A Natural Ferrous Substituted Saléite from Arcu Su Linnarbu, Capoterra, Cagliari, Sardinia

R. Vochten and K. Van Springel
Laboratorium voor chemische en fysische mineralogie, Departement Scheikunde, Universiteit Antwerpen, Middelheimlaan 1, 2020 Antwerpen, Belgium

Abstract: Ferrous substituted saléeite is a new variety of saléeite from Arcu su Linnarbu, Sardinia. It is tetragonal with a = 6.982(2) c = 19.660(2) Å, Z = 2; the ideal formula is (Mg,Fe2+)(UO2)2(PO4)2·4H2O. The strongest lines in the X-ray powder diffraction pattern are: 3.473(100)(114), 4.95(50)(110), 4.91(40)(004), 4.443(40)(112), 2.200(30)(118), 2.193(30)(303) and 2.178(30)(009). The mineral is light-yellow in colour and is dull fluorescent. The measured density is 3.242 g/cm3 and Z = 2. There is a prominent (001) cleavage. Refractive indices are : α = 1.572(2) β = 1.577(2) γ = 1.581(2) and 2V = 48°(2). The pleochroism is very weak and the elongation is positive parallel to Y. The mineral occurs as subparallel crystal aggregates with a quadratic outline.

Keywords: saléeite • ferrous substitution • uranyl phosphate group • Arcu Su Linnarbu • Sardinia

Mineralogical Magazine; August 1996 v. 60; no. 401; p. 647-651; DOI: 10.1180/minmag.1996.060.401.10
© 1996, The Mineralogical Society
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