ABSTRACT Mineral species that contain the decavanadate isopolyanion [V10O28]6–, including its protonated and mixed-valence variants, constitute the pascoite family of minerals. Within the pascoite family, the isostructural minerals pascoite and magnesiopascoite form the pascoite group and the isostructural minerals lasalite and ammoniolasalite form the lasalite group. Rakovanite, which was originally assigned the ideal formula Na3[H3V10O28]·15H2O, is redefined with the ideal formula (NH4)3Na3[V10O28]·12H2O.
Abstract The new mineral uranoclite (IMA2020-074), (UO 2 ) 2 (OH) 2 Cl 2 (H 2 O) 4 , was found in the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA, where it occurs as tightly intergrown aggregates of irregular yellow crystals in a secondary assemblage with gypsum. The streak is very pale yellow and the fluorescence is bright green–white under 405 nm ultraviolet light. Crystals are translucent with vitreous lustre. The tenacity is brittle, the Mohs hardness is ~1½, the fracture is irregular. The mineral is soluble in H 2 O and has a calculated density of 4.038 g⋅cm –3 . Electron microprobe analyses provided (UO 2 ) 2 (OH) 2.19 Cl 1.81 (H 2 O) 4 . The six strongest powder X-ray diffraction lines are [ d obs Å( I )( hkl )]: 8.85(38)(002), 5.340(100)(200, 110), 5.051(63)( $\bar{2}$ 02), 4.421(83)(112, 004, 202), 3.781(38)( $\bar{2}$ 12) and 3.586(57)(014, $\bar{2}$ 04). Uranoclite is monoclinic, P 2 1 / n , a = 10.763(8), b = 6.156(8), c = 17.798(8) Å, β = 95.656(15)°, V = 1173.5(18) Å 3 and Z = 4. The structure is the same as that of synthetic (UO 2 ) 2 (OH) 2 Cl 2 (H 2 O) 4 in which the structural unit is a dimer consisting of two pentagonal bipyramids that share an equatorial OH–OH edge. The dimers are linked to one another only by hydrogen bonding. This is the second known uranyl mineral containing essential Cl and the first in which Cl coordinates to U 6+ .
ABSTRACT Redcanyonite (IMA2016-082), (NH 4 ) 2 Mn[(UO 2 ) 4 O 4 (SO 4 ) 2 ](H 2 O) 4 , occurs underground in the Blue Lizard mine, Red Canyon, White Canyon district, San Juan County, Utah, USA. It occurs with natrozippeite, brochantite, devilline, posnjakite, johannite, gypsum, bobcookite, pickeringite, pentahydrite and the NH 4 -analogue of zippeite: ammoniozippeite. Redcanyonite occurs as radial aggregates of red–orange needles and blades individually reaching up to 0.2 mm long, with aggregates measuring up to 1 mm in diameter. Crystals are flattened on {010} and elongated along [100], exhibit perfect cleavage on {010}, and exhibit the forms {010}, {001}, {101} and {10 $\bar{1}$ }. Twinning is ubiquitous, by 180° rotation on [100]. Redcanyonite is translucent with a pale orange streak, is non-fluorescent, has a Mohs hardness of 2, and has brittle tenacity with uneven fracture. Optically, redcanyonite is biaxial (+), α = 1.725(3), β = 1.755(3), γ = 1.850(5) (white light); 2V (meas.) = 60(2)°, 2V (calc.) = 61.3°; and dispersion is r < v , very strong. Pleochroism is: X = orange, Y = yellow and Z = orange; Y << X < Z . The optical orientation is X = b , Y ≈ c *, Z ≈ a . The empirical formula is (NH 4 ) 2.02 (Mn 0.49 Cu 0.09 Zn 0.06 ) Σ0.64 H + 0.72 [(UO 2 ) 4 O 4 (S 0.99 P 0.01 O 4 ) 2 ](H 2 O) 4 , based on 4 U and 24 O apfu. Redcanyonite is monoclinic, C 2 /m , a = 8.6572(17), b = 14.155(3), c = 8.8430(19) Å, β = 104.117(18)°, V = 1050.9(4) Å 3 and Z = 2. The structure was refined to R 1 = 0.0382 for 1079 reflections with I obs > 3σ I . Uranyl oxo-sulfate sheets in redcanyonite adopt the well-known zippeite topology, which consists of zigzag chains of uranyl pentagonal bipyramids linked by sulfate tetrahedra to form sheets. The sheets are linked to each other through bonds to interlayer NH 4 + groups and octahedrally coordinated Mn 2+ , and by hydrogen bonds from H 2 O groups. Redcanyonite is named for Red Canyon in southeast Utah, USA.
