Eur. J. Mineral.
2002, 14, 165–173

Recommended nomenclature for labuntsovite-group minerals*
NIKITA V. CHUKANOV1, IGOR V. PEKOV2 and ALEXANDER P. KHOMYAKOV3
1 Institute of Problems of Chemical Physics, Russian Academy of Sciences, Chernogolovka, Moscow Region,

142432, Russia, e-mail: chukanov@icp.ac.ru
2 Department of Mineralogy, Faculty of Geology, Moscow State University, Vorobievy Gory, Moscow, 119899, Russia
3 Institute of Mineralogy, Geochemistry, and Crystal Chemistry of Rare Elements, Russian Academy of Sciences,

Veresaev str., 15, Moscow, 121357, Russia
Abstract: The present report contains recommendations on the nomenclature of the labuntsovite-group (LG) minerals based on a
crystal-structural classification. The labuntsovite group includes hydrous titanium and niobium silicates, both orthorhombic andmonoclinic, with a structure characterized by a framework consisting of chains of (Ti,Nb)O-octahedra, linked by four-member ringsof Si,O-tetrahedra. This framework contains open cavities occupied by H2O molecules and extra-framework cations. Seven
subgroups are distinguished, each corresponding to different structure types. In accordance with the nomenclature recommendations,
LG minerals have different root names if they belong to different subgroups, or are characterized by different prevailing cations inthe (Ti,Nb)-position. The species with doubled unit cell are distinguished by the prefix “para”. In the case of structurally orderedmembers (space groups C2/m, I2/m), separate species within each subgroup are recognized by different root names (to distinguish themembers with Ti Nb or Ti Nb) and by a modifier (-K, -Mn, -Mg etc., to distinguish the members with differently occupied “key”
positions). Unlike zeolites, a complex substitution of extra-framework cations is possible in monoclinic LG minerals: 2C ® D(H2O)2
where C = K, Ba; D = Fe, Mg, Mn or Zn. Only one of these coupled sites (C or D) can be more than 50 % occupied, whereas the otheris more than 50 % vacant and is not considered as the “key” (species-forming) position. In the case of structurally disorderedmembers (vuoriyarvite series) with space group Cm and a large number of extra-framework positions, separate species arerecognized in which different extra-framework cations (K, Na, Ca, Sr, Ba) are the most abundant in atomic proportions.
Key-words: labuntsovite group, nomenclature, labuntsovite, nenadkevichite, korobitsynite, vuoriyarvite, lemmleinite,kuzmenkoite, organovaite, paralabuntsovite, tsepinite, karupmöllerite, gutkovaite.

Introduction
The first brief description of labuntsovite (from the Khibiny
massif), under the name “titanium elpidite”, was given by
A.N. Labuntsov (1926). In 1955, this mineral and a related
Nb-dominant species were described in more detail, andnamed, respectively, labuntsovite (Semenov & Burova, 1955)
and nenadkevichite (Kuz’menko & Kazakova, 1955). Although the existence of an isomorphous series between these
two minerals has been proposed (Semenov, 1959), a numberof facts contradict this hypothesis (Chukanov et al., 1999b).
Although more than sixty papers have been published so
far on the mineralogy and crystal chemistry of labuntsovite
and related species, the proliferating terminology became
rather confusing. For example, the name “nenadkevichite”
has been applied to orthorhombic and monoclinic members,
as well as to minerals with Ti Nb or Nb Ti, and to minerals with Na K or K Na (Perrault et al., 1973; Organova
et al., 1981; Rastsvetaeva et al., 1994).

