TY - JOUR

T1 - Structural and Chemical Diversity and Complexity of Sulfur Minerals

AU - Кривовичев, Владимир Герасимович

AU - Кривовичев, Сергей Владимирович

AU - Старова, Галина Леонидовна

N1 - Krivovichev, V.G.; Krivovichev, S.V.; Starova, G.L. Structural and Chemical Diversity and Complexity of Sulfur Minerals. Minerals 2023, 13(8), No 1069. https:// doi.org/10.3390/min13081069

PY - 2023/8/12

Y1 - 2023/8/12

N2 - The chemical and structural diversity of minerals containing sulfur as an essential mineral-forming element has been analyzed in terms of the concept of mineral systems and the information-based structural and chemical complexity parameters. The study employs data for 1118 sulfur mineral species approved by the International Mineralogical Association. All known sulfur minerals belong to nine mineral systems, with the number of essential components ranging from one to nine. The chemical and structural complexity of S minerals correlate with each other; that is, on average, chemical complexification results in structural complexification. The minerals with S–O bonds (sulfates and sulfites) are more complex than those without S–O bonds (sulfides and sulfosalts). However, the most complex sulfur mineral known so far is incomsartorite, Tl6Pb144As246S516, a sulfosalt. The complexity-generating mechanism in sulfides and sulfosalts is the complex combination of different modules excised from parent PbS or SnS archetypes with the subsequent formation of superstructures. The drivers for structural complexity in sulfates are more diverse and, in addition to modular construction and superstructures, also include a high hydration state, the presence of polyatomic clusters, and framework complexity. The most complex Martian minerals are most probably halotrichite-group minerals. The chemical and structural complexity increases with the passage of geological time with the formation of the most complex sulfosalts at Lengenbach (Swiss Alps) triggered by life (activity of sulfur-reducing bacteria).

AB - The chemical and structural diversity of minerals containing sulfur as an essential mineral-forming element has been analyzed in terms of the concept of mineral systems and the information-based structural and chemical complexity parameters. The study employs data for 1118 sulfur mineral species approved by the International Mineralogical Association. All known sulfur minerals belong to nine mineral systems, with the number of essential components ranging from one to nine. The chemical and structural complexity of S minerals correlate with each other; that is, on average, chemical complexification results in structural complexification. The minerals with S–O bonds (sulfates and sulfites) are more complex than those without S–O bonds (sulfides and sulfosalts). However, the most complex sulfur mineral known so far is incomsartorite, Tl6Pb144As246S516, a sulfosalt. The complexity-generating mechanism in sulfides and sulfosalts is the complex combination of different modules excised from parent PbS or SnS archetypes with the subsequent formation of superstructures. The drivers for structural complexity in sulfates are more diverse and, in addition to modular construction and superstructures, also include a high hydration state, the presence of polyatomic clusters, and framework complexity. The most complex Martian minerals are most probably halotrichite-group minerals. The chemical and structural complexity increases with the passage of geological time with the formation of the most complex sulfosalts at Lengenbach (Swiss Alps) triggered by life (activity of sulfur-reducing bacteria).

KW - chemical complexity

KW - information measures

KW - structural complexity

KW - sulfates

KW - sulfides

KW - sulfosalts

KW - sulfur

UR - https://www.mendeley.com/catalogue/bca0874c-0079-3e6e-b933-cc9241973f31/

U2 - 10.3390/min13081069

DO - 10.3390/min13081069

M3 - Article

VL - 13

JO - Minerals

JF - Minerals

SN - 2075-163X

IS - 8

M1 - 1069

ER -