Wetherillite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Wetherillite
Formula:
Na2Mg(UO2)2(SO4)4 · 18H2O
Colour:
Pale greenish-yellow
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
2.626 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named for John Wetherill (1866–1944) and George West Wetherill (12 August 1925, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA – 19 July 2006, Washington, D.C., USA).
John Wetherill discovered the deposit later mined as the Blue Lizard mine.
George Wetherill was Director Emeritus, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington, DC, USA, and professor of geophysics and geology at the University of California, Los Angeles, USA. He studied spontaneous fission of uranium and made fundamental contributions to radioactive dating of rocks. Among his many awards, he received the National Medal of Science in 1997.
John Wetherill discovered the deposit later mined as the Blue Lizard mine.
George Wetherill was Director Emeritus, Department of Terrestrial Magnetism, Carnegie Institution of Washington, DC, USA, and professor of geophysics and geology at the University of California, Los Angeles, USA. He studied spontaneous fission of uranium and made fundamental contributions to radioactive dating of rocks. Among his many awards, he received the National Medal of Science in 1997.
New structure type. Unique combination of elements among approved mineral species (compare 'UM1976-06-BO:HMgNaSU' and 'UM1976-06-BO:HMgNaSU'); stoichiometry and hydration level somewhat similar to those in the closely associated bobcookite.
In the structure there are (1) (UO2)(SO4)2(H2O) sheets || {100} (chains of identical composition are found in bobcookite) and (2) NaO5(H2O) polyhedra chains; the latter link the adjacent U-bearing sheets to form a weakly bonded 3-layer sandwich. Hydrogen bonds involving insular Mg(H2O)6 octahedra and isolated water groups link the sandwich layers. Composition of the coordination sphere in Na polyhedra in bobcookite is different.
In the structure there are (1) (UO2)(SO4)2(H2O) sheets || {100} (chains of identical composition are found in bobcookite) and (2) NaO5(H2O) polyhedra chains; the latter link the adjacent U-bearing sheets to form a weakly bonded 3-layer sandwich. Hydrogen bonds involving insular Mg(H2O)6 octahedra and isolated water groups link the sandwich layers. Composition of the coordination sphere in Na polyhedra in bobcookite is different.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
46421
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:46421:3
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
261f513e-5c7a-434c-bff7-54aa9746a224
IMA Classification of Wetherillite
Approved
Approval year:
2014
First published:
2015
Type description reference:
Kampf, Anthony R., Plášil, Jakub, Kasatkin, Anatoly V., Marty, Joe (2015) Bobcookite, NaAl(UO2)2(SO4)4·18H2O and wetherillite, Na2Mg(UO2)2(SO4)4·18H2O, two new uranyl sulfate minerals from the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA. Mineralogical Magazine, 79 (3) 695-714 doi:10.1180/minmag.2015.079.3.14
Classification of Wetherillite
7.EC.90
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
E : Uranyl sulfates
C : With medium-sized and large cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
E : Uranyl sulfates
C : With medium-sized and large cations
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Wet | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Wetherillite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Pale greenish-yellow
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Comment:
ca. 2
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
Two cleavages, {101İ} perfect and {010} fair
Two cleavages, {101İ} perfect and {010} fair
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Comment:
fracture may also be curved
Density:
2.626 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
couldn't be measured
Optical Data of Wetherillite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.498(1) nβ = 1.508(1) nγ = 1.519(1)
2V:
Measured: 88° , Calculated: 87.9°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.021
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Low
Dispersion:
r < v, distinct
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
pleochroism: X = colorless, Y = pale yellow-green, Z = pale yellow-green; absorption: X < Y ≈ Z
Chemistry of Wetherillite
Mindat Formula:
Na2Mg(UO2)2(SO4)4 · 18H2O
Common Impurities:
Zn,Cu,Fe
Crystallography of Wetherillite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 20.367(1) Å, b = 6.8329(1) Å, c = 12.903(3) Å
β = 107.879(10)°
β = 107.879(10)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 2.981 : 1 : 1.888
Unit Cell V:
1709 ų
Z:
2
Morphology:
Blades or prisms
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 19.84 Å | (14) |
| 9.74 Å | (100) |
| 6.46 Å | (50) |
| 6.01 Å | (48) |
| 5.41 Å | (40) |
| 4.80 Å | (64) |
| 3.202 Å | (47) |
| 3.038 Å | (34) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] | |
| 47f : [Uranyl (U⁶⁺) minerals] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Type Occurrence of Wetherillite
General Appearance of Type Material:
prisms or blades, up to ca. 1 mm, with irregular terminations; in subparallel intergrowths, divergent sprays and jackstraw-like aggregates; additional crystal habit info: [010] elongation, somewhat flattened on {10_1} , showing {100}, {101}, and <
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Cotype material is deposited in the collections of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, USA, catalogue numbers 64164 and 64172, and the Fersman Mineralogical Museum of the Russian Academy of Sciences, Moscow, Russia, registration number 4574
Geological Setting of Type Material:
secondary alteration phase in humid underground mine environment, in efflorescences covering mine walls
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Kampf, A.R., Plášil, J., Kasatkin, A.V., Marty, J. (2015) Bobcookite, NaAl(UO2)2(SO4)4·18H2O and wetherillite, Na2Mg(UO2)2(SO4)4·18H2O, two new uranyl sulfate minerals from the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA. Mineralogical Magazine: 79: 695-714.
