The crystal structure of zharchikhite, AlF(OH)₂, from the Zharchikhinskoe deposit (Buryatia, Russia) is solved here using single-crystal X-ray diffraction. The mineral is monoclinic, space group P2₁/c, a = 5.1788 (4), b = 7.8386 (4), c = 5.1624 (4) Å, β = 116.276 (10)°, V = 187.91 (3) ų and Z = 4. Zharchikhite demonstrates a novel structure type roughly related to the α-PbO₂ structure type and different from other compounds of the Al–F–OH system. The crystal structure of zharchikhite is based on the octahedral pseudoframework built from zigzag chains of edge-sharing AlF₂(OH)₄ octahedra; adjacent chains are linked via F vertices and the pseudoframework contains wide channels.

Will update mineral page.