Leesite (original) (raw)

A valid IMA mineral species

About LeesiteHide

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Formula:

K(H2O)2[(UO2)4O2(OH)5] · 3H2O

Specific Gravity:

3.256 (Calculated)

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic

Name:

Named in honor of Bryan K. Lees (b. 31 August 1957, Decatur, Illinois, USA), American mineral dealer and collector. Founder and president of Collector's Edge Minerals Inc., he has conducted extensive specimen mining operations including the famous Sweet Home mine rhodocrosite.

The second purely K-U oxide/hydroxide mineral after compreignacite.

A synthetic Na analogue is known.

Unique IdentifiersHide

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Long-form identifier:

mindat:1:1:50774:9

de9d6891-a868-4dc8-9312-d1b11d70b94f

IMA Classification of LeesiteHide

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Type description reference:

Olds, Travis A., Plášil, Jakub, Kampf, Anthony R., Spano, Tyler, Haynes, Patrick, Carlson, Shawn M., Burns, Peter C., Simonetti, Antonio, Mills, Owen P. (2018) Leesite, K(H2O)2[(UO2)4O2(OH)5]·3H2O, a new K-bearing schoepite-family mineral from the Jomac mine, San Juan County, Utah, U.S.A. American Mineralogist, 103 (1) 143-150 doi:10.2138/am-2018-6083

Classification of LeesiteHide

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4.GB.90

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
G : Uranyl Hydroxides
B : With additional cations (K, Ca, Ba, Pb, etc.); with mainly UO2(O,OH)5 pentagonal polyhedra

Mineral SymbolsHide

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As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

Physical Properties of LeesiteHide

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Fracture:

Irregular/Uneven

Density:

3.256 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of LeesiteHide

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RI values:

_n_α = 1.745(2) _n_β = 1.761(2) _n_γ = 1.765(2)

2V:

Measured: 50° (2), Calculated: 52.7°

δ = 0.020

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.

Dispersion:

Strong, r > v.

Optical Extinction:

X = a; Y = c; Z = b.

Comments:

X = colorless; Y = Z = orange yellow.

Comments:

Absorption: X < Y ≃ Z.

Chemistry of LeesiteHide

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Mindat Formula:

K(H2O)2[(UO2)4O2(OH)5] · 3H2O

Crystallography of LeesiteHide

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Crystal System:

Orthorhombic

Class (H-M):

m m m _(_2/_m_2/_m_2/m ) - Dipyramidal

Cell Parameters:

a = 14.866(7) Å, b = 14.126(7) Å, c = 16.772(8) Å

Ratio:

a:b:c = 1.052 : 1 : 1.187

Unit Cell V:

3,522.07 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Morphology:

Tablets, flattened and stacked on {100}, the only well-developed crystal form.

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

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Powder Diffraction Data:

Geological EnvironmentHide

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Type Occurrence of LeesiteHide

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General Appearance of Type Material:

Aggregates of orange-yellow tablets up to 1 mm in diameter. Also as powdery masses in the interstices of gypsum crystals.

Place of Conservation of Type Material:

Cotypes: mineralogical collections of (1) the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, USA (catalogue numbers 66285, 66286 and 66287), and (2) the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources Socorro, USA (catalogue number 19029)

Associated Minerals at Type Locality:

Reference:

Olds, T.A., Plášil, J., Kampf, A.R., Spano, T., Haynes, P., Carlson, S.M., Burns, P.C., Simonetti, A., Mills, O.P. (2018): Leesite, K(H2O)2[(UO2)4O2(OH)5]∙3H2O, a new K-bearing schoepite-family mineral from the Jomac mine, San Juan County, Utah, U.S.A. American Mineralogist, 103, 143-150.

Synonyms of LeesiteHide

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Common AssociatesHide

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Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

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Fluorescence of LeesiteHide

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Other InformationHide

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Notes:

Readily soluble in dilute HCl and HNO3, with no effervescence.

Health Risks:

No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for LeesiteHide

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References for LeesiteHide

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Reference List:

Olds, Travis A., Plášil, Jakub, Kampf, Anthony R., Spano, Tyler, Haynes, Patrick, Carlson, Shawn M., Burns, Peter C., Simonetti, Antonio, Mills, Owen P. (2018) Leesite, K(H2O)2[(UO2)4O2(OH)5]·3H2O, a new K-bearing schoepite-family mineral from the Jomac mine, San Juan County, Utah, U.S.A. American Mineralogist, 103 (1) 143-150 doi:10.2138/am-2018-6083

Localities for LeesiteHide

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This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.

Locality ListHide

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- 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). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.