Synonyms of Wetherillite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 1 photo of Wetherillite associated with Hexahydrite | MgSO4 · 6H2O |
| 1 photo of Wetherillite associated with Mudstone |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.EC. | Adolfpateraite | K(UO2)(SO4)(OH)(H2O) |
| 7.EC. | Beshtauite | (NH4)2(UO2)(SO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 7.EC. | Seaborgite | LiK2Na6(UO2)(SO4)5(SO3OH)(H2O) |
| 7.EC. | Nitscheite | (NH4)2[(UO2)2(SO4)3(H2O)2] · 3H2O |
| 7.EC. | Oldsite | K2Fe2+[(UO2)(SO4)2]2(H2O)8 |
| 7.EC. | Libbyite | (NH4)2(Na2◻)[(UO2)2(SO4)3(H2O)]2 · 7H2O |
| 7.EC.05 | Cobaltzippeite | Co(UO2)2(SO4)O2 · 3.5H2O |
| 7.EC.05 | Magnesiozippeite | Mg(UO2)2(SO4)O2 · 3.5H2O |
| 7.EC.05 | Nickelzippeite | Ni2(UO2)6(SO4)3(OH)10 · 16H2O |
| 7.EC.05 | Natrozippeite | Na5(UO2)8(SO4)4O5(OH)3 · 12H2O |
| 7.EC.05 | Zinczippeite | Zn(UO2)2(SO4)O2 · 3.5H2O |
| 7.EC.05 | Zippeite | K3(UO2)4(SO4)2O3(OH) · 3H2O |
| 7.EC.05 | Plavnoite | K0.8Mn0.6[(UO2)2O2(SO4)] · 3.5H2O |
| 7.EC.05 | Redcanyonite | (NH4)2Mn[(UO2)4O4(SO4)2](H2O)4 |
| 7.EC.05 | Ammoniozippeite | (NH4)2[(UO2)2(SO4)O2] · H2O |
| 7.EC.10 | Rabejacite | Ca(UO2)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| 7.EC.10 | Svornostite | K2Mg[(UO2)(SO4)2]2 · 8H2O |
| 7.EC.15 | Marécottite | Mg3(UO2)8(SO4)4O6(OH)2 · 28H2O |
| 7.EC.15 | Sejkoraite-(Y) | Y2(UO2)8(SO4)4O6(OH)2 · 26H2O |
| 7.EC.20 | Pseudojohannite | Cu3(OH)2[(UO2)4(SO4)2] · 12H2O |
| 7.EC.40 | Bluelizardite | Na7(UO2)(SO4)4Cl(H2O)2 |
| 7.EC.45 | Meisserite | Na5(UO2)(SO4)3(SO3OH)(H2O) |
| 7.EC.45 | Fermiite | Na4(UO2)(SO4)3 · 3H2O |
| 7.EC.45 | Oppenheimerite | Na2(UO2)(SO4)2 · 3H2O |
| 7.EC.50 | Plášilite | Na(UO2)(SO4)(OH) · 2H2O |
| 7.EC.50 | Feynmanite | Na(UO2)(SO4)(OH) · 3.5H2O |
| 7.EC.55 | Geschieberite | K2(UO2)(SO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 7.EC.60 | Ottohahnite | Na6(UO2)2(SO4)5(H2O)7 · 1.5H2O |
| 7.EC.65 | Péligotite | Na6(UO2)(SO4)4 · 4H2O |
| 7.EC.70 | Klaprothite | Na6(UO2)(SO4)4 · 4H2O |
| 7.EC.75 | Lussierite | Na10[(UO2)(SO4)4](SO4)2 · 3(H2O) |
| 7.EC.80 | Navrotskyite | K2Na10(UO2)3(SO4)9 · 2H2O |
| 7.EC.85 | Pseudomeisserite-(NH4) | (NH4)2Na4[(UO2)2(SO4)5] · 4H2O |
Other Information
Notes:
Easily soluble in cold (RT) water; Raman bands [cm-1]: ~3600–3000 [υ(O-H) stretching of free or weakly H-bonded water], 1610 [υ2(δ) H-O-H bending], 1230, 1180, 1120, 1105, 1080 [split triply degenerate υ3 sulfate antisymmetric stretching], 1010(s,b) 995(s,b) [υ1 sulfate symmetric stretching], 990sh [δ(U-OH) bending or υ1 of sulfate], 830vs [υ1 symmetric stretching of uranyl groups], 640, 615, 580sh [split, triply degenerate υ4(δ) of sulfate], 506, 445 [split doubly degenerate υ2(δ) sulfate bending], 385 [υ(U-Oequatorial) or Na-O stretching], 240 [composite band, split doubly degenerate υ2(δ) uranyl bending]
Health Risks:
radioactive
Internet Links for Wetherillite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-46421.html
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References for Wetherillite
Reference List:
Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2014) IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC), CNMNC Newsletter No. 22. Mineralogical Magazine, 78 (5) 1241-1248 doi:10.1180/minmag.2014.078.5.10
Kampf, Anthony R., Plášil, Jakub, Kasatkin, Anatoly V., Marty, Joe (2015) Bobcookite, NaAl(UO2)2(SO4)4·18H2O and wetherillite, Na2Mg(UO2)2(SO4)4·18H2O, two new uranyl sulfate minerals from the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA. Mineralogical Magazine, 79 (3) 695-714 doi:10.1180/minmag.2015.079.3.14
Localities for Wetherillite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
USA (TL) | |
| Williams et al. (2014) +2 other references |
| Hålenius et al. (2015) +1 other reference | |
| Kampf et al. (2018) |
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Blue Lizard Mine, Red Canyon Mining District, San Juan County, Utah, USA