Abelsonite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Abelsonite
Formula:
Ni(C31H32N4)
Colour:
Pink-purple, dark greyish purple, pale purplish red, reddish brown
Lustre:
Adamantine, Sub-Metallic
Hardness:
2 - 3
Specific Gravity:
1.33 - 1.48
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
For American physicist Philip Hauge Abelson (27 April 1913, Tacoma, Washington, USA - 1 August 2004, Bethesda, Maryland, USA). 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).
Type Locality:
Chemically a nickel porphyrine derivative, classified as deoxophylloerythroetioporphyrin. Unique combination of elements; the only organonickel mineral known. Formed at depth (Milton et al., 1978), likely from a chlorophyll (but likely not the chlorophyll-d) (Storm et al., 1984).
Abelsonite is accompanied by its structural norisomer; the surrounding shale contains other Ni porphyrins, which represent a series of more extended homologues.
Structure details (Storm et al., 1984): (1) methyl groups in the 2, 3, 7, 12, and 18 positions, (2) ethyl group in the 8 and 17 positions. According to Milton et al.(1978) the molecules in abelsonite are not planar. The substitution pattern in the mineral is genetically related to a typical chlorophyll. The potential precursor to abelsonite is 17-desethyl, 17-propionic acid.
Worth of notice is an unnamed mineral coded as 'UM1984-14-CH:ClNOV', which is a natural vanadyl deoxophylloerythroetioporphyrin, the second known metalloporphyrin mineral, although not isostructural with abelsonite.
Abelsonite is accompanied by its structural norisomer; the surrounding shale contains other Ni porphyrins, which represent a series of more extended homologues.
Structure details (Storm et al., 1984): (1) methyl groups in the 2, 3, 7, 12, and 18 positions, (2) ethyl group in the 8 and 17 positions. According to Milton et al.(1978) the molecules in abelsonite are not planar. The substitution pattern in the mineral is genetically related to a typical chlorophyll. The potential precursor to abelsonite is 17-desethyl, 17-propionic acid.
Worth of notice is an unnamed mineral coded as 'UM1984-14-CH:ClNOV', which is a natural vanadyl deoxophylloerythroetioporphyrin, the second known metalloporphyrin mineral, although not isostructural with abelsonite.
Unique Identifiers
IMA Classification of Abelsonite
Approved
IMA Formula:
NiC31H32N4
Approval year:
1975
First published:
1978
Classification of Abelsonite
10.CA.20
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
C : Miscellaneous Organic Minerals
A : Miscellaneous Organic Minerals
10 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
C : Miscellaneous Organic Minerals
A : Miscellaneous Organic Minerals
Dana 7th ed.:
50.4.9.1
50.4.9.1
50 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
4 : Miscellaneous
50 : ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
4 : Miscellaneous
32.15
32 : Hydrocarbons, Resins and other Organic Compounds
32 : Hydrocarbons, Resins and other Organic Compounds
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Abl | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Abelsonite
Adamantine, Sub-Metallic
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Pink-purple, dark greyish purple, pale purplish red, reddish brown
Streak:
Pink
Hardness:
2 - 3 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Poor/Indistinct
Probable on {111}.
Probable on {111}.
Density:
1.33 - 1.48 g/cm3 (Measured) 1.45 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Abelsonite
Type:
Biaxial
Chemistry of Abelsonite
Mindat Formula:
Ni(C31H32N4)
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Abelsonite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.4416(5) Å, b = 10.8919(70) Å, c = 7.2749(40) Å
α = 90.465(2)°, β = 113.158(2)°, γ = 78.080(2)°
α = 90.465(2)°, β = 113.158(2)°, γ = 78.080(2)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.775 : 1 : 0.668
Unit Cell V:
599.74 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
1
Comment:
Data at 100 K (Hummer et al., 2017).
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0020838 | Abelsonite | Hummer D R, Noll B C, Hazen R M, Downs R T (2017) Crystal structure of abelsonite, the only known crystalline geoporphyrin American Mineralogist 102 1129-1132 | 2017 | Green River formation, Uintah County, Utah, USA | 0 | 100 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
10.9 Å | (100) |
7.63 Å | (50) |
6.85 Å | (5) |
6.63 Å | (30) |
5.79 Å | (40) |
5.51 Å | (35) |
4.90 Å | (10) |
4.39 Å | (10) |
3.77 Å | (80) |
3.14 Å | (40) |
2.99 Å | (5) |
2.60 Å | (5) |
2.29 Å | (5) |
2.21 Å | (5) |
1.55 Å | (5) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
50 : Coal and/or oil shale minerals | <0.36 |
Geological Setting:
Small aggregates, to 1 cm, of thin laths or
plates. Of secondary origin on fracture surfaces in oil shale.
plates. Of secondary origin on fracture surfaces in oil shale.
