Fermiite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Fermiite
Formula:
Na4(UO2)(SO4)3 · 3H2O
Colour:
Pale greenish-yellow
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
3.23
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named by A.R. Kampf, J. Plášil, A.V. Kasatkin, J. Marty, and J. Čejka in 2015 in honor of Dr. Enrico Fermi (29 September 1901, Rome, Italy - 28 November 1954, Chicago, Illinois, USA), Italian-American theoretical and experimental physicist. He made significant contributions to quantum theory, nuclear and particle physics, and statistical mechanics. He was awarded the 1938 Nobel Prize in Physics.
Structurally related to meisserite. Also structurally somewhat similar to oppenheimerite.
Chemically related to oppenheimerite, klaprothite, péligotite, ottohahnite; plášilite and natrozippeite (basic salts); belakovskiite and meisserite (sulfate-hydrosulfates).
As typical for uranyl sulfates, U polyhedra are square pentagonal bipyramids, with U atoms surrounded by 7 O atoms (two apical bonds of the bipyramid constitute the uranyl group). There are infinite chains formed by linking the adjacent bipyramids by two bridging sulfate groups. In fermiite the chain of [(UO2)(SO4)3]4– composition is parallel to [100]. The chains are linked through 5 different Na–O polyhedra.
Chemically related to oppenheimerite, klaprothite, péligotite, ottohahnite; plášilite and natrozippeite (basic salts); belakovskiite and meisserite (sulfate-hydrosulfates).
As typical for uranyl sulfates, U polyhedra are square pentagonal bipyramids, with U atoms surrounded by 7 O atoms (two apical bonds of the bipyramid constitute the uranyl group). There are infinite chains formed by linking the adjacent bipyramids by two bridging sulfate groups. In fermiite the chain of [(UO2)(SO4)3]4– composition is parallel to [100]. The chains are linked through 5 different Na–O polyhedra.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
46506
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:46506:3
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
bafe367b-ece2-46eb-af58-93c09caf9302
IMA Classification of Fermiite
Classification of Fermiite
7.EC.45
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
E : Uranyl sulfates
C : With medium-sized and large cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
E : Uranyl sulfates
C : With medium-sized and large cations
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 |
---|---|---|
Fmi | 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 Fermiite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Pale greenish-yellow
Streak:
White
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
no cleavage
no cleavage
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
3.23 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.313 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Fermiite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.527(1) nβ = 1.534(1) nγ = 1.567(1)
2V:
Measured: 51° , Calculated: 50°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.040
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Low
Dispersion:
r < v, distinct.
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X, Y = colourless, Z = pale greenish yellow; X = Y < Z
Chemistry of Fermiite
Mindat Formula:
Na4(UO2)(SO4)3 · 3H2O
Crystallography of Fermiite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
Pmn21
Setting:
Pmn21
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.8407(12) Å, b = 7.8695(5) Å, c = 15.3255(19) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.505 : 1 : 1.947
Unit Cell V:
1428 ų
Z:
4
Morphology:
Prisms
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
7.71 Å | (43) |
7.01 Å | (100) |
6.00 Å | (49) |
4.70 Å | (42) |
3.476 Å | (85) |
3.336 Å | (55) |
3.131 Å | (57) |
2.762 Å | (46) |
Comments:
From type description
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] | |
47f : [Uranyl (U⁶⁺) minerals] | |
Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Geological Setting:
"Common Associated Minerals" = general assemblage at the TL