The evident need to clarify the nomenclature of theseminerals prompted us to undertake a comprehensive investigation. This included the determination of the chemicalcompositions of more than 300 specimens (from 12 different massifs) by electron microprobe analysis. The results
show remarkably wide ranges of the species-forming components (weight %): Na2O 0.17–13.87, K2O 0–14.90, CaO
0–7.28, SrO 0–8.24, BaO 0–16.90, MgO 0–2.29, MnO 0–
7.37, FeO 0–4.96, ZnO 0–7.06, TiO2 0.81–27.10, Nb2O5
0.14–38.89. Additionally, there are also variations of physical properties, IR spectra and crystal structures between themembers of the group. Single-crystal structure analysis has
been performed for a number of LG minerals with unusualphysical properties and/or chemical compositions (Rastsvetaeva et al., 1994, 1996, 1997a, 1997b, 1998, 2000a, 2000b,
2001; Golovina et al., 1998). The results obtained in theabove cited works demonstrate the existence of a number ofstructural types within the LG.

* Approved by the Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names of the IMA 5 June 2000.

DOI: 10.1127/0935-1221/2002/0014-0165

0935-1221/02/0014-0165 $ 4.05
2002 E. Schweizerbart’sche Verlagsbuchhandlung, D-70176 Stuttgart

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N.V. Chukanov, I.V. Pekov, A.P. KhomyakovFig. 1. Fragments of the labuntsovite(a) and nenadkevichite(b) crystal structures. Deformation of the framework causes a symmetry lowering in labuntsovite.

Definition
A labuntsovite-group mineral is a crystalline substance with astructure characterized by a framework consisting of chains of(Ti,Nb)O-octahedra having shared trans-vertices. The chainsare linked by tetrahedral four-membered rings [Si4O12], forming a three-dimensional framework that contains cavities in
the form of channels and cages. These channels and cages areusually occupied by H2O and extra-framework cations. The
labuntsovite group includes orthorhombic and monoclinic
members. In monoclinic members, the chains of (Ti,Nb)O-octahedra can be linked additionally by DO-octahedra, where D
is usually a bivalent cation such as Fe2+, Mn2+, Zn or Mg. The
presence of vacancies in the positions of extra-framework andD cations is typical for the LG minerals.

Crystal structure
The labuntsovite group contains orthorhombic and monoclinic, hydrous titanium and niobium silicates. The basis of
their structure (Fig. 1–3) is a framework consisting of chainsof (Ti,Nb)O-octahedra (M) that are linked by four-membered rings of Si,O-tetrahedra (T). Large low-valent cations(“extra-framework cations” hereafter) and H2O are situatedin open cavities of this zeolite-like framework. Some O-atoms bridging the (Ti,Nb)O-octahedra are substituted with
OH. The symmetry of the LG minerals depends on the configuration of the octahedral chains (Fig. 1).
The (Ti,Nb)O-octahedral chains are straight in the structure of orthorhombic members of the LG (nenadkevichite

subgroup, space group Pbam, a 7.4, b 14.2, c 7.1 Å; Fig.
3). Both A cation sites are relatively small and similar in size,
so they are occupied mainly by Na. The general formula is:
A6M4(T4O12)2(O,OH)4 ·nH2O (Z = 1); T = Si; A = Na, ; M =Nb (nenadkevichite) or Ti (korobitsynite). The presence of
vacancies up to 50 % is characteristic of the A sites. Minor
amounts of larger cations can be present: a structurally investigated nenadkevichite (Perrault et al., 1973) contained 0.24
K atoms and 0.11 Ca atoms per unit cell.
The crystal structures of monoclinic members of the LG
contain corrugated chains of (Ti,Nb)O-octahedra (Fig. 2, 3).
As a result, zeolite-like cavities are different in size and extra-framework sites are occupied with different cations.
Monoclinic LG minerals can be subdivided into six subgroups:
1. Labuntsovite-type structures (including those of labuntsovite and lemmleinite subgroups, space group C2/m;
a 14.3, b 13.8, c 7.75 Å, , 117° ; see Table 1) are
the commonest and best studied monoclinic structures (Golovastikov, 1973; Organova et al., 1976, 1981; Rastsvetaeva
et al., 1996, 1997b, 1998). In this structure type, an additional octahedral position is located at the site where the distance between chains is minimal; this site is called “the linking octahedron” D and is distinct from the M octahedra present in the chains. Three non-equivalent, extra-framework
cation sites (A, B, and C) are present in this structural type,
and the general formula is: A4B4C4D2M8(T4O12)4(OH,O)8·nH2O (Z=1). The cations in the sites are: T = Si; M= Ti, Nb; D = small bivalent cations (M2+) such as Mn, Fe,
Mg, Zn; A = Na; B = K, sometimes with minor Na; C = Ba,
K. The distance between the sites C and D is short ( 2.1 Å)Recommended nomenclature for labuntsovite-group minerals