Type Occurrence of Abelsonite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Aggregates of platy crystals; as patches, sometimes over 2 mm in diameter.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
The Natural History Museum, London, England, number 1979,135.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, numbers 143566, 145712.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, numbers 143566, 145712.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Mahogany Zone oil shale; found in six stratigraphical zones ( M9, M7, M2, L6, L0, and K1); its genesis is connected with unique geochemical conditions of Lake Uinta; likely formed due to chlorophyll diagenesis; abelsonite's relatively insoluble precursor was likely transported by an aqueous solution towards sediments of favorable lithology.
Reference:
Milton, C., Dwornik, E. J., Estep-Barnes, P. A., Finkelman, R. B., Pabst, A., & Palmer, S. (1978). Abelsonite, nickel porphyrin, a new mineral from the Green River Formation, Utah. American Mineralogist, 63(9-10), 930-937.
Synonyms of Abelsonite
Other Language Names for Abelsonite
Czech:Abelsonit
Dutch:Abelsoniet
French:Abelsonite
German:Abelsonit
Italian:Abelsonite
Latvian:Ābelsonīts
Portuguese:Abelsonita
Spanish:Abelsonita
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
10.CA. | Tholins | (C,H,N) |
10.CA. | Natrosulfatourea | Na2(SO4)[CO(NH2)2] |
10.CA. | Allantoin | C4H6N4O3 |
10.CA. | Bojarite | Cu3(N3C2H2)3(OH)Cl2 · 6H2O |
10.CA. | Pabellóndepicaite | Cu2+2(N3C2H2)2(NH3)2(NO3)Cl · 2H2O |
10.CA.05 | Refikite | C20H32O2 |
10.CA.10 | Flagstaffite | C10H22O3 |
10.CA.15 | Hoelite | C14H8O2 |
10.CA.25 | Kladnoite | C6H4(CO)2NH |
10.CA.30 | Guanine | C5H5N5O |
10.CA.30 | Tinnunculite (of Chesnokov & Shcherbakova) | C10H12N8O8 |
10.CA.35 | Urea | CO(NH2)2 |
10.CA.40 | Uricite | C5H4N4O3 |
10.CA.45 | Chanabayaite | CuCl(N3C2H2)(NH3) · 0.25H2O |
10.CA.50 | Triazolite | NaCu2(N3C2H2)2(NH3)2Cl3 · 4H2O |
10.CA.55 | Ernstburkeite | Mg(CH3SO3)2 · 12H2O |
10.CA.60 | Joanneumite | Cu(C3N3O3H2)2(NH3)2 |
10.CA.65 | Tinnunculite | C5H4N4O3 · 2H2O |
10.CA.70 | Dopplerite |
Other Information
IR Spectrum:
bands [cm-1]: 2970, 2915, 2860 (C-H stretching); 620w, 602w, 535w, 512w, 441s, 392w
Notes:
UV-Vis bands [nm]: 392, 510, 550 in benzene or 390, 512, and 552 in acetone (suggestible for deoxophylloerythroetioporphyrin with an isocyclic ring); also 618 band present, suggesting presence of some free-base porphyrin
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Abelsonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1.html
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References for Abelsonite
Reference List:
Milton, Charles, Dwornik, Edward J., Estep-Barnes, Patricia A., Finkelman, Robert B., Pabst, Adolf, Palmer, Susan (1978) Abelsonite, nickel porphyrin, a new mineral from the Green River Formation, Utah. American Mineralogist, 63 (9-10) 930-937
Localities for Abelsonite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
USA | |
| Mineralogical Society of America - ... |
Milton (1977) | |
| Milton et al. (1978) |
Milton et al. (1978) | |
Milton et al. (1978) | |
Milton et al. (1978) | |
Milton et al. (1978) | |
Milton et al. (1978) | |
Milton et al. (1978) | |
| Milton et al. (1978) |
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Green River Formation, USA