| Ichnusaite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Molybdate minerals |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Th(MoO4)2•3H2O |
| IMA symbol | Ich |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Crystal class | Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol) |
| Space group | P21/b |
| Unit cell | a = 9.68, b = 10.38 c = 9.38 , β = 90.00° (approximated) Z = 4 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Colorless |
| Cleavage | {100}, perfect |
| Tenacity | Brittle |
| Luster | Pearly adamantine |
| Other characteristics |  Radioactive |
| References | |
Ichnusaite (pronounced iknusa-ait) is a very rarely found mineral. Ichnusaite is a natural compound of thorium and molybdenum with the formula Th(MoO4)2·3H2O. It was discovered in Su Seinargiu, Sarroch, Cagliari, Sardegna, Italy in 2013. The name is from the old Greek name of Sardinia, Ιχνουσσα, Ichnusa.
This locality is also a place of discovery of the second natural thorium molybdate - nuragheite.
Occurrence and association
Muscovite, nuragheite, and xenotime-(Y) are the associates of ichnusaite.
Notes on chemistry
Ichnusaite is chemically pure.
Crystal structure
The main features of the crystal structure of ichnusaite are:
- electroneutral Th(MoO4)2(H2O)2 (100) sheets
- ThO7(H2O)2 and MoO4 polyhedra polymerize to give the above sheets
- sheets are stacked along and held by hydrogen bonds
Bibliography
- Orlandi, P., Biagioni, C., Bindi, L. und Nestola, F. (2013) Ichnusaite, IMA 2013- 087. CNMNC Newsletter No. 18, December 2013, page 3255; Mineralogical Magazine, 77, 3249-325
- http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/AMS/result.php?mineral=Ichnusaite
- https://web.archive.org/web/20160521090233/http://ammin.geoscienceworld.org/content/99/10/2089
- https://arpi.unipi.it/handle/11568/638691#.Vr93OUKuAt4
- http://www.degruyter.com/dg/viewarticle/j$002fammin.2014.99.issue-10$002fam-2014-4844$002fam-2014-4844.xml
- https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35569659
References
- Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
- ^ Orlandi, Paolo; Biagioni, Cristian; Bindi, Luca; Nestola, Fabrizio (2014-10-01). "Ichnusaite, Th(MoO4)2·3H2O, the first natural thorium molybdate: Occurrence, description, and crystal structure". American Mineralogist. 99 (10): 2089–2094. doi:10.2138/am-2014-4844. ISSN 0003-004X. S2CID 97061833. Archived from the original on 2016-05-21. Retrieved 2016-02-13.
- ^ "Ichnusaite- Mindat.org". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
- Mineralienatlas
- "Ichnusaite". www.mindat.org. Retrieved 2021-05-07.
- "Nuragheite - Mindat.org". Mindat.org. Retrieved 2016-03-06.
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