Lucabindiite, (K,NH4)As4O6(Cl,Br), a new fumarole mineral from the "La Fossa" crater at Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy

A new mineral, lucabindiite, (K,NH4)As4O6(Cl,Br), has been discovered in the fumaroles of Vulcano's 'La Fossa' crater within Italy's UNESCO-listed Aeolian Islands. This hexagonal mineral forms as colorless to white, transparent encrustations at 170°C, characterized by its unique crystal structure featuring neutral As2O3 sheets separated by interlayer potassium, ammonium, and halide atoms. Lucabindiite is the natural analog of synthetic phases with a similar formula and is named in honor of Luca Bindi, Professor of Mineralogy at the University of Florence. The discovery was made through chemical analysis and X-ray diffraction, revealing its distinct composition and structure, contributing to our understanding of mineral formation in high-temperature volcanic environments.

Garavelli, A., Mitolo, D., Pinto, D., & Vurro, F. (2013). Lucabindiite, (K,NH4)As4O6(Cl,Br), a new fumarole mineral from the “La Fossa” crater at Vulcano, Aeolian Islands, Italy. American Mineralogist, 98(2-3), 470–477. https://doi.org/10.2138/am.2013.4194