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Nephelines from the Somma-Vesuvius volcanic complex (Southern Italy): crystal-chemical, structural and genetic investigations

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Abstract

Sixteen nephelines from different geological occurrences were sampled at the type-locality, the Somma-Vesuvius volcanic complex (southern Italy), and investigated for their chemistry and crystal structure obtained by both single-crystal and powder X-ray diffraction. Nepheline-bearing samples are metamorphic or from magmatic ejecta and pumice deposits. The lower K contents characterize the pumice- and some metamorphic-derived nephelines, whereas the higher ones are found in some samples from magmatic nodules. The amount of the anorthite molecule, quite low on average, can be more variable in the metamorphic nephelines. The crystal-structure investigations on Somma-Vesuvius samples compare well with previous studies of natural nephelines. All 16 nepheline samples adopt space group P63. The observed lattice parameters vary between 9.9768–9.9946 Å (for a) and 8.3614–8.3777 Å (for c), respectively. Furthermore, chemical analysis revealed that all specimens exhibit an excess of Si relative the ideal Si:Al ratio of 1:1. The analysis of the T-O distances in our samples clearly indicates a distinct ordering process of aluminium and silicon on the tetrahedral sites which is an agreement with Loewenstein’s rule. A linear correlation between the distance of symmetry equivalent split atoms O(1)-O(1)’ and the T(1)-O(1)-T(2) tilt angle was observed. The average <B-O> (B = Na) distances of all crystals are very similar which is consistent with the outcome of the site population refinement indicating full occupancy with sodium. Oriented precession-type sections of reciprocal space indicated the presence of at least the most intense family of satellite peaks, demonstrating that this group of satellite reflections can occur not only in nephelines from pegmatites and ijolites but also in rocks from completely different petrological settings.

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Acknowledgments

G. Balassone wishes to dedicate this work to the memory of her Professor and friend Enrico Franco, who introduced her to the study of the Somma-Vesuvius minerals and wisely guided during the sampling work. The helpful comments of U. Kolitsch (Wien), an anonymous referee and the Associated Editor A. Beran greatly improved the quality of the manuscript. C. Petti (Mineralogical Museum, “Centro Musei delle Scienze Naturali”, Università di Napoli Federico II) is hearthily thanked for friendly advices. The skillful support of M. Serracino (IGG-CNR Rome) and R. dé Gennaro (CISAG Naples) with WDS and SEM-EDS, respectively, is gratefully acknowledged. L.M. Francese and V. Monetti (Università di Napoli Federico II) are thanked for laboratory support. G. Chita (IC-CNR Bari) assisted during XRPD analyses. Financial support came from fund no. FS2/18/03 (Università di Napoli Federico II) granted to GB.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Dipartimento di Scienze della Terra, Ambiente e Risorse (DiSTAR), Università degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Via Mezzocannone 8, 80134, Naples, Italy

    Giuseppina Balassone & Nicola Mondillo

  2. Institut für Mineralogie und Petrographie, University of Innsbruck, Innrain 52, 6020, Innsbruck, Austria

    Volker Kahlenberg

  3. CNR Istituto di Cristallografia (IC), Via Giovanni Amendola, 122/O, 70126, Bari, Italy

    Angela Altomare, Rosanna Rizzi & Michele Saviano

  4. INGV Osservatorio Vesuviano, Via Diocleziano 328, 80124, Naples, Italy

    Angela Mormone

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  1. Giuseppina Balassone
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  2. Volker Kahlenberg
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  3. Angela Altomare
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Correspondence to Giuseppina Balassone.

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Editorial handling: A. Beran

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Balassone, G., Kahlenberg, V., Altomare, A. et al. Nephelines from the Somma-Vesuvius volcanic complex (Southern Italy): crystal-chemical, structural and genetic investigations. Miner Petrol 108, 71–90 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00710-013-0290-6

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