Pseudomeisserite-(NH₄), a new mineral with a novel uranyl-sulfate linkage from the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA

Abstract

The new mineral pseudomeisserite-(NH4) (IMA2018-166), (NH4,K)2Na4[(UO2)2(SO4)5]⋅4H2O, was found in the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA, where it occurs as light yellow prisms in a secondary assemblage with belakovskiite, blödite, changoite, ferrinatrite, gypsum, ivsite, metavoltine and tamarugite. The streak is very pale yellow and the fluorescence is bright lime green under 405 nm ultraviolet light. Crystals are transparent with vitreous lustre. The tenacity is brittle, the Mohs hardness is 2½, the fracture is curved or conchoidal and there is one perfect cleavage on {100}. The mineral is easily soluble in H2O and has a measured density of 3.22(2) g⋅cm–3. Pseudomeisserite-(NH4) is optically biaxial (–) with α = 1.536(2), β = 1.559(2) and γ = 1.565(2) (white light); 2Vmeas. = 53(1)°; dispersion is r > v, distinct; pleochroism: X colourless, Y light yellow and Z pale yellow (X < Z < Y); optical orientation: Z = b, Y ∧ c = 33° in obtuse β). Electron microprobe analyses (WDS mode) provided (NH4)1.49K0.60Na3.87U2.00S5.04O28H7.78. The five strongest X-ray powder diffraction lines are [dobs, Å(I)(hkl)]: 12.69(76)(100), 6.83(84)(012,102), 6.01(100)($\bar{2}$02), 3.959(67)($\bar{2}$21,$\bar{2}$14,$\bar{1}$23) and 3.135(76)($\bar{2}$06,223,$\bar{1}$16). Pseudomeisserite-(NH4) is monoclinic, P21/c, a = 13.1010(3), b = 10.0948(2), c = 19.4945(14) Å, β = 104.285(7)°, V = 2498.5(2) Å3 and Z = 4. The structural unit in the structure (R1 = 0.0254 for 3837 I > 2σI reflections) is a novel [(UO2)2(SO4)5]6– uranyl-sulfate band.

Oldsite, K2Fe2+[(UO2)(SO4)2]2(H2O)8, a new uranyl sulfate mineral from Utah, USA: its description and implications for the formation and occurrences of uranyl sulfate minerals

“…Perhaps of greater impact, however, has been the recognition that studies of low-temperature uranyl phases provide highly valuable insights into the transport of uranium in environmental systems. In the past, scientists investigating ore deposits tended to overlook or only superficially consider post-mining mineral assemblages, focusing on ore minerals and their formation Burns, 2001;Burns et al, 2003;Kampf et al, 2014Kampf et al, , 2015aKampf et al, , 2015bKampf et al, , 2015cKampf et al, , 2017aKampf et al, , 2017bKampf et al, , 2017cKampf et al, , 2017dKampf et al, , 2018aKampf et al, , 2018bKampf et al, , 2019aKampf et al, , 2019bKampf et al, , 2019cKampf et al, , 2020Kampf et al, , 2021Kampf et al, , 2022aKampf et al, , 2022bKampf et al, , 2022cKasatkin et al, 2022, Mereiter, 1982Pekov et al, 2014;Plášil et al, 2011Plášil et al, , 2012aPlášil et al, , 2012bPlášil et al, , 2012cPlášil et al, , 2013aPlášil et al, , 2013bPlášil et al, , 2014aPlášil et al, , 2014cPlášil et al, , 2015aPlášil et al, , 2015bPlášil and Škoda, 2015. processes. For example, at Jáchymov (formerly known under the German name St. Joachimsthal) in the Czech part of Erzgebirge mountains, Schneeberg and Johanngeorgenstadt (in the German part of Erzgebirge), or Krunkelbach (Schwarzwald, Germany), studies generally focused on hydrothermal vein mineralisation.…”

“…5.Ternary diagram showing the composition of the 42 well-characterised uranyl sulfate minerals. References: Burns, 2001; Burns et al ., 2003; Kampf et al ., 2014, 2015a, 2015b, 2015c, 2017a, 2017b, 2017c, 2017d, 2018a, 2018b, 2019a, 2019b, 2019c, 2020, 2021, 2022a, 2022b, 2022c; Kasatkin et al ., 2022, Mereiter, 1982; Pekov et al ., 2014; Plášil et al ., 2011, 2012a, 2012b, 2012c, 2013a, 2013b, 2014a, 2014c, 2015a, 2015b; Plášil and Škoda, 2015.

Fig. 6.The structural units of 42 well-characterised uranyl sulfate minerals characterised by the charge-deficiency per anion ( CDA ) value and its relationship with the molar proportion of the H 2 O and SO 4 in the structural units (s.u.).

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“…Ternary diagram showing the composition of the 42 well-characterised uranyl sulfate minerals. References: Burns, 2001; Burns et al ., 2003; Kampf et al ., 2014, 2015a, 2015b, 2015c, 2017a, 2017b, 2017c, 2017d, 2018a, 2018b, 2019a, 2019b, 2019c, 2020, 2021, 2022a, 2022b, 2022c; Kasatkin et al ., 2022, Mereiter, 1982; Pekov et al ., 2014; Plášil et al ., 2011, 2012a, 2012b, 2012c, 2013a, 2013b, 2014a, 2014c, 2015a, 2015b; Plášil and Škoda, 2015.…”

“…Ternary diagram showing the composition of the 42 well-characterised uranyl sulfate minerals. References:Burns, 2001;Burns et al, 2003;Kampf et al, 2014Kampf et al, , 2015aKampf et al, , 2015bKampf et al, , 2015cKampf et al, , 2017aKampf et al, , 2017bKampf et al, , 2017cKampf et al, , 2017dKampf et al, , 2018aKampf et al, , 2018bKampf et al, , 2019aKampf et al, , 2019bKampf et al, , 2019cKampf et al, , 2020Kampf et al, , 2021Kampf et al, , 2022aKampf et al, , 2022bKampf et al, , 2022cKasatkin et al, 2022, Mereiter, 1982Pekov et al, 2014;Plášil et al, 2011Plášil et al, , 2012aPlášil et al, , 2012bPlášil et al, , 2012cPlášil et al, , 2013aPlášil et al, , 2013bPlášil et al, , 2014aPlášil et al, , 2014cPlášil et al, , 2015aPlášil et al, , 2015bPlášil and Škoda, 2015.…”

Zincorietveldite, Zn(UO2)(SO4)2(H2O)5, the zinc analogue of rietveldite from the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA

“…The description is based on five cotype specimens, all micromounts, deposited in the collections of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, CA 90007, USA, catalogue numbers 76262, 76264, 76265, 76266 and 76267. Specimen 76267 is also a cotype for libbyite (Kampf et al , 2023c).…”