Fig. 2. The crystal structure of labuntsovite (D-octahedron is morethan 50 % occupied).

and cations cannot occur in both sites at the same time. If theD site is occupied by cations, H2O molecules occur in C andcomplete the octahedral coordination of the D cations; if D
= , C can contain cations. The following mechanism governs the occupancy of C and D sites:(Fe,Mg, Mn,Zn) + 2H2 O « + 2(K, Ba)
D
C
D
C

(1)

167

The naming of labuntsovites and lemmleinites is according to the cation occupancy of the D site and the C site, respectively (see Tables 1 and 2).
2. Paralabuntsovite-type structure. Besides the original labuntsovite (space group C2/m – Semenov, 1959), a dimorph with space group I2/m and doubled unit cell (a =15.57, b = 13.75, c = 14.27 Å, = 116.9° ) has also been described (Milton et al., 1958). The possible reason for the
doubling of the unit cell is the ordering of the occupancies of
the C and D sites (Organova et al., 1981). In accordancewith the IMA CNMMN guidelines (Nickel & Grice, 1998),
the name paralabuntsovite was approved for the membersof the corresponding subgroup.
3. Kuzmenkoite-type structure (space group C2/m, a14.4, b 13.9, c 7.8 Å,117° ) differs from that of labuntsovite by the absence of the A cations. The B site is occupied mainly by K, and the C site is cation-deficient (Golovina et al., 1998). Splitting of the B site can lower the symmetry to Cm (Rastsvetaeva et al., 2000b). The idealized formula for the minerals with kuzmenkoite structure is:
K4D2M8(Si4O12)4(OH,O)8·nH2O (Z = 1; n = 10–12). Two
minerals, kuzmenkoite-Mn with D = Mn2+, M = Ti, andkuzmenkoite-Zn with D = Zn2+, M = Ti have been described to date (Chukanov et al., 1999b; Chukanov et al., inpress). A new mineral karupmöllerite-Ca (see Table 2) isrelated to kuzmenkoite; it can be considered as B-vacant andNb-dominant analog of hypothetical “kuzmenkoite-Ca”.
4. In the organovaite-type structure (space group C2/m,
a 14.5, b 14.0, c 15.7 Å, = 118° ), the c parameter isdoubled, due to the splitting of the K site. Two Nb-dominant
members, organovaite-Mn (Chukanov et al., 2001b) andorganovaite-Zn (Pekov et al., in press) and one Ti-dominant member, parakuzmenkoite -Fe (Chukanov et al.,2001c) are known in this subgroup. The common formula
is: K4D2M8(Si4O12)4(OH,O)8·nH2O (Z = 2; n = 12–14).
5. Vuoriyarvite-type structure. This structural type
(Rastvetaeva et al., 1994) is characterized by the space groupCm (a 14.7, b 14.2, c 7.9 Å,118° ) and numerous

Fig. 3. The crystal structures(projectionon ab-plane) of nenadkevichite(a) and lemmleinite (b). The black circles are: K (large) and Na (smallones). The open circles show the positions of water molecules.

