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Zellerite

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Jáchymov (St Joachimsthal), Ostrov, Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge), Karlovy Vary Region, Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen), Czech Republic
© Thomas Witzke

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Formula:
Ca(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Light lemon-yellow
Hardness:2
Name:Named after Howard D. Zeller (b.1922), geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey who discovered the mineral
This page provides mineralogical data about Zellerite.

Classification of Zellerite

IMA status:Approved 1965
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/F.02-60
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.EC.10

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
E : Uranyl Carbonates
C : UO2:CO3 < 1:1 - 1:2
Dana 8th edition ID:15.3.1.1

15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
3 : AmBn(XO3)p·xH2O, with (m+n):p = 1:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.11.7

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

Type Locality:Lucky MC mine (Lucky Mac), Gas Hills District, Fremont Co., Wyoming, USA
Year of Discovery:1963

Physical Properties of Zellerite

Lustre:Dull
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Light lemon-yellow
Hardness (Mohs):2

Crystallography of Zellerite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 11.22Å, b = 19.25Å, c = 4.93Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.583 : 1 : 0.256
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,064.81 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Zellerite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.536 nβ = 1.559 nγ = 1.697
2V:Measured: 30° to 45°, Calculated: 48°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.161

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

Chemical Properties of Zellerite

Formula:
Ca(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
Essential elements:C, Ca, H, O, U
All elements listed in formula:C, Ca, H, O, U

Relationship of Zellerite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
5.EC.05Fontanite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
3
[CO
 
3
]
 
4
 · 3H
 
2
O
5.EC.10Metazellerite
Ca(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
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
11.11.4Grimselite
K
 
3
Na(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
 · H
 
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
11.11.8Wyartite
Ca
 
3
U
4+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
6
[(OH)
 
9
|CO
 
3
]
 
2
 · 3-5H
 
2
O
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
)
 
2
] · 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 Zellerite

Synonyms:
IMA1965-031
German names:
Zellerit
Spanish names:
Zellerita

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 Zellerite

Reference List:New Mexico Bur. Mines Resources, Mem. (1963): 15: 21.

American Mineralogist (1966): 51: 1567-1578.

Internet Links for Zellerite

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

    (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)
    		Lapis 2002(7/8), 52
    France
     
    • Languedoc-Roussillon
      • Hérault
        • Lodève
    		Le Règne Minéral, Hors Série IV (1998)
    [Le Cahier des Micromonteurs, 1998, 2, p.13-26]
    USA
     
    • New Mexico
      • McKinley Co.
    		Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd Rev. Ed., 1996
    Minerals of New Mexico 3rd ed.
          • Smith Lake area
    		NMBMMR Memoir 15 Geology and Technology of the Grants Uranium Region
    • Utah
      • San Juan Co.
        • White Canyon District
          • White Canyon
    		Dr. Jeffrey Weissman specimen
    • Wyoming
      • Fremont Co.
        • Gas Hills District
    		Am Min 51:1567-1578
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