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Formula: Na7(UO2)(SO4)4(SO3OH)(H2O)3
Sulphate, uranyl mineral
Crystal system: Triclinic
Specific gravity: 2.953 calculated for the empirical formula, 2.936 calculated for the ideal formula
Hardness: 2
Streak: White
Colour: Yellow-green
Luminescence: Fluoresces bright green under long wave UV
Solubility: Soluble in water
RADIOACTIVE
Environments
Localities
At the type locality, the Blue Lizard Mine, Red Canyon Mining District, San Juan County, Utah, USA, ore minerals
(especially uraninite, and the sulphides
pyrite, chalcopyrite,
bornite and covellite) were
deposited as replacements
of wood and other organic material and as disseminations in the enclosing
sandstone. Since the mine closed in 1978, oxidation of
primary ores in the humid underground environment has
produced a variety of secondary minerals, mainly sulphates,
as efflorescent crusts on the surfaces of mine walls. The vast majority of the
secondary minerals contain essential Na, but the source of
the Na enrichment is not known.
The matrix of the belakovskiite specimens is sandstone
consisting of irregular quartz grains.
Secondary minerals found in direct association with
belakovskiite include blödite,
ferrinatrite, kröhnkite,
meisserite and metavoltine.
Other secondary minerals in the general assemblage include
atacamite, boyleite,
brochantite, chalcanthite,
cobaltoblödite,
copiapite, coquimbite,
cyanotrichite,
d'ansite-(Mn), dickite,
gerhardtite,
gordaite, gypsum,
halite, johannite,
manganoblödite,
natrochalcite,
natrozippeite,
pickeringite,
pseudojohannite,
rhomboclase, römerite,
sideronatrite and
tamarugite.
Other minerals found associated with the host sandstone include
baryte, calcite,
feldspar and clays.
Crystals of belakovskiite are very pale yellowish-green hair-like fibres up to 2 mm long and usually no more
than a few mm across. Crystals are transparent with a vitreous lustre
(MM 78.3.639-649).
Belakovskiite from the Blue Lizard Mine -
Image
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