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Table 1. Distinctive features of mineral series (root names are given) and mineral species in the labuntsovite group.
Number of
Ideal
Ideal
Ideal
Symmetry non-equivalent occupancy occupancy formula,
extra-framework of C-siteof D-site Z = 1
cation sites

Series root name
Series root name
Rule for distinction
for the members
for the membersof mineral species
with Ti Nb in M- with Nb Ti in M- (use of modifiers)
site
site

Orthorhombic
Pbam

2

C-site isabsentD-site isabsent

A 6M4(Si4O12)2(O,OH)4nH2O

Korobitsynite

Nenadkevichite

No modifiers*

MonoclinicCmnumerous, split( 3)

VacantVacantA 12-x 2M8(Si4O12)4(OH,O)8 nH2O

Tsepinite

Vuoriyarvite

By the prevailing
A-cation

Monoclinic
C2/m2

VacantOccupied K 4 4D 2M8(Si4O12)4 Kuzmenkoite*(OH,O)8 nH2O

Monoclinic
C2/m2

VacantOccupied

4 4 D2 M8 (Si 4O 12 )4(OH,O)8 nH2O

Monoclinic
C2/m

3

Occupied

Vacant

Na4K4C4 2M8(Si4O12)4(OH,O)8nH2O

Monoclinic
C2/m3

VacantMonoclinic
I2/m****

3

Monoclinic
C2/m
Monoclinic
Cm

By the prevailing
D-cation
Karupmöllerite

By the prevailing
D-cation

Lemmleinite

By the prevailing
C-cation**

Occupied Na4K4D2M8
or vacant (Si4O12)4(OH,O)8nH2O

Labuntsovite***By the prevailing
D-cation

VacantOccupied Na8K8D4M16
or vacant (Si4O12)8(OH,O)16nH2O

Paralabuntsovite

By the prevailing
D-cation

2

VacantOccupied K 8D4M16(Si4O12)8(OH,O)16nH2O

Parakuzmenkoite

4

VacantOccupied Ca2 2K4D4M8(Si4O12)4(OH,O)8nH2O

Gutkovaite

Organovaite

By the prevailing
D-cation
By the prevailing
D-cation* – Nb-dominant mineral karupmöllerite is related to kuzmenkoite subgroup;** – for the member with both D and C sites cation-deficient ( 50 % of maximum possible amount of cations in each position), the name“labuntsovite- ” is proposed;*** – holotype specimen of labuntsovite by E.I. Semenov was described with such unit cell (Semenov, 1959);**** – first description of this mineral was “labuntsovite” from Green River, Wyoming (Milton et al., 1958).

split sub-sites. The Vuoriyarvite-K structure contains four
sub-sites partly occupied by K, three sub-sites by Na, andfive sub-sites by H2O (Rastsvetaeva et al., 1994). The general formula is: A12-x 2M8(Si4O12)4(OH,O)8·nH2O (Z = 1)
where M = Nb,Ti; the linking D octahedron is absent; “A”
denotes the total combination of sub-sites of extra-framework cations similar to those in zeolites; n=12–16. Tsepinite-Na, a new species, is a Ti- and Na-dominant analogue ofvuoriyarvite-K (Rastsvetaeva et al., 2000a; Shlyukova etal., 2001).
6. Unlike labuntsovite-type structure, in the gutkovaitetype structure the A site is split into two non-equivalentsites A1 and A2; as a result, the symmetry is lowered to Cm.
In gutkovaite-Mn (Pekov et al., in press) in A1 prevails Ca,
A2 is vacant, D is occupied by Mn.
The occupancy of D and C by a competitive mechanism(1) is an important feature of the monoclinic LG mineral
structures. The already stated site occupancy, is clearlycorrelated with compositional features. Separation ofhigh-valent and bivalent octahedral cations between M
and D sites has been reliably confirmed (Chukanov et al.,1999b). In particular, the correlation on Fig. 4 demonstrates that the number of D cations per Si16 varies continuously from 0 to 2.

