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Marsaalamite-(Y)
A valid IMA mineral species
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Formula:
Y(MoO4)(OH)
Colour:
white
Lustre:
Earthy
Hardness:
3 - 4
Specific Gravity:
4.90 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named after the area where the mineral was discovered, the Marsa Alam District (i.e. urban and rural parts),Al-Bahr Al-Ahmer Governorate, Egypt. The mineral name includes the Levinson suffix(Y) to indicate the dominance of yttrium over the other lanthanides, in agreement with the nomenclature of REE mineral species.
Type Locality:
Isotypic with synthetic Y(MoO4)F
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
471485
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:471485:5
IMA Classification of Marsaalamite-(Y)
Approved
IMA Formula:
Y(Mo6+O4)(OH)
Approval year:
2024
Type description reference:
Mahdy, Nasser Mourad; Ondrejka, Martin; Bačík, Peter; Biagioni, Cristian; Sejkora, Jiří; Uher, Pavel; Števko, Martin; Förster, Hans-Jürgen; Mikuš, Tomáš (2025) Marsaalamite–(Y), Y(MoO4)OH, a new molybdate mineral from the Um Safi area, Marsa Alam District, Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. Mineralogical Magazine, 89 (3). 443-453 doi:10.1180/mgm.2024.103
Classification of Marsaalamite-(Y)
7.GB.
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
G : Molybdates, Wolframates and Niobates
B : With additional anions and/or H2O
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
G : Molybdates, Wolframates and Niobates
B : With additional anions and/or H2O
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Maa-Y | 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 Marsaalamite-(Y)
Earthy
Transparency:
Opaque
Colour:
White
Streak:
White
Hardness:
3 - 4 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Density:
4.90 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Marsaalamite-(Y)
Anisotropism:
distinct with greyish white tints
Bireflectance:
distinct
Reflectivity:
| Wavelength | R1 (%) | R2 (%) |
|---|---|---|
| 470nm | 29.9% | 24.3% |
| 546nm | 31.2% | 24.8% |
| 589nm | 30.8% | 24.9% |
| 650nm | 29.6% | 23.1% |
Graph shows reflectance levels at different wavelengths (in nm). Peak reflectance is 31.2%.
R1 shown in black, R2 shown in red
Colour in reflected light:
greyish white
Internal Reflections:
none
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
distinct with greyish white tints
Chemistry of Marsaalamite-(Y)
Mindat Formula:
Y(MoO4)(OH)
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Marsaalamite-(Y)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/c
Setting:
P21/c
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.1863(7) Å, b = 12.3203(7) Å, c = 6.6953(7) Å
β = 114.173(8)°
β = 114.173(8)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.421 : 1 : 0.543
Unit Cell V:
390.29 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 6.162 Å | (22) |
| 4.465 Å | (45) |
| 3.793 Å | (70) |
| 3.248 Å | (38) |
| 3.126 Å | (100) |
| 2.839 Å | (35) |
| 2.570 Å | (34) |
| 1.945 Å | (32) |
Locality:
Reference:
Mahdy, Nasser Mourad; Ondrejka, Martin; Bačík, Peter; Biagioni, Cristian; Sejkora, Jiří; Uher, Pavel; Števko, Martin; Förster, Hans-Jürgen; Mikuš, Tomáš (2025) Marsaalamite–(Y), Y(MoO4)OH, a new molybdate mineral from the Um Safi area, Marsa Alam District, Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. Mineralogical Magazine, 89 (3). 443-453 doi:10.1180/mgm.2024.103
Type Occurrence of Marsaalamite-(Y)
General Appearance of Type Material:
