Leószilárdite is a mineral discovered by Travis Olds of the University of Notre Dame and colleagues in the Markey Mine in Utah, USA.[3] 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.[4]

Leószilárdite
General
CategoryCarbonate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
Na6Mg(UO2)2(CO3)6·6H2O
IMA symbolLsz[1]
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal class2/m - Prismatic
Identification
ColorPale yellow or tan
References[2]

Localities

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USA: Markey Mine, Red Canyon, White Canyon District, San Juan County, Utah[2]

References

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  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. ^ a b "Leószilárdite: Leószilárdite mineral information and data". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
  3. ^ Travis, Olds; et al. (June 2016). "Leoszilardite, IMA 2015-128". Mineralogical Magazine. 80: 694.
  4. ^ "New Mineral Listing | Carbon Mineral Challenge". mineralchallenge.net. Archived from the original on 2017-09-05. Retrieved 2017-09-04.