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Formula: Na(UO2)(SO4)(OH).3.5H2O
Uranyl sulphate
Specific gravity: 3.324
Hardness: 2
Streak: White
Colour: Pale greenish yellow
Luminescence: Fluoresces bright greenish white under a 405 nm laser
Solubility: Dissolves very slowly in water at room temperature and immediately in dilute hydrochloric acid
Environments
Sedimentary environments
Hydrothermal environments
Feynmanite is a relatively new mineral, approved in 2017 and to date (November 2022) reported only from the type
localities. Crystals are very prone to dehydration, forming plášilite.
Localities
There are two co-type localities, the Blue Lizard Mine and the Markey Mine, both in the Red Canyon Mining District,
San Juan County, Utah, USA.
At the Blue Lizard Mine, feynmanite occurs as a pale greenish yellow
secondary phase on
pyrite-rich bitumen in association with
chinleite-(Y), gypsum,
goethite, natrojarosite,
natrozippeite, plášilite and
shumwayite. The feynmanite forms thin needles or blades to 0.1 mm
in length, and the crystals grow in random “jackstraw” aggregates
(MM 83.2.153-160).
At the Markey Mine, feynmanite occurs as a pale greenish yellow
secondary phase on
pyrite-rich bitumen in association with
chinleite-(Y), gypsum,
natrojarosite,
natrozippeite, plášilite and
wetherillite. The feynmanite forms thin needles or blades to 0.1 mm
in length, and the crystals grow in random “jackstraw” aggregates
(MM 83.2.153-160).
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