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]
| Meisserite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Sulfate mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Na5(UO2)(SO4)3(SO3OH)(H2O) |
| IMA symbol | Mss[1] |
| Crystal system | Triclinic |
| Crystal class | Pinacoidal (1) (same H-M symbol) |
| Space group | P1 |
| Unit cell | a = 5.32, b = 11.51, c = 13.56 [Å], α = 102.96°, β = 97.41°, γ = 91.46° (approximated); Z = 2 |
| Identification | |
| 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] |
Association and origin
editMeisserite 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
editThe 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
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 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(SO3OH)(H2O), 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.