Rubicline

Rubicline, also referred to as Rb-microcline, is the rubidium analogue of microcline, an important tectosilicate mineral. Its chemical formula is (Rb, K)[AlSi₃O₈] with an ideal composition of RbAlSi₃O₈. Chemical analysis by electron microprobe indicated the average weight of the crystal is 56.66% SiO₂, 16.95% Al₂O₃, and 23.77% Rb₂O,^[3] along with trace amounts of caesium oxide (Cs₂O) and iron(III) oxide (Fe₂O₃).^[4]

Rubicline was first discovered in 1998 in Elba, Italy, by a team from the University of Manitoba. It was the first mineral to have been discovered with rubidium as an essential constituent.[4] It has also been found in Mozambique[5] and the Kola Peninsula in Russia.[6] Rubicline occurs as small, abundant, rounded grains found within veins of rubidian microcline. Pure rubicline with an ideal potassium-free composition has never been found in nature.[3] Rubicline was synthesized in 2001 by placing powdered albite in a solvent of RbCl. This mixture was then placed in a silver tube containing H2O, heated to 400 °C and pressurized to 60 MPa.[3]

Unlike microcline, which can be yellow, red, or green, rubicline is colorless. It is also transparent, brittle,[4] and has a vitreous lustre.[7] Rubicline has been classified as both triclinic and monoclinic.[3][7] The crystal does not show twinning. Rubicline is a feldspar in the Strunz classification group 9.FA.30. Other minerals in this group include adularia, anorthoclase, buddingtonite, celsian, hyalophane, microcline, monalbite, orthoclase, and sanidine.[7]

Rubicline is radioactive as summarized in the table below.[1]

Specimen weight/size	Calculated activity (Bq)	Calculated activity (Ci)	Estimated activity GR(api)	Estimated exposure (mRem)/hr*
1000 g / 8.79 cm	183,355	4.96×10−6	8,449.31	2.78
100 g / 4.08 cm	18,336	4.96×10−7	844.93	0.28
10 g / 1.89 cm	1,834	4.96×10−8	84.49	0.03
1 g / 8.79 mm	183	4.96×10−9	8.45	0.00
0.1 g / 4.08 mm	18	4.96×10−10	0.84	0.00
0.01 g / 1.89 mm	2	4.96×10−11	0.08	0.00
0.001 g / 0.88 mm	0	4.96×10−12	0.01	0.00

* If held in hand for one hour.
* Government estimate of average annual exposure (360 mRem)
* Max permissible adult dose 50,000 mRem/yr (hands), 15,000 mRem/yr (eyes)
* Lethal exposure 400,000 to 500,000 mRem

Notes

1. ^ a b Rubicline at Webminerals
2. ^ Rubicline at Mindat
3. ^ a b c d Kyono, A. and Kimata, M. (August 2001). [http://rruff.info/uploads/MM65_523.pdf "Refinement of the crystal structure of a synthetic non-stoichiometric Rb-feldspar"]. Mineralogical Magazine 65 (4): 523–531. http://rruff.info/uploads/MM65_523.pdf.
4. ^ a b c Teertstra, David K. et al (December 2008). "Rubicline, a new feldspar from San Piero in Campo, Elba, Italy". American Mineralogist 83 (11–12): 1335–1339. http://ammin.geoscienceworld.org/cgi/content/abstract/83/11-12_Part_1/1335.
5. ^ Teertstra, D. K.; Cerny, P.; Hawthorne, F. C. (1999). "Subsolidus rubidium-dominant feldspar from the Morrua pegmatite, Mozambique: paragenesis and composition". Mineralogical Magazine 63 (3): 313–320. ISSN 0026-461X.
6. ^ "Rubicline R070044". RRUFF. http://rruff.info/rubicline/names/asc/. Retrieved 15 February 2010.
7. ^ a b c Ralph, Jolyon and Chau, Ida (2010). "Rubicline". Mindat.org. http://www.mindat.org/min-7276.html. Retrieved 15 February 2010.

List of minerals