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Formula: Na7(UO2)(SO4)4Cl(H2O)2
Valence: Na7(U6+O2)(S6+O4)4Cl.2H2O
Hydrated uranyl sulphate
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 3.116 calculated for the empirical formula
Hardness: 2
Streak: Yellowish white
Colour: Pale yellow
Luminescence: Bright yellow-green fluorescence under both long wave and short wave UV
Solubility:
RADIOACTIVE
Environments
Sedimentary environments
Hydrothermal environments
Bluelizardite was approved in 2013 and to date (April 2026) has been reported only from the Red Canyon Mining
District.
Localities
At the type locality, the Blue Lizard Mine, Red Canyon Mining District, San Juan County, Utah, USA, bluelizardite
was found underground. The Blue Lizard mine is also the type locality for the recently (in 2013) described new minerals
manganoblödite,
cobaltoblödite,
belakovskiite and meisserite.
The mineral association containing bluelizardite is of
supergene origin, related to post-mining processes, which include
supergene oxidation of
primary ores
(uraninite, pyrite and
chalcopyrite disseminated in lenses of organic matter) in the humid
underground environment, which led to the formation of a variety of
secondary minerals, mainly sulphates, occurring as efflorescent
crusts on the surfaces of mine walls.
Minerals found in direct spatial association with bluelizardite include
chalcanthite, copiapite,
ferrinatrite, gypsum,
johannite, kröhnkite and several
new (in 2013), unnamed Na- and Mg- containing uranyl sulphates.
Primary minerals in the general assemblage include
baryte, bornite,
calcite, chalcopyrite,
covellite, feldspar,
pyrite, quartz and
uraninite.
Supergene, post-mining minerals in the general assemblage
include atacamite,
belakovskiite, blödite,
cobaltoblödite and
manganoblödite,
brochantite, chalcanthite,
copiapite, cyanotrichite,
d’ansite-(Mn), ferrinatrite,
gypsum, halotrichite,
johannite, meisserite,
metavoltine, natrozippeite,
pseudojohannite, römerite,
rhomboclase, sideronatrite
and tamarugite.
Bluelizardite forms as long bladed crystals in hedgehog-like aggregates in association with other
uranyl sulphate minerals. Blades are up to 0.4 mm long. Bluelizardite is
pale yellow and has a yellowish-white streak. Crystals are transparent with a vitreous lustre. They are brittle, with
one good cleavage, and they have uneven fracture
(Journal of Geosciences, 59.145–158).
Bluelizardite from the Blue Lizard Mine -
Image
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