Nevadaite

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Nevadaite
Nevadaite-103192.jpg
Nevadaite - radial habit. Attribution: Leon Hupperichs
General
Category Phosphate minerals
Formula see text
IMA symbol Nev [1]
Strunz classification 8.DC.60
Crystal system Orthorhombic
Crystal class Disphenoidal (222)
H-M symbol: (222)
Space group P21mn
Unit cell a = 12.123 Å
b = 18.999 Å
c = 4.961 Å; Z = 1
Identification
ColorPale Green, turquoise
Crystal habit Acicular, crystalline, radial
Cleavage None
Fracture Conchoidal
Mohs scale hardness3
Luster Vitreous
Streak pale blue
Diaphaneity Translucent
Specific gravity 2.54
Optical propertiesBiaxial (-)
References [2]

Nevadaite is a rare phosphate mineral with a chemical formula [3] of

Contents

Cu2Zn0.02V3+0.98Al1.15Al8P7.9O32F8.37(OH)1.63(H2O)21.65

Characteristics

Nevadaite is a pale-green to turquoise colored mineral belonging to the phosphate group. It exhibits a radial crystal habit consisting of prismatic crystals covering areas up to 2 cm. It has a pale-blue streak, a vitreous luster, and is not fluorescent. Nevadaite is in the orthorhombic crystal system and displays conchoidal fracture. [2]

Location

Sedimentary-rock hosted gold deposits in Nevada.gif
Hazy aerial view of Gold Quarry mine Gold Quarry mine aerial.jpg
Hazy aerial view of Gold Quarry mine

Nevadaite was first discovered in the Gold Quarry mine near the town of Carlin, Eureka County, Nevada. [4] The unique conditions and amounts of phosphate, vanadate, arsenate, and uranate in this area led to the formation of two new minerals; one being nevadaite and the other being goldquarryite. The Gold Quarry mine has been operated by The Newmont Mining Corporation since 1985 for the extraction of Carlin-type gold deposits. [3]

Nevadaite was discovered in February 1992 by Martin C. Jensen and was approved by the International Mineralogical Association in 2002. [3] It is also found in a copper mine in Kyrgyzstan.

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 "Nevadaite Mineral Data". webmineral.com. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
  3. 1 2 3 "Nevadaite". Canadian Mineralogist. 42: 741–752. 2004.
  4. ↑ "Nevadaite: Nevadaite mineral information and data". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
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