Sulfates from the Pyrite Ore Deposits of the Apuan Alps (Tuscany, Italy): A Review

Biagioni, Cristian; Mauro, Daniela; Pasero, Marco

doi:10.3390/min10121092

Cited by 8 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 45 publications

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“…Natural epsomite is a common hydrous magnesium sulfate with the general formula Mg(SO 4 )·7H 2 O (Anthony et al, 1990; Giordani, Meli, et al, 2022). Natural epsomite occurs mainly on the walls of mines, caves, and outcrops of sulfide‐bearing magnesian rocks (e.g., dolostone) but also as a product of evaporation at mineral springs and saline lakes, and rarely as fumarolic sublimate (Anthony et al, 1990; Biagioni et al, 2020). Epsom salt is widely used in many fields, and it has numerous medical and pharmaceutical applications, such as the treatment of cardiac arrhythmia, acute asthma, eclampsia, and gallstones (Ruiz‐Agudo et al, 2007).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The in vitro cytotoxic effects of natural (fibrous epsomite crystals) and synthetic (Epsom salt) magnesium sulfate

Salucci,

Giordani,

Betti

et al. 2023

Microscopy Res & Technique

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Exposure to mineral fibers represents an occupational and environmental hazard since particulate inhalation leads to several health disorders. However, few data are available on the effect of fibers with high solubility like natural epsomite, a water‐soluble fiber with an inhalable size that allows it to penetrate biological systems, with regard to the respiratory tract. This study evaluated the natural (fibrous epsomite) and synthetic (Epsom salt) magnesium sulfate pathogenicity. Investigations have been performed through morpho‐functional and biochemical analyses, in an in vitro cell model that usually grows as monocytes, but that under appropriate conditions differentiates into macrophages. These latter, known as alveolar macrophages, if referred to lungs, represent the first line of defense against harmful inhaled stimuli. Morphological observations reveal that, if Epsom salt induces osmotic stress on cell culture, natural epsomite fibers lead to cellular alterations including thickening of the nuclear envelope and degenerated mitochondria. Moreover, the insoluble fraction (impurities) internalized by cells induces diffuse damage characterized at the highest dosage and exposure time by secondary necrosis or necrotic cell death features. Biochemical analyses confirm this mineral behavior that involves MAPK pathway activation, resulting in many different cellular responses ranging from proliferation control to cell death. Epsom salt leads to MAPK/ERK activation, a marker predictive of overall survival. Unlike, natural epsomite induces upregulation of MAPK/p38 protein involved in the phosphorylation of downstream targets driving necrotic cell death. These findings demonstrate natural epsomite toxicity on U937 cell culture, making the inhalation of these fibers potentially hazardous for human health.Research Highlights Natural epsomite and synthetic Epsom salt effects have been evaluated in U937 cell model. Epsom salt induces an osmotic cellular stress. Natural epsomite fibers lead to cellular damage and can be considered potentially dangerous for human health.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The in vitro cytotoxic effects of natural (fibrous epsomite crystals) and synthetic (Epsom salt) magnesium sulfate

Salucci,

Giordani,

Betti

et al. 2023

Microscopy Res & Technique

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“…Alunogen is a hydrated aluminium sulphate with the formula Al 2 (SO 4 ) 3 •17H 2 O, regarded as a grandfather mineral species because it has been known since 1832 [1]. Alunogen is a rather widely distributed mineral reported as an acid mine drainage mineral and lowtemperature fumarolic mineral or pseudofumarolic at coal fires [2][3][4][5][6]. The early study of its optical properties has shown that they considerably vary depending on the H 2 O content in the mineral [7].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Atomic Arrangement, Hydrogen Bonding and Structural Complexity of Alunogen, Al2(SO4)3·17H2O, from Kamchatka Geothermal Field, Russia

