Meisserite

Meisserite is a very rare uranium mineral with the formula Na5(UO2)(SO4)3(SO3OH)(H2O).[1][2] It is interesting in being a natural uranyl salt with hydrosulfate (hydroxysulfate) anion, a feature shared with belakovskiite.[4] 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.[3]

Meisserite
General
CategorySulfate mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)		Na5(UO2)(SO4)3(SO3OH)(H2O)
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[1][2][3]

Association and origin

Meisserite is associated with other sulfate minerals: belakovskiite, johannite, chalcanthite, copiapite, ferrinatrite, and gypsum.[1]It is resulting from post-mining oxidation of the primary uranium mineral - uraninite.[3]

Crystal structure

The crystal structure of meisserite is unique. The building elements include:[1]

  • 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. 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
  2. "Belakovskiite: Belakovskiite mineral information and data". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  3. "Meisserite - Handbook of Mineralogy" (PDF). Handbookofmineralogy.org. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
  4. "Belakovskiite: Belakovskiite mineral information and data". Mindat.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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