Very rare uranium mineral
Meisserite Category Sulfate mineral Formula (repeating unit) Na5 (UO2 )(SO4 )3 (SO3 OH)(H2 O) IMA symbol Mss[ 1] Crystal system Triclinic Crystal class Pinacoidal (1 ) (same H-M symbol ) Space group P 1 Unit cell a = 5.32, b = 11.51, Color Pale green to yellowish-green Crystal habit prismatic Cleavage {100} and {001}, fair Tenacity Very brittle Mohs scale hardness 2 Luster Vitreous Streak Very pale yellow Diaphaneity Translucent to transparent Density 3.21 (calculated) (approximated) Optical properties Biaxal (-) 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 References [ 2] [ 3] [ 4]
Meisserite is a very rare uranium mineral with the formula Na5 (UO2 )(SO4 )3 (SO3 OH)(H2 O).[ 2] [ 3] uranyl salt with hydrosulfate (hydroxysulfate ) anion, a feature shared with belakovskiite .[ 3] fermiite , oppenheimerite , natrozippeite and plášilite .[ 5] [ 6] [ 7] [ 8] uranyl sulfate minerals was originally found in the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA.[ 9] [ 4]
Association and origin
Meisserite is associated with other sulfate minerals: belakovskiite , johannite , chalcanthite , copiapite , ferrinatrite , and gypsum .[ 2] uraninite .[ 4]
Crystal structure
The crystal structure of meisserite is unique. The building elements include:[ 2]
pentagonal bipyramids of uranyl groups
SO4 groups These elements link to form chains. Sodium cations are bonded to oxygen atoms in chains, to hydrosulfate groups and water.
References
^ 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 . ^ a b c d Plášil, J., Kampf, A.R., Kasatkin, A.V., and Marty, J., Škoda, R., Silva, S., and Čejka, J., 2013. Meisserite, Na5 (UO2 )(SO4 )3 (SO3 OH)(H2 O), a new uranyl sulfate mineral from the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA. Mineralogical Magazine 77(7), 2975-2978
^ a b c "Belakovskiite: Belakovskiite mineral information and data" . Mindat.org . Retrieved 2016-03-10 .^ a b c "Meisserite - Handbook of Mineralogy" (PDF) . Handbookofmineralogy.org . Retrieved 2016-03-10 .^ "Fermiite: Fermiite mineral information and data" . Mindat.org . Retrieved 2016-03-10 .^ "Oppenheimerite: Oppenheimerite mineral information and data" . Mindat.org . Retrieved 2016-03-10 .^ "Natrozippeite: Natrozippeite mineral information and data" . Mindat.org . Retrieved 2016-03-10 .^ "Plášilite: Plášilite mineral information and data" . Mindat.org . Retrieved 2016-03-10 .^ "Blue Lizard Mine, Chocolate Drop, Red Canyon, White Canyon District, San Juan Co., Utah, USA - Mindat.org" . Mindat.org . Retrieved 2016-03-10 .
