Chemistry:Nuragheite

From HandWiki
Nuragheite
General
CategoryMolybdate minerals
Formula
(repeating unit)
Th(MoO4)2·H2O
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal classPrismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupP21/c
Unit cella = 7.36, b = 10.54
c = 9.49 [Å], β=91.88° (approximated)
Identification
ColorColorless
Crystal habitThin tablets
Cleavage{100}, perfect
TenacityBrittle
|re|er}}Pearly adamantine
StreakWhite
Specific gravity5.15 (calc., approximated)
Other characteristicsRadioactive.svg Radioactive
References[1][2]

Nuragheite is a rare[2] natural thorium molybdate, formula Th(MoO4)2·H2O, discovered in Su Seinargiu, Sarroch, Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy.[1] This locality is also a place of discovery of the other thorium molybdate - ichnusaite, which is a trihydrate.[4]

Occurrence and association

Nuragheite is a part of molybdenum-bismuth mineralization. It coexists with ichnusaite, muscovite, and xenotime-(Y).[1]

Notes on chemistry

Nuragheite is chemically pure.[1]

Crystal structure

The crystal structure of nuragheite is composed of (100) layers with IXTh-centered polyhedra and Mo-centered tetrahedra.[1] It is thus similar to that of ichnusaite.

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Orlandi, P., Biagioni, C., Bindi, L., and Merlino, S., 2015. Nuragheite, Th(MoO4)2·H2O, the second natural thorium molybdate and its relationships to ichnusaite and synthetic Th(MoO4)2. American Mineralogist 100(1), 267-273
  2. 2.0 2.1 "Nuragheite - Mindat.org". http://www.mindat.org/min-46000.html. Retrieved 2016-03-12. 
  3. Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine 85 (3): 291–320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. Bibcode2021MinM...85..291W. 
  4. Orlandi, Paolo; Biagioni, Cristian; Bindi, Luca; Nestola, Fabrizio (2014-10-01). "Ichnusaite, Th(MoO4)2·3H2O, the first natural thorium molybdate: Occurrence, description, and crystal structure" (in en). American Mineralogist 99 (10): 2089–2094. doi:10.2138/am-2014-4844. ISSN 0003-004X. http://ammin.geoscienceworld.org/content/99/10/2089. Retrieved 2016-03-12.