Meitnerite (IMA2017-065), (NH4)(UO2)(SO4)(OH)·2H2O, is a new mineral from the Green Lizard mine in Red Canyon, San Juan County, Utah, USA, where it occurs as a secondary alteration phase. It occurs on partially recrystallized quartz grains in association with beshtauite and gypsum. Meitnerite occurs as intergrowths of tabular crystals, flattened on {0 1 }, up to about 80 µm in diameter and 30 µm thick. The mineral is slightly greenish yellow and transparent with a vitreous lustre and very pale yellow streak. It exhibits greenish-white fluorescence in 405 nm light. Crystals are brittle with irregular fracture, and a perfect cleavage on {0 1 }. The Mohs' hardness is ca. 2. The calculated density is 3.320 g·cm−3. At room temperature, the mineral is slowly soluble in H2O and very rapidly soluble in dilute HCl. Optically, meitnerite is biaxial (–), with α = 1.568(2), β = 1.589(2), γ = 1.607(2) (white light); 2V = 84(1)°. The dispersion is r > v, moderate, The optical orientation is X ∧ b = 26°, Y ∧ a = 15°, Z ∧ c = 53°. The pleochroism is X nearly colourless, Z pale green yellow, Y light green yellow; X < Z < Y. Electron-microprobe analyses gave the empirical formula (NH4)1.01Na0.07(U0.97O2)(S1.03O4)[(OH)0.93O0.07]·2H2O, based on 9 O apfu. Meitnerite is triclinic, P, a = 6.7964(2), b = 8.0738(3), c = 9.2997(7) Å, α = 113.284(8), β = 99.065(7), γ = 105.289(7)°, V = 431.96(5) Å3 and Z = 2. The crystal structure, refined to R1 = 0.013 for 1871 observed reflections [I > 2σI], contains uranyl sulfate sheets based on the phosphuranylite anion topology. The interlayer region contains an NH4+ group and two H2O groups.
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Research Article|
September 01, 2018
Meitnerite, (NH4)(UO2)(SO4)(OH)·2H2O, a new uranyl-sulfate mineral with a sheet structure
Anthony R. Kampf
;
1
Mineral Sciences Department, Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County
, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA90007, USA
Corresponding author, e-mail: akampf@nhm.org
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Jakub Plášil
;
Jakub Plášil
2
Institute of Physics ASCR, v.v.i.
, Na Slovance 1999/2, 18221Prague 8, Czech Republic
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Barbara P. Nash
;
Barbara P. Nash
3
Department of Geology and Geophysics, University of Utah
, Salt Lake City, Utah84112, USA
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Joe Marty
Joe Marty
4
5199 East Silver Oak Road, Salt Lake City, UT84108,
USA
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European Journal of Mineralogy (2018) 30 (5): 999–1006.
Article history
received:
05 Jan 2018
rev-recd:
02 Feb 2018
accepted:
02 Feb 2018
first online:
05 Nov 2018
Citation
Anthony R. Kampf, Jakub Plášil, Barbara P. Nash, Joe Marty; Meitnerite, (NH4)(UO2)(SO4)(OH)·2H2O, a new uranyl-sulfate mineral with a sheet structure. European Journal of Mineralogy 2018;; 30 (5): 999–1006. doi: https://doi.org/10.1127/ejm/2018/0030-2760
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Index Terms/Descriptors
- alteration
- ammonium ion
- brittle materials
- cell dimensions
- chemical composition
- crystal structure
- crystal systems
- electron probe data
- formula
- hydrates
- intergrowths
- mineral cleavage
- mineral interlayer
- new minerals
- optical properties
- physical properties
- pleochroism
- Raman spectra
- refinement
- San Juan County Utah
- secondary minerals
- spectra
- sulfates
- topology
- triclinic system
- United States
- uranyl ion
- Utah
- Red Canyon
- Green Lizard Mine
- meitnerite
Latitude & Longitude