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Abelsonite

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Big Photo

Green River formation, Uintah Co., Utah, USA
© Thomas Witzke




Formula:
Ni(C
 
31
H
 
32
N
 
4
)
System:TriclinicColour:Pink-purple, dark ...
Lustre:Adamantine, Sub-MetallicHardness:2 - 3
Name:
For US physicist Philip Hauge Abelson (1913-2004). He was co-discoverer of element 93 (neptunium), editor of the periodical Science (1962-1984), and director of the Carnegie Institution of Washington's Geophysical Laboratory (1953-1971).


Chemically a nickel porphyrine derivative.

Classification of Abelsonite

IMA status:Approved 1975
Strunz 8th edition ID:9/A.02-60
Strunz 9th edition ID:10.C0.A.20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:10.CA.20

10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
C : Miscellaneous Organic Minerals
A : Miscellaneous Organic Minerals
Dana 7th edition ID:50.4.9.1
Dana 8th edition ID:50.4.9.1

50 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
4 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:32.15

32 :
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Type Occurrence of Abelsonite

Type Locality:WOSCO Well, Green River formation, Uintah Co., Utah, USA
General Appearance of Type Material:Aggregates of platy crystals
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Smithsonian
Year of Discovery:1975
Geological Setting of type material:Mahogany Zone oil shale

Occurrences of Abelsonite

Geological Setting:Small aggregates, to 1 cm, of thin laths or
plates. Of secondary origin on fracture surfaces in oil shale.

Physical Properties of Abelsonite

Lustre:Adamantine, Sub-Metallic
Colour:Pink-purple, dark greyish purple, pale purplish red, reddish brown.
Streak:pink
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 3
Cleavage:Poor/Indistinct
Probable on {111}.
Density (measured):1.33 - 1.48 g/cm3
Density (calculated):1.45 g/cm3

Crystallography of Abelsonite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 8.44Å, b = 11.12Å, c = 7.28Å
α = 90.88°, β = 113.75°, γ = 79.57°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.759 : 1 : 0.655
Unit Cell Volume:V 613.79 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Chemical Properties of Abelsonite

Formula:
Ni(C
 
31
H
 
32
N
 
4
)
Essential elements:C, H, N, Ni
All elements listed in formula:C, H, N, Ni

Relationship of Abelsonite to other Species

Common Associates:
QuartzPyriteOrthoclaseMica GroupDolomite
AnalcimeAlbite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
10.CA.05Refikite
C
 
20
H
 
32
O
 
2
10.CA.10Flagstaffite
C
 
10
H
 
22
O
 
3
10.CA.15Hoelite
C
 
14
H
 
8
O
 
2
10.CA.25Kladnoite
C
 
6
H
 
4
(CO)
 
2
NH
10.CA.30Guanine
C
 
5
H
 
5
N
 
5
O
10.CA.30Tinnunculite
C
 
10
H
 
12
N
 
8
O
 
8
10.CA.35Urea
CO(NH
 
2
)
 
2
10.CA.40Uricite
C
 
5
H
 
4
N
 
4
O
 
3
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
32.1Evenkite
C
 
21
H
 
44
32.2 Fitchtelite
32.3Simonellite
C
 
19
H
 
24
32.4Kratochvílite
C
 
13
H
 
10
32.5Idrialite
C
 
22
H
 
14
32.6Carpathite
C
 
24
H
 
12
32.7Refikite
C
 
20
H
 
32
O
 
2
32.8Flagstaffite
C
 
10
H
 
22
O
 
3
32.9Hoelite
C
 
14
H
 
8
O
 
2
32.10Kladnoite
C
 
6
H
 
4
(CO)
 
2
NH
32.11Acetamide
CH
 
3
CONH
 
2
32.12Guanine
C
 
5
H
 
5
N
 
5
O
32.13Urea
CO(NH
 
2
)
 
2
32.14Uricite
C
 
5
H
 
4
N
 
4
O
 
3

Other Names for Abelsonite

Synonyms:
IMA1975-013
Other Languages:
Czech:Abelsonit
Dutch:Abelsoniet
French:Abelsonite
German:Abelsonit
Italian:Abelsonite
Latvian:Ābelsonīts
Portuguese:Abelsonita
Spanish:Abelsonita

Other Information

Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Abelsonite

Reference List:

- +
Am.Min. (1978) 63, 930-937.

Science: 223: 1075-1076.

Internet Links for Abelsonite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Abelsonite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Abelsonite

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    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    USA
     
    • Utah
      • Uintah Co.
        • Green River formation
    		Am Min 63: 9-10 pp 930-937
    Am Min 63: 9-10 pp 930-937
    Am Min 63: 9-10 pp 930-937
    Am Min 63: 9-10 pp 930-937
    Am Min 63: 9-10 pp 930-937
    Am Min 63: 9-10 pp 930-937
    Am Min 63: 9-10 pp 930-937
    Am Min 63: 9-10 pp 930-937
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