Chenowethite, Mg(H2O)6[(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2]·5H2O, a New Mineral with Uranyl-Sulfate Sheets from Red Canyon, Utah, USA

Abstract

The new mineral chenowethite, Mg(H2O)6[(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2]·5H2O, was found in efflorescence crusts on tunnel walls at the Blue Lizard, Green Lizard and Markey uranium mines in Red Canyon, San Juan County, Utah, USA. The crystals are long, thin blades up to about 0.5 mm long, occurring in irregular sprays and subparallel groups. Chenowethite is pale green yellow. It has white streak, vitreous to silky luster, brittle tenacity, splintery and stepped fracture and two cleavages: {010} perfect and {001} good. It has a hardness (Mohs) of about 2 and is nonfluorescent in both long- and short-wave ultraviolet illumination. The density is 3.05(2) g/cm3. Optically, crystals are biaxial (−) with α = 1.530(2), β = 1.553(2) and γ = 1.565(2) (white light). The 2V is 72(2)° and dispersion is r > v (slight). The optical orientation is X = b, Y = a, Z = c and the mineral exhibits weak pleochroism in shades of pale green yellow: X < Y < Z. The Raman spectrum is consistent with the presence of UO22+, SO42− and OH–/H2O. The empirical formula from electron microprobe analysis and arranged in accordance with the structure is (Mg0.71Fe2+0.09Co0.05Ni0.04)∑0.89(H2O)6[(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2]·[(H2O)4.78(NH4)0.22]∑5.00. Chenowethite is orthorhombic, space group Cmcm; the unit-cell parameters are a = 6.951(2), b = 19.053(6), c = 16.372(5) Å, V = 2168.19(7) Å3 and Z = 4. The crystal structure of chenowethite (R1 = 0.0396 for 912 I > 2σI reflections) contains [(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2]2− sheets that are topologically equivalent to those in deliensite, feynmanite, greenlizardite, johannite, meitnerite and plášilite.