| Meisserite | |
| Category: | Sulfate mineral |
| Formula: | Na5(UO2)(SO4)3(SO3OH)(H2O) |
| Imasymbol: | Mss[1] |
| System: | Triclinic |
| Class: | Pinacoidal (same H-M symbol) |
| Symmetry: | P |
| Unit Cell: | a = 5.32, b = 11.51, c = 13.56 [Å], α = 102.96°, β = 97.41°, γ = 91.46° (approximated); Z = 2 |
| Color: | Pale green to yellowish-green |
| Habit: | prismatic |
| Cleavage: | and, fair |
| Tenacity: | Very brittle |
| Mohs: | 2 |
| Luster: | Vitreous |
| Streak: | Very pale yellow |
| Diaphaneity: | Translucent to transparent |
| Density: | 3.21 (calculated) (approximated) |
| Opticalprop: | Biaxal (-) |
| Refractive: | nα=1.51, nβ=1.55, nγ=1.56 (approximated) |
| Pleochroism: | Colorless (X), pale yellow (Y), pale greenish-yellow (Z) |
| 2V: | 60o |
| Dispersion: | Weak |
| Other: | Radioactive |
| References: | [2] |
Meisserite is a very rare uranium mineral with the formula Na5(UO2)(SO4)3(SO3OH)(H2O).[3] [4] 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.
Meisserite is associated with other sulfate minerals: belakovskiite, johannite, chalcanthite, copiapite, ferrinatrite, and gypsum. It is resulting from post-mining oxidation of the primary uranium mineral - uraninite.
The crystal structure of meisserite is unique. The building elements include:
These elements link to form chains. Sodium cations are bonded to oxygen atoms in chains, to hydrosulfate groups and water.