Recommended nomenclature for labuntsovite-group minerals

169

Table 2. Nomenclature for the minerals of the labuntsovite group.
Previous name

New name

Nenadkevichite

Nenadkevichite

Korobitsynite

Vuoriyarvite*

None

Kuzmenkoite**

None

None

Lemmleinite***Labuntsovite

Labuntsovite****Labuntsovite

Labuntsovite

Labuntsovite

Idealized formula(Z = 1);
space group

Type locality

NENADKEVICHITE SUBGROUP
Na8-xNb4(Si4O12)2
Karnasurt Mt.,
(O,OH)4 ·8H2O;
Lovozero, Kola,
Pbam
RussiaReferences

Notes(1) Kuz’menko & Ka- Firstly described before
zakova (1955)
the CNMMN IMA(2) Perrault et al.
foundation (1955)(1973)
Korobitsynite
Na8-xTi4(Si4O12)2
Alluaiv and Karnasurt (1) Pekov et al. (1999) Approved by CNMMN(O,OH)4 ·8H2O;
Mts., Lovozero, Kola, (2) Rastsvetaeva et al. IMA 98–019
Pbam
Russia(1997a)VUORIYARVITE SUBGROUP
Vuoriyarvite-K(K,Na)12-xNb8(Si4O12)4 Vuoriyarvi,(1) Subbotin et al.
Approved by CNMMN
O8 ·nH 2O (x = 0–6,
Northern Karelia,(1998)IMA 95–031
n = 12–16);
Russia(2) Rastsvetaeva et al.
Cm(1994)
Tsepinite-Na(Na,H3O,K,Sr,Ba)12-x Khibinpakhchorr Mt., (1) Shlyukova et al. (in Approved by CNMMN
Ti8[Si4O 12]4(OH,O)8
Khibiny, Kola, Russia press)
IMA 2000–046·nH 2O (x = 0–6,
(2) Rastsvetaeva et al.
n = 12–16);(2000a)Cm
KUZMENKOITE SUBGROUP
Kuzmenkoite-Mn K4Mn2Ti8
Selsurt Mt., Lovozero, (1) Chukanov et al.
Approved by CNMMN(Si4O12)4(OH)8 ·nH2O Kola, Russia(1999)IMA 98–058(n = 10–12);(2) Golovina et al.
C2/m(1998)
Kuzmenkoite-Zn
K4Mn2Ti8
Lepkhe-Nelm Mt., Lo- (1) Chukanov et al.
Approved by CNMMN(Si4O12)4(OH)8 ·nH2O vozero, Kola, Russia (in press)
IMA 01–037(n = 12–14);(2) Chukanov et al.
C2/m(in press)
Karupmöllerite-Ca (Na,Ca,K)4Ca2Nb8
Ilimaussaq, Greenland (1)Approved by CNMMN(Si4O12)4(O,OH)8(2) Yamnova et al.
IMA 2001–028·14H2O;(2000)C2/m
LEMMLEINITE SUBGROUP
Lemmleinite-K
Na4K4K 4Ti8(Si4O 12)4 Koashva Mt., Khibiny, (1) Khomyakov et al. Approved by CNMMN(O,OH)8 ·8H2O;
Kola, Russia(1999)IMA 97–003
C2/m(2) Rastsvetaeva et al.
(1996)
Lemmleinite-Ba
Na4K4Ba2+xTi8(Si4O12)4 Kukisvumchorr Mt.,
Chukanov et al.
Approved by CNMMN(O,OH)8 ·8H2O;
Khibiny,(2001a)IMA 98–052a
C2/m(1) Kola, Russia(2) Rastsvetaeva et al.
(1997b)LABUNTSOVITE SUBGROUP
Labuntsovite-Mn Na4K4Mn2Ti8 (Si4O12)4 Kuftn’yun Mt.,
(1) Semenov & Burova Firstly described before(O, OH) 8 ·nH 2O
Lovozero, Kola,(1955)
the CNMMN IMA(n = 10–12);
Russia(2) Organova et al.
foundation (1955)
C2/m(1981)
Labuntsovite-Mg
Na4K4Mg2Ti8
Kovdor, Kola, Russia (1) Khomyakov et al. Approved by CNMMN(Si4O12)4(O, OH) 8(2001)IMA 98–050a·nH 2O (n = 10–12);(2) Khomyakov et al.
C2/m(2001)
Labuntsovite-Fe
Na4K4Fe2Ti8 (Si4O12)4 Kukisvumchorr Mt.,
(1) Khomyakov et al. Approved by CNMMN(O, OH) 8 ·nH 2O
Khibiny, Kola, Russia (2001)
IMA 98–051a(n = 10–12);(2) Khomyakov et al.
C2/m(2001)PARALABUNTSOVITE SUBGROUP
Paralabuntsovite- Na8K8Mg4Ti16(Si4O12)8 Trona Mine,(1) Milton et al. (1958) Approved by CNMMN
Mg(O,OH)16 ·nH2O (n = Sweetwater Co.,
IMA 00-A
20–24);
Wyoming, USA
I2/m

