Meisserite
General
CategorySulfate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)		Na5(UO2)(SO4)3(SO3OH)(H2O)
IMA symbolMss[1]
Crystal systemTriclinic
Crystal classPinacoidal (1)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupP1
Unit cella = 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 habitprismatic
Cleavage{100} and {001}, fair
TenacityVery brittle
Mohs scale hardness2
LusterVitreous
StreakVery pale yellow
DiaphaneityTranslucent to transparent
Density3.21 (calculated) (approximated)
Optical propertiesBiaxal (-)
Refractive indexnα=1.51, nβ=1.55, nγ=1.56 (approximated)
PleochroismColorless (X), pale yellow (Y), pale greenish-yellow (Z)
2V angle60o
DispersionWeak
Other characteristics 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]

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]

  • 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

  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.


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