Meisserite

Last updated
Meisserite
General
Category Sulfate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Na5(UO2)(SO4)3(SO3OH)(H2O)
IMA symbol Mss [1]
Crystal system Triclinic
Crystal class Pinacoidal (1)
(same H-M symbol)
Space group P1
Unit cell a = 5.32, b = 11.51,
c = 13.56 [Å], α = 102.96°,
β = 97.41°, γ = 91.46° (approximated); Z = 2
Identification
ColorPale green to yellowish-green
Crystal habit prismatic
Cleavage {100} and {001}, fair
Tenacity Very brittle
Mohs scale hardness2
Luster Vitreous
Streak Very pale yellow
Diaphaneity Translucent to transparent
Density 3.21 (calculated) (approximated)
Optical propertiesBiaxal (-)
Refractive index nα=1.51, nβ=1.55, nγ=1.56 (approximated)
Pleochroism Colorless (X), pale yellow (Y), pale greenish-yellow (Z)
2V angle 60o
Dispersion Weak
Other characteristics Radioactive.svg Radioactive
References [2] [3] [4]

Meisserite is a very rare uranium mineral with the formula Na5(UO2)(SO4)3(SO3OH)(H2O). [2] [3] It is interesting in being a natural uranyl salt with hydrosulfate (hydroxysulfate) anion, a feature shared with belakovskiite. [3] Other chemically related minerals include fermiite, oppenheimerite, natrozippeite and plášilite. [5] [6] [7] [8] Most of these uranyl sulfate minerals was originally found in the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA. [9] The mineral is named after Swiss mineralogist Nicolas Meisser. [4]

Contents

Association and origin

Meisserite is associated with other sulfate minerals: belakovskiite, johannite, chalcanthite, copiapite, ferrinatrite, and gypsum. [2] It is resulting from post-mining oxidation of the primary uranium mineral - uraninite. [4]

Crystal structure

The crystal structure of meisserite is unique. The building elements include: [2]

These elements link to form chains. Sodium cations are bonded to oxygen atoms in chains, to hydrosulfate groups and water.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alunite</span> Aluminium potassium sulfate mineral

Alunite is a hydroxylated aluminium potassium sulfate mineral, formula KAl3(SO4)2(OH)6. It was first observed in the 15th century at Tolfa, near Rome, where it was mined for the manufacture of alum. First called aluminilite by J.C. Delamétherie in 1797, this name was contracted by François Beudant three decades later to alunite.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Uranopilite</span>

Uranopilite is a minor ore of uranium with the chemistry (UO2)6SO4(OH)6O2·14H2O or, hydrated uranyl sulfate hydroxide.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Andersonite</span> Uranyl carbonate mineral

Andersonite, Na2Ca(UO2)(CO3)3·6H2O, or hydrated sodium calcium uranyl carbonate is a rare uranium carbonate mineral that was first described in 1948. Named after Charles Alfred Anderson (1902–1990) of the United States Geological Survey, who first described the mineral species, it is found in sandstone-hosted uranium deposits. It has a high vitreous to pearly luster and is fluorescent. Andersonite specimens will usually glow a bright lemon yellow (or green with blue hints depending on the deposit) in ultraviolet light. It is commonly found as translucent small rhombohedral crystals that have angles close to 90 degrees although its crystal system is nominally trigonal. Its Mohs hardness is 2.5, with an average specific gravity of 2.8.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Schröckingerite</span> Radioactive yellow uranium-containing carbonate mineral

Schröckingerite is a radioactive yellow uranium-containing carbonate mineral, hydrated sodium calcium uranyl sulfate carbonate fluoride. Schröckingerite crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, occurring as globular clusters, and fluoresces yellow-green under ultraviolet light.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Coconinoite</span>

Coconinoite is a uranium ore that was discovered in Coconino County, Arizona. It is a phosphate mineral; or uranyl phosphate mineral along with other subclass uranium U6+ minerals like blatonite, boltwoodite, metazeunerite and rutherfordine.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Bergenite</span>

Bergenite is a rare uranyl phosphate of the more specific phosphuranylite group. The phosphuranylite-type sheet in bergenite is a new isomer of the group, with the uranyl phosphate tetrahedra varying in an up-up-down, same-same-opposite (uuduudSSOSSO) orientation. All bergenite samples have been found in old mine dump sites. Uranyl minerals are a large constituent of uranium deposits.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boltwoodite</span> Hydrated potassium uranyl silicate mineral

Boltwoodite is a hydrated potassium uranyl silicate mineral with formula HK(UO2)(SiO4)·1.5(H2O). It is formed from the oxidation and alteration of primary uranium ores. It takes the form of a crust on some sandstones that bear uranium. These crusts tend to be yellowish with a silky or vitreous luster.

Bijvoetite-(Y) is a very rare rare-earth and uranium mineral with the formula (Y,REE)8(UO2)16(CO3)16O8(OH)8·39H2O. When compared to the original description, the formula of bijvoetite-(Y) was changed in the course of crystal structure redefinition. Bijvoetite-(Y) is an example of natural salts containing both uranium and yttrium, the other examples being kamotoite-(Y) and sejkoraite-(Y). Bijvoetite-(Y) comes from Shinkolobwe deposit in Republic of Congo, which is famous for rare uranium minerals. The other interesting rare-earth-bearing uranium mineral, associated with bijvoetite-(Y), is lepersonnite-(Gd).

Fermiite is a rare uranium mineral with the formula Na4(UO2)(SO4)3·3H2O. Chemically related minerals include oppenheimerite, meisserite (which is also structurally-related to fermiite), belakovskiite, natrozippeite and plášilite. Fermiite comes from the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA, which is known for many rare uranium minerals. The name honors Enrico Fermi (1901–1954).

