• Journal of the Mineralogical Society of Korea
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• v.16 no.4
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• pp.333-339
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• 2003

A new mineral, Zn analogue of rancieite (Chimooite), has been discovered at the Dongnam mine, Korea. It occurs as compact subparallel fine­grained flaky or acicular aggregates in the massive manganese oxide ores which were formed by supergene oxidation of rhodochrosite­sulfide ores in the hydrothermal veins trending NS­N25E and cutting the Pungchon limestone of the Cambrian age. The flakes of chimooite are 0.2 mm for the largest one, but usually less than 0.05 mm. The acicular crystals are elongated parallel to and flattened on (001). This mineral shows gradation to rancieite constituting its marginal part, thus both minerals are found in one and the same flake. Color is bluish black, with dull luster and brown streak in globular or massive aggregates. Cleavage is perfect in one direction. The hardness ranges from 2.5 to 4. Under reflected light it is anisotropic and bireflectant. It shows reddish brown internal reflection. Chemical analyses of different parts of both minerals suggest that rancieite and chimooite constitute a continuous solid solution series by cationic substitution. The empirical chemical formula for chimooite has been calculated following the general formula, $R_2_{x}$ M $n^{4+}$$_{9­x}$ $O_{18}$ $.$n$H_2O$ for the 7 $\AA$ phyllomanganate minerals, where x varies from 0.81 to 1.28 in so far studied samples, thus averaging to 1.0. Therefore, the formula of Zn­rancieite is close to the well­known strochiometric formula $_Mn_4^{4+}$ $O_{9}$ $.$4$H_2O$. The mineral has the formula (Z $n_{0.78}$N $a_{0.15}$C $a_{0.08}$M $g_{0.01}$ $K_{0.01}$)(M $n^{4+}$$_{3.98}$F $e^{3+}$$_{0.02}$)$_{4.00}$ $O_{9}$ $.$3.85$H_2O$, thus the ideal formula is (Zn,Ca)M $n^{4+}$$_4$ $O_{9}$ $.$3.85$H_2O$. The mineral has a hexagonal unit ceil with a=2.840 $\AA$ c=7.486 $\AA$ and a : c = 1 : 2.636. The DTA curve shows endothermic peaks at 65, 180, 690 and 102$0^{\circ}C$. The IR absorption spectrum shows absorption bands at 445, 500, 1630 and 3400 c $m^{1}$. The mineral name Chimooite has been named in honour of late Prof, Chi Moo Son of Seoul National University.ity.versity.ity.y.