Electron microscopy study of the sakhaite from endogenous borate deposit in Hunan, China

• Published in: Science in China. Series D, Earth sciences Vol. 47; no. 3; pp. 232 - 238
• Main Author: LIU, Xiangwen
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Test Center, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan,430074, China%Test Center, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan,430074, China%Physics and Technology College, Wuhan University, Wuhan,430072, China%Graduate School, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan,430074, China%Test Center, Zhongshan University, Guangzhou,510275, China 01.03.2004; Graduate School, China University of Geosciences, Wuhan,430074, China
• Subjects: space group; sakhaite; convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED)
• ISSN: 1006-9313
• DOI: 10.1360/02YD0263

P5; Sakhaite specimens from an endogenous borate deposit in Hunan Province, China have been studied in detail by means of transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The selected area electron diffraction (SAED) patterns obtained with different crystal zone axes show that the crystal system is cubic, with a = 1.463 nm. The convergent beam electron diffraction (CBED) patterns indicate that the point group and space group of sakhaite is m3m and Fd3m, respectively. The space group of synthetic sakhaite determined by Chichagov (1974) is F4132. The possible reasons why the space groups of the natural and the synthetic sakhaites are different are discussed.