Abstract The new mineral lussierite (IMA2018-101), Na 10 [(UO 2 )(SO 4 ) 4 ](SO 4 ) 2 (H 2 O) 3 , was found in the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA, where it occurs as pale green–yellow prisms or blades in a secondary assemblage with belakovskiite, ferrinatrite, halite, ivsite, metavoltine and thénardite. The streak is white and the fluorescence is bright cyan under 365 nm ultraviolet light. Crystals are transparent with vitreous lustre. The tenacity is brittle, the Mohs hardness is 2½, the fracture is irregular and no cleavage was observed. The mineral is easily soluble in H 2 O and has a measured density of 2.87(2) g cm –3 . Lussierite is optically biaxial (+), with α = 1.493(1), β = 1.505(1) and γ = 1.518(1) (white light); 2V meas. = 88(1)°; dispersion is r > v , moderate; pleochroism: X = colourless, Y and Z = green yellow ( X < Y ≈ Z ); optical orientation: X = b , Z ∧ a = 44° in obtuse β. Electron microprobe analyses (wavelength-dispersive spectroscopy mode) provided Na 10 (U 0.99 O 2 )(S 1.00 O 4 ) 6 ·3H 2 O (+0.06 H for charge balance). The five strongest X-ray powder diffraction lines are [ d obs Å( I )( hkl )]: 6.69(95)( $\bar{1}$ 11,130), 4.814(100)(150,002,060), 3.461(83)(171, $\bar{2}$ 02), 2.955(81)(113,330) and 2.882(74)( $\bar{1}$ 91,311,191,0·10·0). Lussierite is monoclinic, Cc , a = 9.3134(4), b = 28.7501(11), c = 9.6346(7) Å, β = 93.442(7)°, V = 2575.1(2) Å 3 and Z = 4. The structure ( R 1 = 0.0298 for 5202 I > 2σ I ) contains a [(UO 2 )(SO 4 ) 4 ] 6– uranyl sulfate cluster in which one SO 4 tetrahedron shares an edge (bidentate linkage) with the UO 7 pentagonal bipyramid. The uranyl sulfate clusters occur in layers and are linked through a complex network of bonds involving Na + cations, isolated SO 4 tetrahedra and isolated H 2 O groups.
Abstract This issue of New Mineral Names provides a summary of the newly described minerals from May to August 2024, including karlseifertite, vegrandisite, touretite, auropolybasite, cuprozheshengite, calcioveatchite, and jianmuite.
Abstract Nitscheite (IMA2020-078), (NH4)2[(UO2)2(SO4)3(H2O)2]·3H2O, is a new mineral species from the Green Lizard mine, Red Canyon, San Juan County, Utah, U.S.A. It is a secondary phase found in association with chinleite-(Y), gypsum, pyrite, and Co-rich rietveldite. Nitscheite occurs in subparallel and divergent intergrowths of yellow prisms, up to about 0.3 mm in length. Crystals are elongated on [101] and exhibit the forms {100}, {010}, {001}, and {111}. The mineral is transparent with vitreous luster and very pale-yellow streak. It exhibits bright green fluorescence under a 405 nm laser. The Mohs hardness is ~2. The mineral has brittle tenacity, curved fracture, and one good cleavage on {010}. The measured density is 3.30(2) g·cm−3. The mineral is easily soluble in H2O at room temperature. The mineral is optically biaxial (–), α = 1.560(2), β = 1.582(2), γ = 1.583(2) (white light); 2Vmeas = 17(1)°; no dispersion; orientation X = b, Z ≈ [101]; pleochroism X colorless, Y and Z yellow; X < Y ≈ Z. Electron microprobe analysis provided the empirical formula (NH4)1.99U2.00S3.00O21H10.01. Nitscheite is monoclinic, P21/n, a = 17.3982(4), b = 12.8552(3), c = 17.4054(12) Å, β = 96.649(7)°, V = 3866.7(3) Å3, and Z = 8. The structure (R1 = 0.0329 for 4547 I > 3σI reflections) contains [(UO2)2(SO4)3(H2O)2]2− uranyl-sulfate sheets, which are unique among minerals, with NH4 and H2O groups between the sheets.
