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 | |
| Category | Carbonate mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Na6Mg(UO2)2(CO3)6·6H2O |
| IMA symbol | Lsz[1] |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Crystal class | 2/m - Prismatic |
| Identification | |
| Color | Pale yellow or tan |
| References | [2] |
Localities
editUSA: Markey Mine, Red Canyon, White Canyon District, San Juan County, Utah[2]
References
edit- ^ 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 "Leószilárdite: Leószilárdite mineral information and data". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
- ^ Travis, Olds; et al. (June 2016). "Leoszilardite, IMA 2015-128". Mineralogical Magazine. 80: 694.
- ^ "New Mineral Listing | Carbon Mineral Challenge". mineralchallenge.net. Archived from the original on 2017-09-05. Retrieved 2017-09-04.