. It was found in a quartz-phosphate nest within greisenized cassiterite-rich granodiorite of the Kester tin deposit (Sakha-Yakutia, Russia). Mineral occurs as crusts of tabular pseudotetragonal crystals up to 50 μm across and 10 mm thick. Associated minerals are fluorapatite, pseudo- malachite, slavkovite, tobermorite, libethenite, arsenolite, native copper and unknown Mg-Zn phosphate. Epifanovite has a turquoise-blue color and pale blue streak. Luster is vitreous (dull in crusts). Mohs' hardness is 3. Brittle. Cleavage is perfect on (001) and good on (100) and (010). Density measured in Clerichi solution is 3.65(3) g/cm -3 , the calculated density is 3.73 g/cm -3 . Optically biaxial (-), α = 1.708(5), β = 1.730(5), γ = 1.735(5). 2V meas = 40-45°, 2V calc . = 50°. Optical orientation: X = a, Y = b. Empirical formula calculated on the basis of P + As = 5 is (Na 0.94 K 0.06 ) Σ1.00 (Ca 0.82 Na 0.08 ) Σ0.90 (Cu 5.04 Zn 0.06 ) Σ5.10 (PO 4 ) 4 [(As 0.81 P 0.19 ) Σ1.00 (O 1.92 OH 2.06 Cl 0.02 ) Σ4.00 ] 7.37H 2 O. The idealized formula is NaCaCu 5 (PO 4 ) 4 [AsO 2 (OH) 2 ] 7H 2 O. The Raman spectrum contain following lines: 293, 359 (v 1-2 , CuO 5 ); 455, 556, 594, 640, 921, 962, 1002, 1086, 1153 (v 1-4 PO 4 ), 77, 121, 161, 183, 730, 828, 858 (v 1-3 AsO 4 ), 2900, 3200, 3410 (v 1 , OH) cm -1 . The mineral is monoclinic, P2 1 /m, a = = 9.6912(9), b = 9.7440(9), c = 9.9561(9) A, b = 102.23 (1)°, V = 918.7(1) A3, Z = 2. Eight strongest lines in the powder X-ray diffraction pattern are (I-d[A]-hkl): 100-9.73-001; 35-6.79-110; 12-4.355-021; 43-3.072-130; 24-3.061-221; 24-3.003-2 22; 11-2.698-023; 10-1.6775-504. The mineral is named in honor of the Russian geologist P.P. Epifanov, the discoverer of the Ege-Khaya and Kester tin deposits. Epifanovite is structurally close to lavendulan-group minerals and related species: andyrobertsite, calcioandyrobertsite, mahnertite and richelsdorfite.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)30-39
Number of pages10
JournalZapiski Rossiiskogo Mineralogicheskogo Obshchestva
Volume146
Issue number3
StatePublished - 1 Jan 2017

    Research areas

  • Copper phosphate-arsenate, Epifanovite, Kester deposit, New mineral, Sakha-Yakutia

    Scopus subject areas

  • Geochemistry and Petrology
  • Geology
  • Economic Geology
  • Materials Chemistry

ID: 49249553