Type Occurrence of Fermiite
General Appearance of Type Material:
prisms with {101} face habit, up to ~0.5 mm long; in subparallel or irregular aggregates. Other forms reported: {011}, {110}, {010}, {001}
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Cotype material is deposited in the collections of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90007, USA, catalogue numbers 65546, 65547 and 65548, and the Fersman Mineralogical Museum of the Russian
Geological Setting of Type Material:
As a secondary alteration phase
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Fermiite
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
7.EC. | Adolfpateraite | K(UO2)(SO4)(OH)(H2O) |
7.EC. | Beshtauite | (NH4)2(UO2)(SO4)2 · 2H2O |
7.EC. | Seaborgite | LiK2Na6(UO2)(SO4)5(SO3OH)(H2O) |
7.EC. | Nitscheite | (NH4)2[(UO2)2(SO4)3(H2O)2] · 3H2O |
7.EC. | Oldsite | K2Fe2+[(UO2)(SO4)2]2(H2O)8 |
7.EC. | Libbyite | (NH4)2(Na2◻)[(UO2)2(SO4)3(H2O)]2 · 7H2O |
7.EC.05 | Cobaltzippeite | Co(UO2)2(SO4)O2 · 3.5H2O |
7.EC.05 | Magnesiozippeite | Mg(UO2)2(SO4)O2 · 3.5H2O |
7.EC.05 | Nickelzippeite | Ni2(UO2)6(SO4)3(OH)10 · 16H2O |
7.EC.05 | Natrozippeite | Na5(UO2)8(SO4)4O5(OH)3 · 12H2O |
7.EC.05 | Zinczippeite | Zn(UO2)2(SO4)O2 · 3.5H2O |
7.EC.05 | Zippeite | K3(UO2)4(SO4)2O3(OH) · 3H2O |
7.EC.05 | Plavnoite | K0.8Mn0.6[(UO2)2O2(SO4)] · 3.5H2O |
7.EC.05 | Redcanyonite | (NH4)2Mn[(UO2)4O4(SO4)2](H2O)4 |
7.EC.05 | Ammoniozippeite | (NH4)2[(UO2)2(SO4)O2] · H2O |
7.EC.10 | Rabejacite | Ca(UO2)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
7.EC.10 | Svornostite | K2Mg[(UO2)(SO4)2]2 · 8H2O |
7.EC.15 | Marécottite | Mg3(UO2)8(SO4)4O6(OH)2 · 28H2O |
7.EC.15 | Sejkoraite-(Y) | Y2(UO2)8(SO4)4O6(OH)2 · 26H2O |
7.EC.20 | Pseudojohannite | Cu3(OH)2[(UO2)4(SO4)2] · 12H2O |
7.EC.40 | Bluelizardite | Na7(UO2)(SO4)4Cl(H2O)2 |
7.EC.45 | Meisserite | Na5(UO2)(SO4)3(SO3OH)(H2O) |
7.EC.45 | Oppenheimerite | Na2(UO2)(SO4)2 · 3H2O |
7.EC.50 | Plášilite | Na(UO2)(SO4)(OH) · 2H2O |
7.EC.50 | Feynmanite | Na(UO2)(SO4)(OH) · 3.5H2O |
7.EC.55 | Geschieberite | K2(UO2)(SO4)2 · 2H2O |
7.EC.60 | Ottohahnite | Na6(UO2)2(SO4)5(H2O)7 · 1.5H2O |
7.EC.65 | Péligotite | Na6(UO2)(SO4)4 · 4H2O |
7.EC.70 | Klaprothite | Na6(UO2)(SO4)4 · 4H2O |
7.EC.75 | Lussierite | Na10[(UO2)(SO4)4](SO4)2 · 3(H2O) |
7.EC.80 | Navrotskyite | K2Na10(UO2)3(SO4)9 · 2H2O |
7.EC.85 | Pseudomeisserite-(NH4) | (NH4)2Na4[(UO2)2(SO4)5] · 4H2O |
7.EC.90 | Wetherillite | Na2Mg(UO2)2(SO4)4 · 18H2O |
Fluorescence of Fermiite
Bright greenishwhite fluorescence
Other Information
Notes:
Easily soluble in RT H2O; Raman bands [cm-1]: 3540, 3465, 3285; (O–H stretching); 1606w (water bending); weak with shoulders: 1228, 1180, 1120, 1104, 1080 [ν3 sulfate groups antisymmetric stretching]; 1013s + 996s [ν1 sulfate groups symmetric stretching]; 922w [ν3 uranyl groups antisymmetric stretching]; 830vs with 860sh and 813sh [ν1 uranyl groups symmetric stretching]; 638w, 616w, 583w [ν4(δ) sulfate groups]; 506, 443, 384 [ν2(δ) sulfate bending]; 207 [ν2(δ) uranyl groups]; below 200 (lattice vibrations)
Health Risks:
Radioactive
Internet Links for Fermiite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-46506.html
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References for Fermiite
Reference List:
Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2015) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2014 and 2015. Newsletter No 23. Mineralogical Magazine, 79 (1) 51-58 doi:10.1180/minmag.2015.079.1.05
Kampf, Anthony R., Plášil, Jakub, Kasatkin, Anatoly V., Marty, Joe, Čejka, Jiří (2015) Fermiite, Na4(UO2)(SO4)3·3H2O and oppenheimerite, Na2(UO2)(SO4)2·3H2O, two new uranyl sulfate minerals from the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA. Mineralogical Magazine, 79 (5) 1123-1142 doi:10.1180/minmag.2015.079.5.8
Localities for Fermiite
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 (TL) | |
| Mineralogical Magazine +3 other references |
Kampf et al. (2018) |
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Blue Lizard Mine, Red Canyon Mining District, San Juan County, Utah, USA