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Seaborgite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Seaborgite
Glenn T. Seaborg
Formula:
LiK2Na6(UO2)(SO4)5(SO3OH)(H2O)
Colour:
Light yellow
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
2.97
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named in honor of Glenn Theodore Seaborg (19 April 1912, Ishpeming, Michigan, U.S.A - 25 February 1999, Lafayette, California, U.S.A), chemist and professor at the University of California, Berkeley. He synthesized and discovered 10 transuranium elements; sharing in the 1951 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for this work. He discovered plutonium in 1940 and was Chairman of the United States Atomic Energy Commission (1961-1971). The element seaborgium and asteroid 4856 Seaborg are also named for him.
New structure type. Unique combination of elements. Also, the only currently approved Li-U mineral species (compare 'ferganite'), and the only lithium-bearing hydrogensulfate mineral.
One of few uranyl hydrogensulfate minerals, the others being belakovskiite and meisserite.
The “Mineral of the Year” award for 2021 has been assigned by the IMA to seaborgite: http://mineralogy-ima.org/docs/Seaborgite_reframe.pdf
One of few uranyl hydrogensulfate minerals, the others being belakovskiite and meisserite.
The “Mineral of the Year” award for 2021 has been assigned by the IMA to seaborgite: http://mineralogy-ima.org/docs/Seaborgite_reframe.pdf
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
54246
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:54246:9
Similar Names
| Sborgite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Na[B5O6(OH)4] · 3H2O |
IMA Classification of Seaborgite
Approved
IMA Formula:
LiK2Na6(U6+O2)(S6+O4)5(S6+O3OH)(H2O)
Approval year:
2019
First published:
2021
Type description reference:
Classification of Seaborgite
7.EC.
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 for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Sea | 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 Seaborgite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Light yellow
Streak:
Very pale yellow
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
On {100}
On {100}
Fracture:
Conchoidal
Density:
2.97(2) g/cm3 (Measured) 3.015 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Measured by floatation. Calculated from empirical formula. Calculated from ideal formula gives 3.004 g/cm3.
Optical Data of Seaborgite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.505(2) nβ = 1.522(2) nγ = 1.536(2)
2V:
Measured: 85° (1)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.031
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Low (negative)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
moderate, r < v
Optical Extinction:
X < Y ≈ Z
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X colorless, Y and Z light green-yellow
Comments:
X ^ a ≈ 10°
Chemistry of Seaborgite
Mindat Formula:
LiK2Na6(UO2)(SO4)5(SO3OH)(H2O)
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Seaborgite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.4511(4) Å, b = 14.487(1) Å, c = 15.873(1) Å
α = 76.295(5)°, β = 81.439(6)°, γ = 85.511(6)°
α = 76.295(5)°, β = 81.439(6)°, γ = 85.511(6)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.376 : 1 : 1.096
Unit Cell V:
1203.07 ų
Z:
2
Morphology:
Elongated on [100], flattened on {010}, and exhibit the forms {100}, {010}, {001}, and {101}
Twinning:
Observed under crossed polar. It is either by reflection on {001} or by rotation around [001]
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 14.67 Å | (97) |
| 5.320 Å | (100) |
| 5.093 Å | (67) |
| 4.733 Å | (75) |
| 3.489 Å | (65) |
| 3.331 Å | (61) |
| 3.078 Å | (61) |
| 2.954 Å | (98) |
Reference:
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] |
Type Occurrence of Seaborgite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Sprays of light-yellow, long flattened prisms or blades, up to about 0.2 mm in length
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Type material is deposited in the mineralogical collections of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, 900 Exposition Boulevard, Los Angeles, California 90007, USA, catalogue number 74163
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Seaborgite
Other Language Names for Seaborgite
Dutch:Seaborgiet
German:Seaborgit
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 1 photo of Seaborgite associated with Navrotskyite | K2Na10(UO2)3(SO4)9 · 2H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.EC. | Nitscheite | (NH4)2[(UO2)2(SO4)3(H2O)2] · 3H2O |
