Nevadaite

Nevadaite is a rare phosphate mineral with a chemical formula[2] of

Cu2Zn0.02V3+0.98Al1.15Al8P7.9O32F8.37(OH)1.63(H2O)21.65
Nevadaite
Nevadaite - radial habit. Attribution: Leon Hupperichs
General
CategoryPhosphate minerals
Formula
(repeating unit)		see text
Strunz classification8.DC.60
Crystal systemOrthorhombic
Crystal classDisphenoidal (222)
H-M symbol: (222)
Space groupP21mn
Unit cella = 12.123 Å
b = 18.999 Å
c = 4.961 Å; Z = 1
Identification
ColorPale Green, turquoise
Crystal habitAcicular, crystalline, radial
CleavageNone
FractureConchoidal
Mohs scale hardness3
LusterVitreous
Streakpale blue
DiaphaneityTranslucent
Specific gravity2.54
Optical propertiesBiaxial (-)
References[1]

Characteristics

Nevadaite is a pale-green to turquoise colored mineral belonging to the phosphate group. It exhibits a radial crystal habit consisting of prismatic crystals covering areas up to 2 cm. It has a pale-blue streak, a vitreous luster, and is not fluorescent. Nevadaite is in the orthorhombic crystal system and displays conchoidal fracture.[1]

Location
Hazy aerial view of Gold Quarry mine

Nevadaite was first discovered in the Gold Quarry mine near the town of Carlin, Eureka County, Nevada.[3] The unique conditions and amounts of phosphate, vanadate, arsenate, and uranate in this area led to the formation of two new minerals; one being nevadaite and the other being goldquarryite. The Gold Quarry mine has been operated by The Newmont Mining Corporation since 1985 for the extraction of Carlin-type gold deposits.[2]

Nevadaite was discovered in February 1992 by Martin C. Jensen and was approved by the International Mineralogical Association in 2002.[2] It is also found in a copper mine in Kyrgyzstan.

References
  1. "Nevadaite Mineral Data". webmineral.com. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
  2. "Nevadaite". Canadian Mineralogist. 42: 741–752. 2004.
  3. "Nevadaite: Nevadaite mineral information and data". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2015-12-03.
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