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Table 2. Nomenclature for the minerals of the labuntsovite group (cont.).
Previous name

New name

None

Organovaite-Mn

None

Organovaite-Zn

None

ParakuzmenkoiteFe

None

Gutkovaite-Mn

Idealized formula(Z = 1);
space group

Type locality

References

Notes

ORGANOVAITE SUBGROUP
K8Mn4Nb16(Si4O 12)8O16 Karnasurt Mt., Lovoze- (1) Chukanov et al.
Approved by CNMMN·nH 2O (n = 20–28);
ro, Kola, Russia(2001b)
IMA 2000–031
C2/m(2) Chukanov et al.
(2001b)K8Zn4Nb16(Si4O12)8O 16 Karnasurt Mt., Lovoze- (1) Pekov et al, (2001) Approved by CNMMN·nH 2O (n = 20–28);
ro, Kola, Russia(2) Pekov et al. (2001) IMA 2001–006
C2/m(K,Ba)8Fe4Ti16(Si4O 12)8 Kedykverpakhk Mt., (1) Chukanov et al.
Approved by CNMMN(OH,O)16 ·nH2O
Lovozero, Kola, Russia (2001c)
IMA 2001–007(n = 20–28);(2) Chukanov et al.
C2/m(2001c)GUTKOVAITE SUBGROUP
Ca2K4Mn2Ti8
Maly Mannepakhk Mt., (1) Pekov et al. (inApproved by CNMMN(Si4O12)4O8 ·nH2O
Khibiny, Kola, Russia press)
IMA 2001–038(n 10);(2) Rastsvetaeva et al.
Cm(2001)*– The first described vuoriyarvite is K-dominant; it must be renamed vuoriyarvite-K in accordance with the new nomenclature;** – The first described kuzmenkoite is Mn-dominant; it must be renamed kuzmenkoite-Mn in accordance with the new nomenclature;*** – The first described lemmleinite is K-dominant; it must be renamed lemmleinite-K in accordance with the new nomenclature;**** – The first described labuntsovite is Mn-dominant; it must be renamed labuntsovite-Mn in accordance with the new nomenclature.
In the column “References”:(1) – first mineralogical description;(2) – publication on the crystal structure.

