Marthozite

Marthozite
Marthozite crystals in a vug, from Katanga (size: 6.2 x 5.3 x 4.0 cm)
General
Category Oxide mineral (uranyl selenite)
Formula
(repeating unit)		 Cu(UO2)3(SeO3)3(OH)2·7H2O
Strunz classification 4.JJ.05
Crystal system Orthorhombic
Crystal class Pyramidal (mm2)
(same H-M symbol)
Space group Pbn21
Unit cell a = 16.4 Å, b = 17.2 Å,
c = 6.98 Å; Z = 4
Identification
Formula mass 1,303.67 g/mol
Color Greenish brown
Crystal habit Bladed
Cleavage {100} perfect, {010} indistinct
Mohs scale hardness 6
Specific gravity 4.44
Optical properties Biaxial (-)
Refractive index 1.780 -1.800
Pleochroism yellowish brown to greenish yellow
2V angle 39°
Dispersion Extreme
References [1][2][3][4]

Marthozite is an orthorhombic mineral that has a general formula of Cu(UO2)3(SeO3)3(OH)2·7H2O.[3] It was named after French mineralogist Aime Marthoz, former Director-general of the Union Miniere du Haut Katanga.[2]

It is usually found in cavities in selenian (selenium-containing) digenite.[2] It is specifically found in the zones of oxidation of the Musonoi deposit in Katanga, Africa.[5]

Marthozite is orthorhombic, meaning that it has three axes of unequal lengths all orthogonal to each other. Since it is orthorhombic, marthozite is biaxial, meaning that it has three different indices of refraction.[5] Marthozite is anisotropic, which means that it breaks light into one fast ray and one slow ray.[6] Marthozite shows pleochroism from yellowish brown to greenish yellow.[2]

References

  1. ↑ Mineralienatlas
  2. 1 2 3 4 Webmineral data
  3. 1 2 Mindat.org
  4. ↑ Handbook of Mineralogy
  5. 1 2 Fleischer, M. (1970) New mineral names. American Mineralogist, 55, 533.
  6. ↑ http://www.wolframalpha.com/entities/minerals/marthozite/u7/vh/op/%5Bpermanent+dead+link%5D Accessed 16 September 2010
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