| 7.EC. | Beshtauite | (NH4)2(UO2)(SO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 7.EC. | Oldsite-(K) | K2Fe2+[(UO2)(SO4)2]2(H2O)8 |
| 7.EC. | Adolfpateraite | K(UO2)(SO4)(OH)(H2O) |
| 7.EC. | Libbyite | (NH4)2(Na2◻)[(UO2)2(SO4)3(H2O)]2 · 7H2O |
| 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 | Cobaltzippeite | Co(UO2)2(SO4)O2 · 3.5H2O |
| 7.EC.05 | Nickelzippeite | Ni2(UO2)6(SO4)3(OH)10 · 16H2O |
| 7.EC.05 | Redcanyonite | (NH4)2Mn[(UO2)4O4(SO4)2](H2O)4 |
| 7.EC.05 | Natrozippeite | Na5(UO2)8(SO4)4O5(OH)3 · 12H2O |
| 7.EC.05 | Magnesiozippeite | Mg(UO2)2(SO4)O2 · 3.5H2O |
| 7.EC.05 | Ammoniozippeite | (NH4)2[(UO2)2(SO4)O2] · H2O |
| 7.EC.05 | Plavnoite | K0.8Mn0.6[(UO2)2O2(SO4)] · 3.5H2O |
| 7.EC.10 | Rabejacite | Ca(UO2)4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 6H2O |
| 7.EC.10 | Svornostite-(NH4) | (NH4)2Mg(UO2)2(SO4)4(H2O)8 |
| 7.EC.10 | Svornostite-(K) | K2Mg[(UO2)(SO4)2]2(H2O)8 |
| 7.EC.15 | Sejkoraite-(Y) | Y2(UO2)8(SO4)4O6(OH)2 · 26H2O |
| 7.EC.15 | Marécottite | Mg3(UO2)8(SO4)4O6(OH)2 · 28H2O |
| 7.EC.15 | Hubbardite | Mg(H2O)6[(UO2)2O(OH)(SO4)]2 · 8H2O |
| 7.EC.20 | Pseudojohannite | Cu3(UO2)4(SO4)2O4(OH)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 | Fermiite | Na4(UO2)(SO4)3 · 3H2O |
| 7.EC.45 | Oppenheimerite | Na2(UO2)(SO4)2 · 3H2O |
| 7.EC.50 | Feynmanite | Na(UO2)(SO4)(OH) · 3.5H2O |
| 7.EC.50 | Plášilite | Na(UO2)(SO4)(OH) · 2H2O |
| 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 |
Radioactivity
Radioactivity:
| Element | % Content | Activity (Bq/kg) | Radiation Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uranium (U) | 21.8676% | 5,466,900 | α, β, γ |
| Thorium (Th) | 0.0000% | 0 | α, β, γ |
| Potassium (K) | 7.1839% | 2,227 | β, γ |
For comparison:
- Banana: ~15 Bq per fruit
- Granite: 1,000–3,000 Bq/kg
- EU exemption limit: 10,000 Bq/kg
Note: Risk is shown relative to daily recommended maximum exposure to non-background radiation of 1000 µSv/year. Note that natural background radiation averages around 2400 µSv/year so in reality these risks are probably extremely overstated! With infrequent handling and safe storage natural radioactive minerals do not usually pose much risk.
Interactive Simulator:
Note: The mass selector refers to the mass of radioactive mineral present, not the full specimen, also be aware that the matrix may also be radioactive, possibly more radioactive than this mineral!
Activity: –
| Distance | Dose rate | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cm | ||
| 10 cm | ||
| 1 m |
The external dose rate (D) from a radioactive mineral is estimated by summing the gamma radiation contributions from its Uranium, Thorium, and Potassium content, disregarding daughter-product which may have a significant effect in some cases (eg 'pitchblende'). This involves multiplying the activity (A, in Bq) of each element by its specific gamma ray constant (Γ), which accounts for its unique gamma emissions. The total unshielded dose at 1 cm is then scaled by the square of the distance (r, in cm) and multiplied by a shielding factor (μshield). This calculation provides a 'worst-case' or 'maximum risk' estimate because it assumes the sample is a point source and entirely neglects any self-shielding where radiation is absorbed within the mineral itself, meaning actual doses will typically be lower. The resulting dose rate (D) is expressed in microsieverts per hour (μSv/h).
D = ((AU × ΓU) + (ATh × ΓTh) + (AK × ΓK)) / r2 × μshield
Fluorescence of Seaborgite
Bright lime-green fluorescence under a 405 nm laser
Other Information
Notes:
Immediately soluble in H2O at room temperature
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 Seaborgite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-54246.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 Seaborgite
Reference List:
Miyawaki, Ritsuro, Hatert, Frédéric, Pasero, Marco, Mills, Stuart J. (2020) IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification (CNMNC) – Newsletter 53. European Journal of Mineralogy, 32 (1) 209-213 doi:10.5194/ejm-32-209-2020
Kampf, Anthony R., Olds, Travis A., Plášil, Jakub, Marty, Joe, Perry, Samuel N., Corcoran, Loretta, Burns, Peter C. (2021) Seaborgite, LiNa6K2(UO2)(SO4)5(SO3OH)(H2O), the first uranyl mineral containing lithium. American Mineralogist, 106 (1) 105-111 doi:10.2138/am-2020-7540
Localities for Seaborgite
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.
USA (TL) | |
| Miyawaki et al. (2020) +2 other references |
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Blue Lizard Mine, Red Canyon Mining District, San Juan County, Utah, USA