micaceous aggregates, with sizes varying from 0.1 to 1 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the collections of the Museo di Storia Naturale, Università di Pisa, Via Roma 79, 56011 Calci (PI), Italy, catalogue number 20074
Geological Setting of Type Material:
In highly evolved F-rich granite,
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Mahdy, Nasser Mourad; Ondrejka, Martin; Bačík, Peter; Biagioni, Cristian; Sejkora, Jiří; Uher, Pavel; Števko, Martin; Förster, Hans-Jürgen; Mikuš, Tomáš (2025) Marsaalamite–(Y), Y(MoO4)OH, a new molybdate mineral from the Um Safi area, Marsa Alam District, Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. Mineralogical Magazine, 89 (3). 443-453 doi:10.1180/mgm.2024.103
Synonyms of Marsaalamite-(Y)
Other Language Names for Marsaalamite-(Y)
Dutch:Marsaalamiet-(Y)
German:Marsaalamit-(Y)
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.GB. | Stunorthropite | (NH4)4[Mo2O6(MoO4)2] |
| 7.GB. | Hartkoppeite | Ca4Mn2+Mo6+6As5+4O32(OH)2(H2O)14 · 5H2O |
| 7.GB. | Wangpuite | K3(PO4)(Mo12O36) |
| 7.GB. | Alexearlite | Hg3S2(MoO4) |
| 7.GB. | Ootannite | Th4+2W6+4O16 · 5H2O |
| 7.GB. | Natromolybdite | Na2MoO4 · 2H2O |
| 7.GB.05 | Lindgrenite | Cu3(MoO4)2(OH)2 |
| 7.GB.10 | Szenicsite | Cu3(MoO4)(OH)4 |
| 7.GB.15 | 'UM1999-38-WO:CrV' | (V, Cr, W, O, H) [V:Cr:W ratio about 2:1:3] |
| 7.GB.15 | Huenite | Cu4(MoO4)3(OH)2 |
| 7.GB.15 | Cuprotungstite | Cu2(WO4)(OH)2 |
| 7.GB.20 | Phyllotungstite | (H2O,M)x(W,Fe)(O,OH)3 · yH2O (M = Ca, Cs, Pb or K) |
| 7.GB.25 | Rankachite | Ca0.5(V4+,V5+)(W6+,Fe3+)2O8(OH) · 2H2O |
| 7.GB.30 | Ferrimolybdite | Fe2(MoO4)3 · nH2O |
| 7.GB.35 | Mpororoite | WAlO3(OH)3 · 2(H2O) |
| 7.GB.35 | Anthoinite | AlWO3(OH)3 |
| 7.GB.40 | Obradovicite-KCu | [K2(H2O)17Cu(H2O)6][Mo8As2Fe3+3O34(OH)3] |
| 7.GB.45 | Paramendozavilite | [KAl4(H2O)30][Mo12P6Fe3+6O60(OH)13] |
| 7.GB.45 | Mendozavilite-NaFe | [Na2(H2O)15Fe3+(H2O)6][Mo8P2Fe3+3O35(OH)2] |
| 7.GB.45 | Obradovicite-NaCu | Na2(H2O)17Cu(H2O)6][Mo8As2Fe3+3O34(OH)3] |
| 7.GB.45 | Obradovicite-NaNa | [Na2(H2O)16Na(H2O)6][Mo8As2Fe3+3O33(OH)4] |
| 7.GB.50 | Tancaite-(Ce) | FeCe(MoO4)3 · 3H2O |
| 7.GB.50 | Mendozavilite-NaCu | [Na2(H2O)15Cu(H2O)6][Mo8P2Fe3+3O34(OH)3] |
| 7.GB.50 | Mendozavilite-KCa | [K2(H2O)15Ca(H2O)6][Mo8P2Fe3+3O34(OH)3] |
| 7.GB.60 | Peterandresenite | Mn4Nb6O19 · 14H2O |
| 7.GB.60 | Hansesmarkite | Ca2Mn2Nb6O19 · 20H2O |
| 7.GB.60 | Melcherite | Ba2Na2Mg[Nb6O19] · 6H2O |
| 7.GB.65 | Ichnusaite | Th(MoO4)2 · 3H2O |
| 7.GB.70 | Markascherite | Cu3(MoO4)(OH)4 |
| 7.GB.75 | Nuragheite | Th(MoO4)2 · H2O |
| 7.GB.80 | Ophirite | Ca2Mg4[Zn2Mn3+2(H2O)2(Fe3+W9O34)2] · 46H2O |
Other Information
Magnetism:
Non-Magnetic
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 Marsaalamite-(Y)
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-471485.html
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References for Marsaalamite-(Y)
Reference List:
Mahdy, N. M, Ondrejka, M., Bačík, P., Biagioni, C., Sejkora, J., Uher, P., Števko, M., Förster, H.-J., Mikuš, T. (2024) Marsaalamite-(Y), IMA 2024-050, in IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) – Newsletter 82. European Journal of Mineralogy, 36 (6). 1005-1010 doi:10.5194/ejm-36-1005-2024
Mahdy, Nasser Mourad; Ondrejka, Martin; Bačík, Peter; Biagioni, Cristian; Sejkora, Jiří; Uher, Pavel; Števko, Martin; Förster, Hans-Jürgen; Mikuš, Tomáš (2025) Marsaalamite–(Y), Y(MoO4)OH, a new molybdate mineral from the Um Safi area, Marsa Alam District, Central Eastern Desert of Egypt. Mineralogical Magazine, 89 (3). 443-453 doi:10.1180/mgm.2024.103
Localities for Marsaalamite-(Y)
Showing 1 localities.
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.
Egypt (TL) | |
| Mahdy et al. (2024) +2 other references |