Leesite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Leesite
Bryan K. Lees
Formula:
K(H2O)2[(UO2)4O2(OH)5] · 3H2O
Colour:
Orange-yellow
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
3.256 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in honor of Bryan K. Lees (b. 31 August 1957, Decatur, Illinois, USA), American mineral dealer and collector. Founder and president of Collector's Edge Minerals Inc., he has conducted extensive specimen mining operations including the famous Sweet Home mine rhodocrosite.
The second purely K-U oxide/hydroxide mineral after compreignacite.
A synthetic Na analogue is known.
A synthetic Na analogue is known.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
50774
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:50774:9
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
de9d6891-a868-4dc8-9312-d1b11d70b94f
IMA Classification of Leesite
Approved
Approval year:
2016
First published:
2017
Type description reference:
Olds, Travis A., Plášil, Jakub, Kampf, Anthony R., Spano, Tyler, Haynes, Patrick, Carlson, Shawn M., Burns, Peter C., Simonetti, Antonio, Mills, Owen P. (2018) Leesite, K(H2O)2[(UO2)4O2(OH)5]·3H2O, a new K-bearing schoepite-family mineral from the Jomac mine, San Juan County, Utah, U.S.A. American Mineralogist, 103 (1) 143-150 doi:10.2138/am-2018-6083
Classification of Leesite
4.GB.90
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
G : Uranyl Hydroxides
B : With additional cations (K, Ca, Ba, Pb, etc.); with mainly UO2(O,OH)5 pentagonal polyhedra
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
G : Uranyl Hydroxides
B : With additional cations (K, Ca, Ba, Pb, etc.); with mainly UO2(O,OH)5 pentagonal polyhedra
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Lee | 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 Leesite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Orange-yellow
Streak:
Light yellow
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
{100}
{100}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
3.256 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Leesite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.745(2) nβ = 1.761(2) nγ = 1.765(2)
2V:
Measured: 50° (2), Calculated: 52.7°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.020
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:
High
Dispersion:
Strong, r > v.
Optical Extinction:
X = a; Y = c; Z = b.
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
X = colorless; Y = Z = orange yellow.
Comments:
Absorption: X < Y ≃ Z.
Chemistry of Leesite
Mindat Formula:
K(H2O)2[(UO2)4O2(OH)5] · 3H2O
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Leesite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pbca
Setting:
Pbca
Cell Parameters:
a = 14.866(7) Å, b = 14.126(7) Å, c = 16.772(8) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.052 : 1 : 1.187
Unit Cell V:
3,522.07 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
8
Morphology:
Tablets, flattened and stacked on {100}, the only well-developed crystal form.
Twinning:
None observed.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 7.45 Å | (92) |
| 3.713 Å | (24) |
| 3.566 Å | (65) |
| 3.219 Å | (100) |
| 2.578 Å | (28) |
| 2.043 Å | (36) |
| 1.982 Å | (25) |
| 1.801 Å | (18) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47f : [Uranyl (U⁶⁺) minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Leesite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Aggregates of orange-yellow tablets up to 1 mm in diameter. Also as powdery masses in the interstices of gypsum crystals.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Cotypes: mineralogical collections of (1) the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, USA (catalogue numbers 66285, 66286 and 66287), and (2) the New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources Socorro, USA (catalogue number 19029)
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Olds, T.A., Plášil, J., Kampf, A.R., Spano, T., Haynes, P., Carlson, S.M., Burns, P.C., Simonetti, A., Mills, O.P. (2018): Leesite, K(H2O)2[(UO2)4O2(OH)5]∙3H2O, a new K-bearing schoepite-family mineral from the Jomac mine, San Juan County, Utah, U.S.A. American Mineralogist, 103, 143-150.