Abstract The new mineral pseudomeisserite-(NH 4 ) (IMA2018-166), (NH 4 ,K) 2 Na 4 [(UO 2 ) 2 (SO 4 ) 5 ]⋅4H 2 O, was found in the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA, where it occurs as light yellow prisms in a secondary assemblage with belakovskiite, blödite, changoite, ferrinatrite, gypsum, ivsite, metavoltine and tamarugite. The streak is very pale yellow and the fluorescence is bright lime green under 405 nm ultraviolet light. Crystals are transparent with vitreous lustre. The tenacity is brittle, the Mohs hardness is 2½, the fracture is curved or conchoidal and there is one perfect cleavage on {100}. The mineral is easily soluble in H 2 O and has a measured density of 3.22(2) g⋅cm –3 . Pseudomeisserite-(NH 4 ) is optically biaxial (–) with α = 1.536(2), β = 1.559(2) and γ = 1.565(2) (white light); 2V meas. = 53(1)°; dispersion is r > v, distinct; pleochroism: X colourless, Y light yellow and Z pale yellow ( X < Z < Y ); optical orientation: Z = b , Y ∧ c = 33° in obtuse β). Electron microprobe analyses (WDS mode) provided (NH 4 ) 1.49 K 0.60 Na 3.87 U 2.00 S 5.04 O 28 H 7.78 . The five strongest X-ray powder diffraction lines are [ d obs , Å( I )( hkl )]: 12.69(76)(100), 6.83(84)(012,102), 6.01(100)( $\bar{2}$ 02), 3.959(67)( $\bar{2}$ 21, $\bar{2}$ 14, $\bar{1}$ 23) and 3.135(76)( $\bar{2}$ 06,223, $\bar{1}$ 16). Pseudomeisserite-(NH 4 ) is monoclinic, P 2 1 / c , a = 13.1010(3), b = 10.0948(2), c = 19.4945(14) Å, β = 104.285(7)°, V = 2498.5(2) Å 3 and Z = 4. The structural unit in the structure ( R 1 = 0.0254 for 3837 I > 2σ I reflections) is a novel [(UO 2 ) 2 (SO 4 ) 5 ] 6– uranyl-sulfate band.
Navrotskyite (IMA 2019-026), K 2 Na 10 (UO 2 ) 3 (SO 4 ) 9 •2H 2 O, is a new potassium-sodium-uranyl-sulfate mineral from the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA.The new mineral occurs on sandstone and asphaltite matrix in close association with belakovskiite, blödite, bobcookite, changoite, fermiite, ferrinatrite, ilsemannite, ivsite, meisserite, pseudomeisserite-(NH 4 ), seaborgite and tamarugite.Navrotskyite is orthorhombic, space group Pbcm (#57), with unit cell parameters a = 5.4456(13), b = 21.328(5),c = 33.439(8)Å, V = 3883.8(2)Å 3 and Z = 4. Crystals are acicular tapered needles up to about 1 mm in length, typically occurring as radial sprays and tightly intergrown aggregates resembling fibre-optic bundles.Crystals are elongated on [100] and exhibit only the {012} prism form, resulting in diamond-shaped cross-sections.The terminations are generally not well-formed, but broken crystals are truncated by good {100} cleavage.No twinning was observed.Navrotskyite is pale greenish yellow in color, has a white or very pale-yellow streak and fluoresces neon yellow green under both long-and short-wave UV.It is transparent with vitreous to silky luster.The mineral exhibits a splintery, uneven fracture and has a Mohs hardness of about 2. The calculated density based on the empirical formula is 3.46 g/cm 3 .The mineral is optically biaxial (-), with α = 1.520(2), β = 1.557(2) and γ = 1.565(2) (white light).The measured 2V is 48.2(5)° and the calculated 2V is 48.9°.Dispersion is imperceptible and no pleochroism was observed.The optical orientation is X = a, Y = c, Z = b.The empirical formula is K 2.06 Na 9.98 U 3.02 S 8.98 O 44 H 3.97 based on 44 O apfu.The eight strongest powder X-ray diffraction lines are [d obs Å(I)(hkl)]: 5.28(100)(110), 3.050(44)(049, 119), 10.70(43)(020), 3.845(36)(046,134,116), 3.225(30)(153), 3.533(29)(060,061,136), 2.822(29)(139) and 5.59(27) (006).The crystal structure of navrotskyite (R 1 = 0.0289 for 4032 reflections with I > 2σI) contains infinite [(UO 2 ) (SO 4 ) 3 ] 4-chains that extend along [100] and that link to neighbouring chains via a complex network of K-O and Na-O bonds.Related topologies based on the same UL 3 -type chain are also observed in the minerals fermiite, meisserite and pseudomeisserite-(NH 4 ), all of which occur in the same general assemblage as navrotskyite.
Paddlewheelite, MgCa5Cu2[(UO2)(CO3)3]4·33H2O, is a new uranyl carbonate mineral found underground in the Svornost mine, Jáchymov District, Bohemia, Czech Republic, where it occurs as a secondary oxidation product of uraninite. The conditions leading to its crystallization are complex, likely requiring concomitant dissolution of uraninite, calcite, dolomite, chalcopyrite, and andersonite. Paddlewheelite is named after its distinctive structure, which consists of paddle-wheel clusters of uranyl tricarbonate units bound by square pyramidal copper “axles” and a cubic calcium cation “gearbox.” Paddle wheels share edges with calcium polyhedra to form open sheets that are held together solely by hydrogen bonding interactions. The new mineral is monoclinic, Pc, a = 22.052(4), b = 17.118(3), c = 19.354(3) Å, β = 90.474(2)°, V = 7306(2) Å3 and Z = 4. Paddlewheelite is the second-most structurally complex uranyl carbonate mineral known after ewingite and its structure may provide insights into the insufficiently described mineral voglite, as well as Cu–U–CO3 equilibrium in general.
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