Belakovskiite
| Belakovskiite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Sulfate mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Na7(UO2)(SO4)4(SO3OH)(H2O)3 |
| Crystal system | Triclinic |
| Crystal class | Pinacoidal (1) (same H-M symbol) |
| Space group | P1 |
| Unit cell | a = 5.46, b = 11.33, c = 18.42 [Å], α = 104.77°, β = 90.09°, γ = 96.77° (approximated); Z = 2 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Yellow-green |
| Crystal habit | fibrous |
| Cleavage | None |
| Tenacity | Brittle |
| Mohs scale hardness | ca. 2 (probable) |
| Luster | Vitreous |
| Streak | White |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent |
| Density | 3.31 (calculated); 3.23 (measured) |
| Optical properties | Biaxal (+) |
| Refractive index | nα=1.50, nβ=1.51, nγ=1.52 (approximated) |
| Pleochroism | None |
| 2V angle | 88o (calculated) |
| Other characteristics | Radioactive |
| References | [1][2][3] |
Belakovskiite is a very rare uranium mineral with the formula Na7(UO2)(SO4)4(SO3OH)(H2O)3.[1][2] It is interesting in being a natural uranyl salt with hydrosulfate anion, a feature shared with meisserite.[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, US.[9] The mineral is named after Russian mineralogist Dmitry Ilych Belakovskiy.[1]
Association
Belakovskiite is associated with other sulfate minerals: meisserite, blödite, ferrinatrite, kröhnkite, and metavoltine.[1]This association is found as efflorescences on a sandstone associated with uranium mineralization.[3]
Crystal structure
The framework of belakovskiite is unique. The main building block of its crystal structure is a hexavalent cluster with composition (UO2)(SO4)4(H2O). Such clusters are connected via Na-O and hydrogen bonds.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e Kampf, A.R., Plášil, J., Kasatkin, A.V., and Marty, J., 2014. Belakovskiite, Na7(UO2)(SO4)4(SO3OH)(H2O)3, a new uranyl sulfate mineral from the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA. Mineralogical Magazine 78(3), 639-649
- ^ a b "Belakovskiite: Belakovskiite mineral information and data". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
- ^ a b "Belakovskiite - Handbook of Mineralogy" (PDF). Handbookofmineralogy.org. Retrieved 2016-03-10.
- ^ "Meisserite: Meisserite mineral information and data". Mindat.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.