Principles of the labuntsovite-groupnomenclature
The nomenclature of monoclinic LG minerals is based on
the following principles and is in accordance with the rules
recommended by IMA CNMMN (Nickel & Grice, 1998):
1. Members of a solid solution series are distinguished by
the “50 % rule”.
2. Mineral species are named using combinations of “rootnames” and modifiers. Each species name for monoclinic
LG minerals consists of a root name and modifier.
3. Minerals have different “root names” if at least one of thefollowing conditions is fulfilled:– different structural type;– octahedral M sites in the chains contain different cations –Ti or Nb;
– more (one case) or less (another case) than 50 % cations
occur in the D site. Only in the latter case, the neighbouring
C site can be more than 50 % occupied;– different root names should also be given for representatives (not yet described) of labuntsovite-type members,
when the dominant cation in A is not Na or in B is not K.
The first and principal rule for species distinction is the 50% rule. However, a serious problem is represented by the important role of vacancies in the D octahedron and extra-framework cation sites. Therefore, a second important rule is: if asite is more than 50% occupied by cations (i.e. cations), the component which predominates over any othermust be considered as a species-forming cation. This issimilar to Levinson’s rule: if the sum of REE prevails over any
other component in this site, the mineral is considered as arare-earth species and the prevailing REE is used to suffix theroot name of the mineral species. If the site is less than 50 %occupied with cations (i.e. cations, H2O), this site isconsidered cation-deficient. Full occupancy of D site per 16Si
is 2 atoms, and that of C site is 4 atoms, therefore the 50 %threshold is 1 atom per formula unit for D cations and 2 atoms
per formula unit for C cations. Only cations, not water molecules, are taken into account in the C site. Using the lastrule, we can identify mineral species on the basis of cation
composition (e.g. from electron microprobe analysis).
In spite of the zeolite-like character of structurally ordered LG minerals (members with space groups C2/m andI2/m), all extra-framework cations occupy only two or three
fixed, non-split positions. Furthermore, the occupancies obtained from structure analysis are in good agreement withreal chemical compositions. Mineral species within thecorresponding series are distinguished by root-names(to distinguish the cases Ti Nb and Ti Nb) and bymodifiers denoting the most abundant cation in the species-forming, i.e. non-vacant, C or D position. An analogue of labuntsovite has been described with vacancies
predominating in both C and D positions (Bulakh & Evdokimov, 1973; Organova et al., 1981). For this mineral, thename “labuntsovite- ” (not an approved name) could be
used.
In vuoriyarvite, we observe a condition close to that existing in zeolites: extra-framework cations are situated inRecommended nomenclature for labuntsovite-group minerals

171

Fig. 4. Correlation between total amount of octahedral cations (per unit cell) and amount of bivalent octahedral cations (Mg, Mn, Fe, Zn) for
minerals of labuntsovitegroup: labuntsovitesubgroup(black circles), kuzmenkoiteand organovaitesubgroups(black triangles),vuoriyarvite
subgroup (open triangles), lemmleinite subgroup (quadrangles), nenadkevichite subgroup (open circles).

numerous split sites (sub-sites) dominated by vacancies. For
this reason, mineral species with vuoriyarvite-like structures are distinguished by the prevailing extra-framevork cation (without distinction of extra-framework
sites), in a similar way to the accepted rules for zeolites(Coombs et al., 1997) – see Table 1.

Non-approved and obsolete names for thelabuntsovite-group minerals
The complex and variable chemical composition of the LG
minerals and the similarity of their physical properties has
resulted in the unnecessary proliferation of names, mainly
derivatives of the “old” mineral names, labuntsovite and nenadkevichite. These non-approved and obsolete names are
given here in italic type, with their corresponding acceptedmineral species names under the present nomenclature.
Titanium elpidite, titano-elpidite (Labuntsov, 1926) = labuntsovite-Mn.
Labuntsovite I (Organova et al., 1981), according to the
new nomenclature rules it should be named labuntsovite- .
Potassium labuntsovite, labuntsovite II (Organova et al.,1981) = labuntsovite-Mn.
Labuntsovite III (Organova et al., 1981), described also
as Potassium-rich labuntsovite (Rastsvetaeva et al., 1998) =lemmleinite-K.
Monoclinic nenadkevichite, Ti-nenadkevichite (Organova et al., 1976) = monoclinic member of LG with Ca as themost abundant D-cation (not approved yet).
K-rich nenadkevichite (Rastsvetaeva et al., 1994) = vuoriyarvite-K.

