Allantoin and natrosulfatourea, two new bat-guano minerals from the Rowley mine, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA

Abstract

ABSTRACT The new minerals allantoin (IMA2020–004a), C4H6N4O3, and natrosulfatourea (IMA2019–134), Na2(SO4)[CO(NH2)2], were found in the Rowley mine, Maricopa County, Arizona, USA, where they occur together in bat guano in association with aphthitalite and urea. Allantoin properties: colorless, transparent, untwinned blades to 0.3 mm; white streak; vitreous luster; brittle; Mohs hardness 1½; conchoidal fracture; good {100} cleavage; 1.72(2) g/cm3 density; biaxial (+) with α = 1.558(2), β = 1.593(2), γ = 1.715(3); 2V = 60(1)°; slight r > v dispersion; optical orientation: Y = b, Z ^ a = 30° in obtuse β. Natrosulfatourea properties: colorless, transparent, untwinned prisms to 0.3 mm; white streak; vitreous luster; brittle; Mohs hardness 1½; irregular fracture; perfect {100} cleavage; 1.97(2) g/cm3 density; biaxial (+) with α = 1.456(2), β = 1.464(5), γ = 1.524(2); 2V = 42(1)°; no dispersion; optical orientation: X = a, Y = c, Z = b. Quantitative chemical analyses could not be obtained for allantoin. Electron microprobe analyses provided the empirical formula Na2.02(S0.98O4)[CO(NH2)2] for natrosulfatourea. Allantoin is monoclinic, P21/c, a = 8.0304(9), b = 5.1596(5), c = 14.8011(18) Å, β = 93.017(7)°, V = 612.41(11) Å3, and Z = 4. Natrosufatourea is orthorhombic, Pbcn, a = 5.5918(4), b = 18.1814(14), c = 6.7179(5) Å, V = 682.98(9) Å3, and Z = 4. The crystal structure of allantoin (R1 = 0.0432 for 1073 I > 2σI) is the same as that reported for the equivalent organic compound. In the structure of natrosulfatourea (R1 = 0.0413 for 785 I > 2σI) NaO6 polyhedra and SO4 tetrahedra form polyhedral layers. The O atom of the CO(NH2)2 (urea) group ligates to two Na atoms and projects into the space between polyhedral layers, linking adjacent layers through hydrogen bonds.