| Nevadaite | |
| Formula: | see text |
| Imasymbol: | Nev[1] |
| Strunz: | 8.DC.60 |
| System: | Orthorhombic |
| Class: | Disphenoidal (222) H-M symbol: (222) |
| Symmetry: | P21mn |
| Unit Cell: | a = 12.123 Å b = 18.999 Å c = 4.961 Å; Z = 1 |
| Color: | Pale Green, turquoise |
| Habit: | Acicular, crystalline, radial |
| Cleavage: | None |
| Fracture: | Conchoidal |
| Mohs: | 3 |
| Luster: | Vitreous |
| Opticalprop: | Biaxial (-) |
| Streak: | pale blue |
| Gravity: | 2.54 |
| Diaphaneity: | Translucent |
Nevadaite is a rare phosphate mineral with a chemical formula[2] of
Nevadaite is a pale-green to turquoise colored mineral belonging to the phosphate group. It exhibits a radial crystal habit consisting of prismatic crystals covering areas up to 2 cm. It has a pale-blue streak, a vitreous luster, and is not fluorescent. Nevadaite is in the orthorhombic crystal system and displays conchoidal fracture.[3]
Nevadaite was first discovered in the Gold Quarry mine near the town of Carlin, Eureka County, Nevada.[4] The unique conditions and amounts of phosphate, vanadate, arsenate, and uranate in this area led to the formation of two new minerals; one being nevadaite and the other being goldquarryite. The Gold Quarry mine has been operated by The Newmont Mining Corporation since 1985 for the extraction of Carlin-type gold deposits.
Nevadaite was discovered in February 1992 by Martin C. Jensen and was approved by the International Mineralogical Association in 2002. It is also found in a copper mine in Kyrgyzstan.