Belakovskiite is a very rare uranium mineral with the formula Na7(UO2)(SO4)4(SO3OH)(H2O)3. It is interesting in being a natural uranyl salt with hydrosulfate anion, a feature shared with meisserite. Other chemically related minerals include fermiite, oppenheimerite, natrozippeite and plášilite. Most of these uranyl sulfate minerals was originally found in the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, US. The mineral is named after Russian mineralogist Dmitry Ilych Belakovskiy.

Oppenheimerite is a very rare uranium mineral with the formula Na2(UO2)(SO4)2•3H2O. Chemically related minerals include fermiite, natrozippeite, plášilite, belakovskiite and meisserite. Most of these uranyl sulfate minerals were originally found in the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, US. The mineral is named after American Theoretical physicist J. Robert Oppenheimer.

Plášilite is a very rare uranium mineral with the formula Na2(UO2)(SO4)2•3H2O. Chemically related minerals include natrozippeite, belakovskiite, meisserite, fermiite and oppenheimerite. Most of these uranyl sulfate minerals were originally found in the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, US. The mineral is named after Czech crystallographer Jakub Plášil.

Manganoblödite is a rare manganese mineral with the formula Na2Mn(SO4)2·4H2O. Somewhat chemically similar mineral is D'Ansite-(Mn). Manganoblödite was found in the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, US, which is known for several relatively new secondary uranium minerals In the mine, manganoblödite occurs intimately intergrown with manganese-, cobalt- and nickel-enriched blödite and a yet another new mineral - cobaltoblödite. Manganoblödite, as suggested by its name is a manganese-analogue of blödite. It is also analogous to changoite, cobaltoblödite and nickelblödite - all three are members of the blödite group.

Cobaltoblödite is a rare cobalt mineral with the formula Na2Co(SO4)2·4H2O. Cobaltoblödite was found in the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA, which is known for secondary uranium minerals. Cobaltoblödite occurs intimately intergrown with manganese-, cobalt- and nickel-enriched blödite and a yet another new mineral - manganoblödite. Cobaltoblödite, as suggested by its name is a cobalt-analogue of blödite. It is also analogous to changoite, manganoblödite and nickelblödite - other members of the blödite group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Shumwayite</span>

Shumwayite is a rare but relatively simple uranyl sulfate mineral with the formula (UO2)2(SO4)2•5H2O. It was discovered in the Green Lizard and Giveaway-Simplot mines of the White Canyon mining district, San Juan County, Utah, US.

Plavnoite is a rare complex uranium sulfate mineral with the formula K0.8Mn0.6[(UO2)2O2(SO4)]•3.5H2O. Typically for the secondary uranium mineral, plavnoite contains uranyl groups. It was discovered in the Plavno mine in Jáchymov, Czech Republic. The Jáchymov site is known as a type locality for many rare and unique minerals.

Markeyite, a uranyl carbonate mineral discovered in the Markey Mine in Utah, USA. A group led by Anthony R. Kampf, a mineralogist at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, USA discovered its structure.

Leószilárdite is a mineral discovered by Travis Olds of the University of Notre Dame and colleagues in the Markey Mine in Utah, USA. They named the mineral in honor of Leó Szilárd, Hungarian-born physicist and inventor. Leószilárdite is the first naturally occurring sodium- and magnesium-containing uranyl carbonate. It is rare and water-soluble, and was discovered on a seam of carbon-rich material deposited by an ancient stream. Groundwater reacted with the uraninite ore to create leószilárdite and other minerals.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sengierite</span>

Sengierite is a rare oxide and hydroxide mineral, chemically a copper and uranyl vanadate, belonging to the carnotite group. Its chemical formula is Cu2(OH)2[UO2|VO4]2·6H2O.

Meyrowitzite, Ca(UO2)(CO3)2·5H2O, is a carbonate mineral verified in May of 2018 by the Commission of New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification of the International Mineralogical Association. It is an extremely rare mineral, discovered in the Markey mine Utah, U.S.A. The mineral is a transparent yellow and has blades up to approximately 0.2 mm in length. It is soluble in water or aqueous solutions. Meyrowitzite is named in honor of Robert Meyrowitz (1916-2013), an American analytical chemist. After serving in WW II, he joined the United States Geological Survey (USGS). He was known for developing innovative new methods for analyzing small and difficult to study mineralogical samples along with his formulation of the high-index immersion liquids.

References

  1. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi: 10.1180/mgm.2021.43 . S2CID   235729616.
  2. 1 2 3 4 Plášil, J., Kampf, A.R., Kasatkin, A.V., and Marty, J., Škoda, R., Silva, S., and Čejka, J., 2013. Meisserite, Na5(UO2)(SO4)3(SO3OH)(H2O), a new uranyl sulfate mineral from the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA. Mineralogical Magazine 77(7), 2975-2978
  3. 1 2 3 "Belakovskiite: Belakovskiite mineral information and data". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  4. 1 2 3 "Meisserite - Handbook of Mineralogy" (PDF). Handbookofmineralogy.org. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  5. "Fermiite: Fermiite mineral information and data". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  6. "Oppenheimerite: Oppenheimerite mineral information and data". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  7. "Natrozippeite: Natrozippeite mineral information and data". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  8. "Plášilite: Plášilite mineral information and data". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  9. "Blue Lizard Mine, Chocolate Drop, Red Canyon, White Canyon District, San Juan Co., Utah, USA - Mindat.org". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-10.