Five turquoise samples, belonging to the XVII century historical collection of the Real Museo Mineralogico (Universityof Naples Federico II), were investigated by a multi-methodological approach based on X-ray powder diffraction, electron microprobe analysis in wavelength-dispersive spectroscopy mode, back-scattered electron images collected with scanning electron microscope in energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy mode, laser ablation inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, Fourier Transform Infrared and Raman spectroscopy. The samples come from Sinai (Egypt), Santa Fè S. Miguel (New Mexico), Saxony (Germany), Montebras Creuse (France) and Nishapur (Khorassan, Iran) and display different mineralogical composition and various mineral arrangements. The analyses have shown the presence of: 1) four minerals of turquoise group: Turquoise, faustite, chalcosiderite and planerite; 2) other phosphates differently grouped: wavellite, crandallite, goyazite, gorceixite, variscite, metavariscite, fluorapatite; 3) other minerals: Voltaite, adularia and quartz. The present study aims to show the high mineralogical and geochemical variability of the samples under investigation, with particular attention to the mineralogical association, the textural analyses and the trace elements concentrations.

Magnesio-riebeckite from the dumps of the abandoned mine of Varenche (45 degrees 47' 22 '' N, 7 degrees 29' 17''' E), Saint-Barthelemy, Nus, Aosta Valley (Italy), was studied to provide the complete mineral description (including crystal structure) and insights into the crystal-chemistry of riebeckite. The empirical formula derived from electron microprobe analysis and single-crystal structure refinement is (A)(Na0.09K0.01)(Sigma-0.10) (B)(Na1.77Ca0.11Mg0.08Mn0.042+)(Sigma-2.00) (C)(Mg2.93Mn0.132+Fe0.0072+Zn0.01Ni0.12Fe1.253+ Al0.48Ti0.01)(Sigma-5.00) (T)(Si7.92Al0.08)(Sigma-8.00) O-22 (W)(OH1.88F0.12)(Sigma-2.00). Magnesio-riebeckite is biaxial (+), with alpha = 1.678(2), beta = 1.682(2),gamma = 1.688(2) and 2V (meas.) = 80.2(1.7)degrees, 2V (calc.) = 78.7 degrees. The unit-cell parameters are a = 9.6481(14), b = 17.873(3), c = 5.3013(7) angstrom, beta = 103.630(2)degrees, V = 888.4 (2) angstrom(3), Z = 2, space group C2/m. The strongest ten reflections in the powder X-ray pattern [d values (in angstrom), I, (hkl)] are: 2.701, 100, (151); 8.303, 83, (110); 3.079, 62, (310); 3.391, 53, (131); 4.467, 50, (040,021); 2.522, 50, ((2) over bar 02); 2.578, 35, (061); 2.155, 30, (261), 4.855, 30, ((1) over bar 11), 2.300, 29, ((3) over bar 51).

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A second occurrence of ferri-fluoro-leakeite has been identified in the Bratthagen nepheline syenite pegmatite (Vestfold County, Norway). With respect to the holotype found at the Verkhnee Espe deposit (Akjailyautas Mountains, Kazakhstan; Ca´mara et al., 2010), it is closer to the ideal composition because of its larger Li and Mg contents and the absence of an oxo-component; however, it has a significant Zn content (0.29 a.p.f.u.). The ideal formula of ferri-fluoro-leakeite is ANaBNa2 C(Mg2Fe3+ 2 Li)TSi8O22 WF2 and the empirical formula derived from electron-microprobe analysis and single-crystal structure refinement for the sample used here is A(Na0.68K0.32)S=1.00 BNa2.00 C(Mg1.69Mn2+ 0.25Fe2+ 0.24Zn0.29Al0.23Fe3+1.50Ti0.02Li0.78)S=5.00 TSi8O22 W(F1.59(OH)0.41)S=2.00. Unitcell data are a = 9.788(2), b = 17.826(3), c = 5.282(1) A ? , b = 104.195(5)º, V = 893.5 (3) A ? 3, Z = 2. Crystal-chemical analysis shows that Li is ordered at the M(3) site and Zn is ordered mainly at the M(2) site, confirming previous findings for Li-bearing amphiboles. The new data also make quantification of the oxo component in Na amphiboles possible.

A recent project to investigate the stone artefacts preserved in the Egyptian Antiquity Museum of Turin has been undertaken, with the aim of supplying their systematic classification and suggesting the provenance site of the original raw materials. This paper focuses on seven sculptures dating back to the New Kingdom (18th-19th Dynasties): the statue of Ramses II, three of the 21 sculptures of the goddess Sekhmet, the statue of the goddess Hathor, the Ram-headed Sphinx and the sarcophagus lid of Nefertari. Petrographic observations have shown that all the sculptures are made of granitoid rocks, with variable composition from granite to granodiorite and tonalite. The observation of strong macroscopic analogies with the so-called black and red granites outcropping in the Aswan area has suggested a common origin of all the raw materials used for their manufacture. In order to verify this provenance hypothesis, several samples were collected in the Aswan quarry districts. According to results of a minero-petrographic and geochemical comparison between the statues and the Aswan quarry samples, it was possible to identify the source area of the stone sculptures and finally to highlight the importance of an archaeometric approach to the solution of archaeological problems.

