Marchettiite

marchettiite

whewellite

muscovite

albite

Images

Formula: (NH₄)C₅H₃N₄O₃
Organic compound
Crystal System: Triclinic
Specific gravity: 1.69 calculated
Hardness: 2 to 2½
Streak: White
Colour: Pale pink to white
Luminescence: Not fluorescent
Environments

Hydrothermal environments

Marchettiite is a relatively new mineral, approved in 2017 and to date (March 2023) reported only from the type locality.

Localities

The type locality is Mount Cervandone, Monte Cervandone area, Devero Alp, Baceno, Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province, Piedmont, Italy. Marchettiite is the natural equivalent of ammonium hydrogen urate. It was found in a cleft at Mount Cervandone as aggregates of opaque pale pink to white, platy prismatic crystals (MM 86.6.966-974).
It is formed by low temperature (20-30^oC) alteration of organic material derived from bird or marmot excrement. Associated minerals include whewellite, quartz, muscovite, K-feldspar and albite (Mindat).

Back to Minerals