Spin-Frustrated Pyrochlore Chains in the Volcanic Mineral Kamchatkite (KCu3OCl(SO4)2)

TL;DR

This study identifies and characterizes a new frustrated antiferromagnetic mineral, kamchatkite, revealing complex magnetic interactions and electric polarization due to its pyrochlore-like copper tetrahedral chains.

Contribution

It introduces kamchatkite as a new frustrated magnetic system with detailed analysis of its magnetic couplings and structural features, highlighting its unique combination of frustration and polarization.

Findings

Kamchatkite contains AFM spin-frustrated chains of pyrochlore type.

Strong competing AFM couplings within and between chains.

Presence of electric polarization linked to magnetic frustration.

Abstract

Search of new frustrated magnetic systems is of a significant importance for physics studying the condensed matter. The platform for geometric frustration of magnetic systems can be provided by copper oxocentric tetrahedra (OCu4) forming the base of crystalline structures of copper minerals from Tolbachik volcanos in Kamchatka. The present work was devoted to a new frustrated antiferromagnetic - kamchatkite (KCu3OCl(SO4)2). The calculation of the sign and strength of magnetic couplings in KCu3OCl(SO4)2 has been performed on the basis of structural data by the phenomenological crystal chemistry method with taking into account corrections on the Jahn-Teller orbital degeneracy of Cu2. It has been established that kamchatkite (KCu3OCl(SO4)2) contains AFM spin-frustrated chains of the pyrochlore type composed of cone-sharing Cu4 tetrahedra. Strong AFM intrachain and interchain couplings compete with each other. Frustration of magnetic couplings in tetrahedral chains is combined with the presence of electric polarization.