Fluoro-sodic-ferropedrizite, ideally ANaBLi2C(Fe2+2 Al2Li)TSi8O22WF2, is a new mineral of the amphibole group from the Sutlug River, Tuva Republic, Russia. It occurs at the endogenic contact of a Li-pegmatite with country rocks near to a diabase dyke and formed by reaction of the pegmatitic melt with the country rock. Fluoro-sodic-ferropedrizite occurs as prismatic to acicular crystals, ranging in length from 0.13 cm and widths of up to 50 mm. Crystals occur inparallel to sub-parallel aggregates up to 5 mm across ina matrix of calcite and plagioclase feldspar. Crystals are pale bluish-grey with a greyish-white streak. Fluoro-sodic-ferropedrizite is brittle, has a Mohs hardness of ~6 and a splintery fracture; it is non-fluorescent with perfect {110} cleavage, no observable parting, and has a calculated density of 3.116 g cm3. Inplan e-polarized light, it is pleochroic, X = pale purple-grey, Y = light grey, Z = colourless; X^ a = 71.2º (in b acute), Y || b, Z^c = 83.4º (in b obtuse). Fluoro-sodic-ferropedrizite is biaxial positive, a = 1.642(1), b = 1.644(1), g = 1.652(1); 2V(obs) = 68.0(3)º, 2V(calc) = 56.4º. Fluoro-sodic-ferropedrizite is monoclinic, space group C2/m, a = 9.3720(4) A ? , b = 17.6312(8) A ? , c = 5.2732(3) A ? , b = 102.247(4)º, V = 851.5(2) A ? 3, Z = 2. The strongest ten X-ray diffraction lines in the powder patternare (d inA? ,(I),(hkl)): 8.146,(10),(110); 2.686,(9),(151); 3.008,(8),(310); 4.430,(7),(021); 2.485,(6),(2¯ 02); 3.383,(4),(131); 2.876,(3),(1¯ 51, 3¯ 11); 2.199,(3),(3¯ 12); 4.030,(2),(111) and 3.795,(2),(1¯31). Analysis by a combination of electron microprobe and crystal-structure refinement gives SiO2 59.81, Al2O3 12.66, TiO2 0.09, FeO 10.32, MgO 5.56, MnO 0.73, ZnO 0.17, CaO 0.20, Na2O 2.81, Li2O 4.80, F 2.43, H2Ocalc 1.10, sum = 99.65 wt.%. The formula unit, calculated on the basis of 24(O,OH,F) is A(Na0.68)B(Li1.92Na0.05Ca0.03)C(Fe2+1.16Mg1.10Mn2+0.08Zn0.02Al1.97Ti0.01Li0.66) T(Si7.98Al0.02)O22W(F1.03OH0.97). Crystal-structure refinement shows Li to be completely ordered at the M(3) and M(4) sites. Fluoro-sodic-ferropedrizite, ideally ANaBLi2C(Fe2+2 Al2Li)TSi8O22WF2, is related to the theoretical end-member 'sodic-pedrizite', ANaBLi2C(Mg2Al2Li)TSi8O22W(OH)2, by the substitutions CFe2+ ? CMg and WF ? W(OH).

Fluoro-aluminoleakeite, ideally ANaBNa2C(Mg2Al2Li)TSi8O22WF2, is a new mineral of the amphibole group from Norra Ka¨rr, Sweden(IMA-CNMMNC 2009-012). It occurs ina proterozoic alkaline intrusion that mainly comprises a fine-grained schistose agpaitic nepheline-syenite (grennaite). Fluoroaluminoleakeite occurs as isolated prismatic crystals 0.102 mm long in a syenitic matrix. Crystals are light greenish-blue with a greenish-blue streak. It is brittle, has a Mohs hardness of 6 and a splintery fracture; it is non-fluorescent with perfect {110} cleavage, no observable parting, and has a calculated density of 3.14 g cm3. In plane-polarized light, it is pleochroic, X = pale green, Y = dark green, Z = pale green; X ^ a = 62.9º (in b obtuse), Y || b. Fluoro-aluminoleakeite is biaxial negative, a = 1.632(1), b = 1.638(1), g = 1.643(1); 2Vobs. = 98.0(4)º, 2Vcalc. = 95.5º. Fluoro-aluminoleakeite is monoclinic, space group C2/m, a = 9.7043(5) A ? , b = 17.7341(8) A ? , c = 5.2833(3) A ? , ß = 104.067(4)º, V = 882.0(2) A ? 3, Z = 2. The eight strongest X-ray diffraction lines in the powder-diffractionpatternare [d inA? , (I), (hkl)]: 2.687, (100), (3¯31, 151); 4.435, (80), (021, 040); 3.377, (80), (131); 2.527, (60), (2¯02); 8.342, (50), (110); 3.096, (40), (310); 2.259, (40), (1¯71, 3¯ 12) and 2.557, (30), (002, 061). Analysis, by a combination of electron microprobe and crystal-structure refinement, gives SiO2 58.61, Al2O3 7.06, TiO2 0.32, FeO 3.27, Fe2O3 6.05, MgO 8.61, MnO 0.73, ZnO 0.43, CaO 0.05, Na2O 9.90, K2O 2.43, Li2O 1.62, F 3.37, H2Ocalc. 0.50, sum 101.08 wt.%. The formula unit, calculated on the basis of 24 (O,OH,F,Cl) p.f.u. with (OH) + F = 2 a.p.f.u., is A(Na0.65 K0.43)S=1.09 B(Na1.99Ca0.01)S=2.00C(Mg1.77Fe2+0.38Mn0.09Zn0.04Fe3+0.63Al1.16 Ti0.03Li0.90)S=5.00 TSi8.00O22W(F1.47OH0.53)S=2.00. Crystal-structure analysis shows CLi to be completely ordered at the M(3) site, and provided reliable site populations. Fluoro-aluminoleakeite is related to the end-member leakeite, ANaBNa2C(Mg2Fe3+2 Li)TSi8O22W(OH)2, by the substitutions CFe3+ ? CAl and WF ? W(OH).

