Ekplexite Explained

Ekplexite
Category:Sulfide mineral
Imasymbol:Ekp[1]
System:Trigonal
Class:3m, 32 or m
Symmetry:P321, P3m1, Pm1
Unit Cell:a = 3.79, c = 11.3 [Å] (approximated)
Z = 2
Color:Iron-black
Habit:micaceous flakes (may be arranged in chaotic or radiating aggregates), in lenticular nests
Cleavage:, perfect
Tenacity:Flexible
Mohs:1
Luster:Metallic
Diaphaneity:Opaque
Density:3.63
Pleochroism:light gray to dark gray (strong)
Impurities:W, V, Fe
References:[2] [3]

Ekplexite is a unique sulfide-hydroxide niobium-rich mineral with the formula .[4] [5] It is unique because niobium is usually found in oxide or, eventually, silicate minerals. Ekplexite is a case in which chalcophile behaviour of niobium is shown, which means niobium present in a sulfide mineral. The unique combination of elements in ekplexite has to do with its name, which comes from a Greek world on "surprise".[5] The other example of chalcophile behaviour of niobium is edgarite, FeNb3S6, and both minerals were found in the same environment, which is a fenitic rock of Mt. Kaskasnyunchorr, Khibiny Massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia.[6] Analysis of the same rock has revealed the presence of two analogues of ekplexite, kaskasite (molybdenum-analogue) and manganokaskasite (molybdenum- and manganese-analogue). All three minerals belong to the valleriite group, and crystallize in the trigonal system with similar possible space groups.[7] [5]

Notes on chemistry

Beside niobium, molybdenum, sulfur, magnesium and aluminium ekplexite contains also relatively small amounts of tungsten, vanadium and iron.

Association and environment

The rock in which contains ekplexite is classified as fenite. In this rock ekplexite associates with fluorophlogopite, nepheline, orthoclase-anorthoclasee (silicates), alabandine, edgarite, pyrite, molybdenite, tungstenite (sulfides), corundum, graphite and monazite-(Ce).

Crystal structure

Crystal structure of ekplexite is described as non-commensurate. It is composed of two modules:

Notes and References

  1. Warr. L.N.. 2021. IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine. 85. 3. 291–320. 10.1180/mgm.2021.43. 2021MinM...85..291W. 235729616. free.
  2. Pekov., I.V., Yapaskurt, V.O., Polekhovsky, Y.S., Vigasina, M.F., and Siidra, O.I., 2014. Ekplexite (Nb,Mo)S2·(Mg1−xAlx)(OH)2+x, kaskasite (Mo,Nb)S2·(Mg1−xAlx)(OH)2+x and manganokaskasite (Mo,Nb)S2·(Mn1−xAlx)(OH)2+x, three new valleriite-group mineral species from the Khibiny alkaline complex, Kola peninsula, Russia. Mineralogical Magazine 78(3), 663-679.
  3. Web site: Ekplexite - Handbook of Mineralogy . Handbookofmineralogy.org . 2016-03-10.
  4. Pekov., I.V., Yapaskurt, V.O., Polekhovsky, Y.S., Vigasina, M.F., and Siidra, O.I., 2014. Ekplexite (Nb,Mo)S2·(Mg1−xAlx)(OH)2+x, kaskasite (Mo,Nb)S2·(Mg1−xAlx)(OH)2+x and manganokaskasite (Mo,Nb)S2·(Mn1−xAlx)(OH)2+x, three new valleriite-group mineral species from the Khibiny alkaline complex, Kola peninsula, Russia. Mineralogical Magazine 78(3), 663-679.
  5. Web site: Ekplexite: Ekplexite mineral information and data . Mindat.org . 2016-03-04.
  6. Web site: Edgarite: Edgarite mineral information and data . Mindat.org . 2016-03-04.
  7. Pekov., I.V., Yapaskurt, V.O., Polekhovsky, Y.S., Vigasina, M.F., and Siidra, O.I., 2014. Ekplexite (Nb,Mo)S2·(Mg1−xAlx)(OH)2+x, kaskasite (Mo,Nb)S2·(Mg1−xAlx)(OH)2+x and manganokaskasite (Mo,Nb)S2·(Mn1−xAlx)(OH)2+x, three new valleriite-group mineral species from the Khibiny alkaline complex, Kola peninsula, Russia. Mineralogical Magazine 78(3), 663-679

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