Mutinaite, a new zeolite from Antarctica: The natural counterpart of ZSM-5

Abstract

Mutinaite is the third new zeolite from Ferrar dolerites at Mt. Adamson (Northern Victoria Land, Antarctica). The mineral occurs as subspherical aggregates of tiny radiating lath-like fibres or as aggregates of transparent, colourless to pale-milky, tiny tabular crystals; it has vitreous luster, white streak and good 100 cleavage. Mutinaite is brittle with d_meas = 2.14(3) and d_calc = 2.17 g/cm³. Optically, it is biaxial negative with α = 1.485(2), β = 1.487(2) and γ = 1.488(2). The orientation is X = b, Y = a, Z = c. Mutinaite is orthorhombic with a = 20.223(7), b = 20.052(8), c = 13.491 (5)Å, space group Pnma. The strongest powder X-ray diffraction lines are (d(Å), I, hkl): 11.20, 84, 101, 011; 9.98, 35, 200,020; 3.85, 100, 501, 051; 3.75, 98, 303; 3.67, 27, 133; 3.00, 32, 503. The framework topology is that of the synthetic zeolite ZSM-5. The chemical formula is: (Na_2.76K_0.11Mg_0.21Ca_3.78)_{Σ = 6.86}(Al_11.20Si_84.91)_Σ=96.11O₁₉₂ · 60H₂O. The Si/Al ratio, equal to 7.6, is the highest found in a natural zeolite. Thermal stability and rehydration capacity are very high. The name is from Mutina, the ancient Latin name of the city of Modena.