This Study is part of a broad research project devoted to the "amphibole fibers environmental problem" as related to the proposed excavation of the Susa Valley railway tunnel. In this locality, tunnel excavations are planned through metamorphic formations containing amphibole asbestos minerals, and this may give rise to worker health and public environmental issues. The Susa Valley tremolite shows a marked fibrous character, a small reduction of fiber size under grinding, and a consistent increase of the surface area. From the toxicological point of view, such tremolite fibers have been shown to be very effective in the generation of reactive oxygen species. They exhibit a very high cellular reactivity as a consequence of their morphology, Structure, and crystal chemistry. Results of combined electron microprobe analysis, Mossbauer spectroscopy, and parallel-beam X-ray powder diffraction are reported for Fibrous tremolite from a serpentine-schist from the "Unita Oceanica della Bassa Val di Susa" collected near Condove, Susa Valley, Italy. Data indicate that Fe2+ (84% of Fe-tot) is located at both the (M1 + M3) and M2 sites and that Fe3+ is at M2, in an approximate 3:2:1 ratio, respectively. No evidence of a split M4 site has been observed. The presence of Fe-M1+M3(2+) is confirmed by FTIR spectroscopy to be distributed 70% at M1 and 30% at M3. Both the composition (Ca1.95K0.01Na0.05)(Sigma 2.01) ((Al0.01Fe0.023+Fe0.112+Mg4.84Mn0.02)-Al-VI)(Sigma 5.00)Si8.00O22(OH1.96F0.03Cl0.01)(Sigma 2.00) and the Cell Volume 907.37(1) angstrom(3) of the fibers are close to those expected for end-member (Ca/Mg = 2/5) tremolite.

Non-me t a m i c t b e t a f i t e , a pyrochlore-group mi n e r a l with g e n e r a l formula A2mB2 XO6 Y(O,OH,F)1n·pH2O and 2 Ti > Nb+Ta and U > 20% at the A site, has been found at Le Carcarelle, (Latium, Italy). It occurs within miarolitic cavities of a foid-bearing syenitic ejectum enclosed within the pyroclastic formation known as ''ignimbrite C'', which belongs to the main effusive phase of the Vico volcanic complex. The host rock is composed of K-feldspar, biotite, augitic clinopyroxene, magnetite and minor sodalite. Electron microprobe analyses gave the following crystalchemical formula: (Ca1.24Na0.17U0.49REE0.03)S=1.93 (Ti1.05Nb0.76Zr0.14Fe0.04Ta0.01)S=2.00O6(O,OH). Compared with other occurrences reported in the mineralogical literature, betafite from Le Carcarelle is extremely enriched in U and depleted in Th. Due to its young age of formation (~150 k.y.), this betafite sample is highly crystalline, thus allowing structure refinement of unheated material. Betafite from Le Carcarelle is cubic Fd3¯ m, with a = 10.2637(13) A ? , and V = 1081.21(35) A ? 3, and has a smaller A site (consistent with the higher U content), and a larger and more distorted B site (consistent with the higher Ti content) than calciobetafite from Campi Flegrei, Italy (Mazzi and Munno, 1983). Analysis of the atomic displacement parameters provides evidence for static disorder at the X site.

We describe a crystal-chemical investigation on extremely altered skeletal material and a greatly altered ring found in the tomb of the musician and composer Giuseppe Tartini. X-ray powder diffraction and electron probe microanalysis show the presence of brushite and a small amount of hydroxyapatite in the skeletal remains. The brass ring is composed of an inner core part of cuprite (Cu2O) surrounded by parascholzite (CaZn2(PO4)2??2H2O in the outer part. This indicates that Tartini's body underwent chemical attack by a strong acid, probably sulphuric acid, as an intentional technique of mortuary hygiene in the second half of the 18th century.