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Grimselite

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Gerstenegg-Sommerloch tunnel, Gerstenegg, Grimsel area, Hasli Valley, Bern, Switzerland
© Thomas Witzke

Formula:
K
 
3
Na(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
 · H
 
2
O
System:Hexagonal
This page provides mineralogical data about Grimselite.

Classification of Grimselite

IMA status:Approved 1971
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/F.02-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.ED.35

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
E : Uranyl Carbonates
D : UO2:CO3 = 1:3
Dana 8th edition ID:15.2.6.1

15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
2 : AmBn(XO3)p·xH2O, with (m+n):p > 1:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.11.4

11 : Carbonates
11 : Carbonates of Cr and U
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Type Occurrence of Grimselite

Type Locality:Gerstenegg-Sommerloch tunnel, Gerstenegg, Grimsel area, Hasli Valley, Bern, Switzerland
Year of Discovery:1972

Crystallography of Grimselite

Crystal System:Hexagonal
Cell Parameters:a = 9.3Å, c = 8.26Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 0.888
Unit Cell Volume:V 618.69 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Grimselite

Type:Uniaxial (-)
RI values: nω = 1.601 nε = 1.480
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.121

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low

Chemical Properties of Grimselite

Formula:
K
 
3
Na(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
 · H
 
2
O
Essential elements:C, H, K, Na, O, U
All elements listed in formula:C, H, K, Na, O, U

Relationship of Grimselite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.ED.05Bayleyite
Mg
 
2
(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
 · 18H
 
2
O
5.ED.10Swartzite
MgCa(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
 · 12H
 
2
O
5.ED.15Albrechtschraufite
Ca
 
4
Mg(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[F
 
2
|(CO
 
3
)
 
6
] · 17 H
 
2
O
5.ED.20Liebigite
Ca
 
2
(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
 · 11H
 
2
O
5.ED.25Rabbittite
Ca
 
3
Mg
 
3
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|(CO
 
3
)
 
6
] · 18H
 
2
O
5.ED.30Andersonite
Na
 
2
Ca(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
 · 6H
 
2
O
5.ED.40Widenmannite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
5.ED.45Znucalite
Zn
 
12
Ca(UO
 
2
)[(OH)
 
22
|(CO
 
3
)
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.ED.50Čejkaite
Na
 
4
(UO
 
2
)(CO
 
3
)
 
3
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
11.11.1Stichtite
Mg
 
6
Cr
 
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
11.11.2Rutherfordine
(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
11.11.3Joliotite
(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
] · nH
 
2
O
11.11.5Bayleyite
Mg
 
2
(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
 · 18H
 
2
O
11.11.6Metazellerite
Ca(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
11.11.7Zellerite
Ca(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
11.11.8Wyartite
Ca[U
5+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)O
 
4
(OH)](H
 
2
O)
 
7
11.11.9Urancalcarite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|CO
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
11.11.10Sharpite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
6
[(OH)
 
4
|(CO
 
3
)
 
5
] · 6H
 
2
O
11.11.11Voglite
Ca
 
2
Cu(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O (?)
11.11.12Andersonite
Na
 
2
Ca(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
 · 6H
 
2
O
11.11.13Swartzite
MgCa(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
 · 12H
 
2
O
11.11.14Rabbittite
Ca
 
3
Mg
 
3
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|(CO
 
3
)
 
6
] · 18H
 
2
O
11.11.15Kamotoite-(Y)
Y
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
[O
 
4
|(CO
 
3
)
 
3
] · 14H
 
2
O
11.11.16Shabaite-(Nd)
Ca(Nd,Sm,Y)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)[(OH)
 
2
|(CO
 
3
)
 
4
] · 6H
 
2
O
11.11.17Astrocyanite-(Ce)
Cu
 
2
(Ce,Nd,La)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)[(OH)
 
2
|(CO
 
3
)
 
5
] · 1.5H
 
2
O
11.11.18Bijvoetite-(Y)
(Y,Dy)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|(CO
 
3
)
 
4
] · 11H
 
2
O
11.11.19Widenmannite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
11.11.20Znucalite
Zn
 
12
Ca(UO
 
2
)[(OH)
 
22
|(CO
 
3
)
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O

Other Names for Grimselite

Synonyms:
IMA1971-040
Other Languages:
German:Grimselit
Russian:Гримзелит
Spanish:Grimselita

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 Grimselite

Reference List:American Mineralogist (1973): 58: 139.

Li, Y. and P.C. Burns (2001b) The crystal structure of synthetic grimselite, K3Na[(UO2)(CO3)3](H2O). Canadian Mineralogist: 39: 1147-1151.

Kubatko, Karrie-Ann, Katheryn Helean, Alexandra Navrotsky, and Peter C. Burns (2005), Thermodynamics of uranyl minerals: Enthalpies of formation of rutherfordine, UO2CO3, andersonite, Na2CaUO2(CO3)3(H2O)5, and grimselite, K3NaUO2(CO3)3H2O: American Mineralogist: 90: 1284-1290.

Burns, P.C. (2005) U 6+ minerals and inorganic compounds: insights into an expanded structural hierarchy of crystal structures. Canadian Mineralogist: 43: 1839-1894.

Internet Links for Grimselite

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    Localities for Grimselite

    (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.
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Karlovy Vary Region
        • Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge)
          • Ostrov
            • Jáchymov (St Joachimsthal)
    		Pauliš P., Kopecký S., Černý P. 2007: Uranové minerály České Republiky a jejich naleziště. 1. část. (Kutna Hora, issue 1)
    Switzerland
     
    • Bern
      • Hasli Valley
        • Grimsel area
          • Gerstenegg
    		Schweiz.Min.Petr.Mitt.(1972) 52, 93-108
    Laverov, N.P., Petrov, V.A., Poluektov, V.V., Nasimov, R.M., Hammer, J., Burmistrov, A.A., and Shchukin, S.I. (2008): Geology of Ore Deposits 50(5), 339-361.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 10th Nov 2009 10:40:27