K-dominant nenadkevichite (Petersen et al., 1996) = vuoriyarvite-K?
According to the accepted nomenclature, the old names“vuoriyarvite”, “lemmleinite” and “kuzmenkoite” must be
replaced with vuoriyarvite-K, lemmleinite-K and kuzmenkoite-Mn, respectively. The name “labuntsovite” has been
applied to different minerals: labuntsovite-Mn (Semenov &Burova, 1955; Golovastikov, 1973; partly: Bulakh & Evdokimov, 1973; Organova et al., 1981), labuntsovite-Mg (partly: Bulakh & Evdokimov, 1973), labuntsovite- (partly:
Bulakh & Evdokimov, 1973; Organova et al., 1981), lemmleinite-K (partly: Organova et al., 1981), paralabuntsoviteMg (Milton et al., 1958).
Labuntsovite was first described in 1926 from the Khibiny massif, Kola, as “titanium elpidite” (Labuntsov, 1926).
In 1955, the same mineral from the Lovozero massif, Kola,was studied and named “labuntsovite” (Semenov & Burova,
1955). We have examined both type specimens by electron
microprobe analysis: Semenov’s holotype of labuntsovite
from Kuftn’yun Mt., Lovozero massif, and Labuntsov’s “titano-elpidite” type specimen from Yum’egor Pass, Khibiny
massif, which are deposited in the Fersman MineralogicalMuseum, Moscow (samples ## 62556 and 41097 respectively). Both samples are labuntsovite-Mn in accordance with theaccepted nomenclature. Their empirical formulae are:#62556: Na3.51Ca.01K4.14Sr.02Ba.96(Mn1.05Mg.17Fe.12)(Ti7.19Nb.92)(Si15.99Al.01O48)(O,OH)8 ·nH2O;#41097: Na4.06Ca.01K3.43Sr.01Ba1.36(Mn.92Mg.11)(Ti7.56Nb.23Fe.10)(Si15.95Al.05O48)(O,OH)8 ·nH2O.

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N.V. Chukanov, I.V. Pekov, A.P. KhomyakovRules for the calculation of crystal chemical
formulae for structurally ordered monoclinic
labuntsovite-group minerals (labuntsovite,
lemmleinite, kuzmenkoite and paralabuntsovite
subgroups)
In comparison to orthorhombic members, monoclinic LG
minerals are characterized by more complicated and widely
variable chemical compositions. It is necessary to take into
consideration some important crystal chemical features ofthese minerals for the correct calculation of their formulae.
The scheme of calculation given below for phases with labuntsovite structure is based on the following structure features:
1. Tetrahedral sites (T = Si with traces of Al) and chainoctahedra (M = Ti, Nb plus some Fe3+) do not show vacancies. The theoretical ratio T:M=2 is close respected (Fig. 4).
2. The D octahedron is selectively occupied by small bivalent cations (Mn2+, Mg, Fe2+, Zn); its occupancy varies
from 0 to 100 %.
3. The A site is fully occupied with Na.
4. The B site is occupied by K, with minor amounts of Na
and vacancies ( 25 %).
5. Ba is selectively localized at the C site (i.e. no Ba has
been found at the B position in the crystal structures of Barich samples, see Organova et al., 1981; Rastsvetaeva et al.,1997b); K may be present at C site along with Ba.
6. The distance between C and D sites is short ( 2.1 Å),and the mechanism of their cation occupancy is as discussed
above.
Taking into account the structural data, we propose thefollowing scheme of calculation for the crystal chemical
formulae of LG minerals with space groups C2/m and I2/m:
1. Basis of calculation – [(Si,Al)4O12]4(OH,O)8; Z = 2 forthe paralabuntsovite series, and Z=1 for the other series, i.e.
Si +Al = 16 apfu.
2. Place Ti, Nb into M; if (Ti+Nb) 8, add Fe (as Fe3+).
If (Ti+Nb) 8, put redundant Ti into D.
3. Place Mn, Zn, Mg, and rest of Fe into D.
4. Place Na into A. Put redundant (over 4 apfu) Na into B.
5. Place Ba and Sr into C.
6. Fill the B site with excess (over 4 apfu) Na; add K up to
4 atoms in the B position. Place the rest of K into C (together
with Ba and Sr) and check that the C site has a total numberof water molecules and anions which is twice the number ofcations at the D site.
Acknowledgement: The authors are grateful to professor
G. Ferraris (Università di Torino, Italy) for the assistance inthe elaboration of the LG nomenclature.

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Received 6 December 2000
Modified version received 30 April 2001
Accepted 3 September 2001