Synonyms of Leesite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 4 photos of Leesite associated with Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| 2 photos of Leesite associated with Compreignacite | K2(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 7H2O |
| 2 photos of Leesite associated with Magnesiozippeite | Mg(UO2)2(SO4)O2 · 3.5H2O |
| 1 photo of Leesite associated with Sklodowskite | Mg(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 6H2O |
| 1 photo of Leesite associated with Blatonite | (UO2)CO3 · H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.GB.05 | Agrinierite | K2(Ca,Sr)[(UO2)3O3(OH)2]2 · 5H2O |
| 4.GB.05 | Compreignacite | K2(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 7H2O |
| 4.GB.05 | Rameauite | K2Ca(UO2)6O6(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 4.GB.10 | Becquerelite | Ca(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 8H2O |
| 4.GB.10 | Billietite | Ba(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 4-8H2O |
| 4.GB.10 | Protasite | Ba(UO2)3O3(OH)2 · 3H2O |
| 4.GB.15 | Richetite | (Fe3+,Mg)Pb 8.6(UO2)36O36(OH)24 · 41H2O |
| 4.GB.20 | Bauranoite | Ba(UO2)2(OH)6 · 1-2H2O |
| 4.GB.20 | Calciouranoite | (Ca,Ba,Pb)U2O7 · 5H2O |
| 4.GB.20 | Metacalciouranoite | (Ca,Ba,Pb,K2)U2O7 · 2H2O |
| 4.GB.25 | Fourmarierite | Pb(UO2)4O3(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| 4.GB.30 | Wölsendorfite | Pb7(UO2)14O19(OH)4 · 12H2O |
| 4.GB.35 | Masuyite | Pb(UO2)3O3(OH)2 · 3H2O |
| 4.GB.40 | Metavandendriesscheite | PbU7O22 · nH2O n < 12 |
| 4.GB.40 | Vandendriesscheite | PbU7O22 · 12H2O |
| 4.GB.45 | Vandenbrandeite | Cu(UO2)(OH)4 |
| 4.GB.50 | Sayrite | Pb2(UO2)5O6(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 4.GB.55 | Curite | Pb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2 |
| 4.GB.60 | Iriginite | (UO2)Mo2O7 · 3H2O |
| 4.GB.65 | Uranosphaerite | Bi(UO2)O2(OH) |
| 4.GB.70 | Holfertite | CaxU6+2-xTi(O8-xOH4x) · 3H2O |
| 4.GB.75 | Carlosbarbosaite | (UO2)2Nb2O6(OH)2 · 2H2O |
| 4.GB.80 | Gauthierite | KPb[(UO2)7O5(OH)7] · 8H2O |
| 4.GB.85 | Kroupaite | KPb0.5[(UO2)8O4(OH)10] · 10H2O |
| 4.GB.95 | Shinkolobweite | Pb1.25[U5+(H2O)2(U6+O2)5O8(OH)2](H2O)5 |
| 4.GB.95 | Nollmotzite | Mg[U5+(U6+O2)2O4F3] · 4H2O |
Fluorescence of Leesite
None
Other Information
Notes:
Readily soluble in dilute HCl and HNO3, with no effervescence.
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 Leesite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-50774.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Leesite
Reference List:
Hålenius, U., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2016) New minerals and nomenclature modifications approved in 2016, CNMNC Newsletter No 34. Mineralogical Magazine, 80 (7) 1315-1321 doi:10.1180/minmag.2016.080.086
Olds, Travis A., Plášil, Jakub, Kampf, Anthony R., Spano, Tyler, Haynes, Patrick, Carlson, Shawn M., Burns, Peter C., Simonetti, Antonio, Mills, Owen P. (2018) Leesite, K(H2O)2[(UO2)4O2(OH)5]·3H2O, a new K-bearing schoepite-family mineral from the Jomac mine, San Juan County, Utah, U.S.A. American Mineralogist, 103 (1) 143-150 doi:10.2138/am-2018-6083
Localities for Leesite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Czech Republic | |
| Möhn et al. (12/2021) |
Slovakia | |
| Ferenc Š. et al. (2018) |
USA (TL) | |
| Mineralogical Magazine +2 other references |
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Jomac Mine, White Canyon Mining District, San Juan County, Utah, USA