et al. 2023

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Alunogen, Al2(SO4)3·17H2O, occurs as an efflorescent in acid mine drainage, low-temperature fumarolic or pseudofumarolic (such as with coal fires) terrestrial environments. It is considered to be one of the main Al-sulphates of Martian soils, demanding comprehensive crystal-chemical data of natural terrestrial samples. Structural studies of natural alunogen were carried out in the 1970s without localization of H atoms and have not been previously performed for samples from geothermal fields, despite the fact that these environments are considered to be proxies of the Martian conditions. The studied alunogen sample comes from Verkhne–Koshelevsky geothermal field (Koshelev volcano, Kamchatka, Russia). Its chemical formula is somewhat dehydrated, Al2(SO4)3·15.8H2O. The crystal structure was solved and refined to R1 = 0.068 based on 5112 unique observed reflections with I > 2σ(I). Alunogen crystalizes in the P-1 space group, a = 7.4194(3), b = 26.9763(9), c = 6.0549(2) Å, α = 90.043(3), β = 97.703(3), γ = 91.673(3) °, V = 1200.41(7) Å3, Z = 2. The crystal structure consists of isolated SO4 tetrahedra, Al(H2O)6 octahedra and H2O molecules connected by hydrogen bonds. The structure refinement includes Al, S and O positions that are similar to previous structure determinations and thirty-four H positions localized for the natural sample first. The study also shows the absence of isomorphic substitutions in the composition of alunogen despite the iron-enriched environment of mineral crystallization. The variability of the alunogen crystal structure is reflected in the number of the “zeolite” H2O molecules and their splitting. The structural complexity of alunogen and its modifications ranges from 333–346 bits/cell for models with non-localized H atoms to 783–828 bits/cell for models with localized H atoms. The higher values correspond to the higher hydration state of alunogen.

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“…The three-dimensional arrangement of such chains produces the framework, with two types of cavities occupied by A-site cations and Al(H 2 O) 6 octahedra [12,15] (Figure 1). Most of the voltaite-group minerals are cubic, Fd-3c, with the exception of pertlikite which is tetragonal, I4 1 /acd, as the result of symmetry lowering due to Fe-Mg ordering in one crystallographic site [3,4,12,[16][17][18]. For synthetic samples [12], cubic and tetragonal modifications were observed forming even sectorial metry lowering due to Fe-Mg ordering in one crystallographic site [3,4,12,[16][17][18].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Most of the voltaite-group minerals are cubic, Fd-3c, with the exception of pertlikite which is tetragonal, I4 1 /acd, as the result of symmetry lowering due to Fe-Mg ordering in one crystallographic site [3,4,12,[16][17][18]. For synthetic samples [12], cubic and tetragonal modifications were observed forming even sectorial metry lowering due to Fe-Mg ordering in one crystallographic site [3,4,12,[16][17][18]. For synthetic samples [12], cubic and tetragonal modifications were observed forming even sectorial crystals.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

The Crystal Chemistry of Voltaite-Group Minerals from Post-Volcanic and Anthropogenic Occurrences

Zhitova,

Sheveleva,

Kupchinenko

et al. 2023

Symmetry

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Five samples of voltaite-group minerals from post-volcanic occurrences (geothermal fields and solfatara at pyroclastic flow) and from pseudofumaroles born by coal fires are characterized by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and electron microprobe analysis. The studied minerals include ammoniomagnesiovoltaite, ammoniovoltaite, voltaite and magnesiovoltaite. The quadrilateral of chemical compositions is determined by monovalent cations such as (NH4)+ and K+ and divalent cations such as Fe2+ and Mg2+. Minor Al can occur in the Fe3+ site. Minor amounts of P, V can occur in the S site. Ammonium members are described from geothermal fields, expanding the mineral potential of this type of geological environment. All minerals are cubic, space group Fd-3c, a = 27.18–27.29 Å, V = 20079–20331 Å3, Z = 16. No clear evidence of symmetry lowering (suggested for synthetic voltaites) is observed despite the chemical variation in the studied samples. Ammonium species tend to have a larger a lattice parameter than potassium ones due to longer <A–O> distances (A = N or K). The systematically shorter <Me2+–ϕ>obs (Me2+ = Fe, Mg; ϕ = O, H2O) in comparison to <Me2+–ϕ>calc bond lengths can be explained as a consequence of mean bond length variation due to significant bond length distortion in Me2+ϕ6 octahedra Me2–O2—2.039–2.055 Å; Me2–O4—2.085–2.115 Å; and Me2–Ow5—2.046–2.061 Å, with bond length distortion estimated as from 0.008 to 0.014 for different samples.

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Sulfates from the Pyrite Ore Deposits of the Apuan Alps (Tuscany, Italy): A Review

Cited by 8 publications

References 45 publications

The in vitro cytotoxic effects of natural (fibrous epsomite crystals) and synthetic (Epsom salt) magnesium sulfate

The in vitro cytotoxic effects of natural (fibrous epsomite crystals) and synthetic (Epsom salt) magnesium sulfate

Atomic Arrangement, Hydrogen Bonding and Structural Complexity of Alunogen, Al2(SO4)3·17H2O, from Kamchatka Geothermal Field, Russia

The Crystal Chemistry of Voltaite-Group Minerals from Post-Volcanic and Anthropogenic Occurrences

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