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Formula: Na5(UO2)(SO4)3(SO3OH)(H2O)
Sulphate, uranyl mineral
Crystal system: Triclinic
Specific gravity: 3.208 calculated
Hardness: 2
Streak: Very pale yellow
Colour: Pale green to yellowish green
Luminescence: Bright yellow-green fluorescence under both long wave and short wave UV
Solubility: Somewhat hygroscopic and easily soluble in water
RADIOACTIVE
Environments
Meisserite is a relatively new mineral, approved in 2013 and to date (August 2025) reported only from the
type locality.
Localities
At the type locality, the Blue Lizard Mine, Red Canyon Mining District, San Juan County, Utah, USA, meisserite
was found underground. It is rare and occurs in association with other
uranyl sulphate minerals. 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.
Minerals found in direct spatial association with meisserite include
chalcanthite, copiapite,
ferrinatrite, gypsum,
johannite and
belakovskiite.
Primary minerals in the general assemblage include
baryte, bornite,
calcite, chalcopyrite,
covellite, feldspar,
pyrite, quartz and
uraninite.
Secondary, post-mining minerals in the general assemblage
include atacamite, blödite,
brochantite, chalcanthite,
cobaltoblödite, copiapite,
cyanotrichite, d'ansite,
ferrinatrite, gypsum,
halotrichite, johannite,
kröhnkite, manganoblödite,
metavoltine,
natrochalcite,
natrozippeite,
pickeringite,
pseudojohannite,
rhomboclase, römerite,
sideronatrite and
tamarugite.
Crystals of meisserite usually occur as intergrowths with other
uranyl sulphates, and only rarely are found as isolated crystal aggregates.
Crystals are prisms up to 0.3 mm long
(MM 77.7.2975-2988).
Meisserite from the Blue Lizard Mine -
Image
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