Markcooperite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Markcooperite
Mark Cooper
Formula:
Pb2(UO2)(TeO6)
Colour:
Orange
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
8.496 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in honor of Mr. Mark Cooper, Canadian mineralogist, University of Manitoba.
The unique feature of the mineral, not observed in any other species, is U-Te diadochy substitution.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
39671
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:39671:8
IMA Classification of Markcooperite
Classification of Markcooperite
7.EB.25
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
E : Uranyl sulfates
B : With medium-sized cations
7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
E : Uranyl sulfates
B : With medium-sized 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Mcp | 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 Markcooperite
Adamantine
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Orange
Streak:
Light orange
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Estimated
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
perfect on {100}
perfect on {100}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
8.496 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
Calculation based on the empirical formula.
Optical Data of Markcooperite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 2.11 nβ = 2.12 nγ = 2.29
2V:
Measured: 30° (5)
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.180
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:
Very High (positive)
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:
None observed
Pleochroism:
Weak
Comments:
Shades of orange, absorption X>Y=Z
Comments:
Orientation: X = c, Y = b, Z = a
Chemistry of Markcooperite
Mindat Formula:
Pb2(UO2)(TeO6)
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Markcooperite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.7217(16) Å, b = 7.7476(2) Å, c = 7.889(2) Å
β = 90.833(5)°
β = 90.833(5)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.739 : 1 : 1.018
Unit Cell V:
349.7 ų
Z:
2
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Show
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Big Balls | Small Balls | Just Balls | Spacefill
Polyhedra Off | Si Polyhedra | All Polyhedra
Remove metal-metal sticks
Display Options
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
Black Background | White Background
Perspective On | Perspective Off
2D | Stereo | Red-Blue | Red-Cyan
View
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
CIF File Best | x | y | z | a | b | c
Rotation
Stop | Start
Stop | Start
Labels
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Console Off | On | Grey | Yellow
Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0017720 | Markcooperite | Kampf A R, Mills S J, Housley R M, Marty J, Thorne B (2010) Lead-tellurium oxysalts from Otto Mountain near Baker, California: IV. Markcooperite, Pb(UO2)Te6+O6, the first natural uranyl tellurate American Mineralogist 95 1554-1559 |  | 2010 | Otto Mountain, Baker, California | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.501 Å | (29) |
| 3.235 Å | (100) |
| 2.985 Å | (37) |
| 2.873 Å | (40) |
| 2.774 Å | (30) |
| 2.220 Å | (23) |
| 1.990 Å | (21) |
| 1.715 Å | (22) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] | |
| 47f : [Uranyl (U⁶⁺) minerals] | |
| 47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Markcooperite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Pseudotetragonal prisms to 0.2 mm with the forms {100} and {011}, and botryoidal intergrowths to 0.3 mm in diameter. No twinning was observed.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, catalog numbers 62510, 62511, and 62512 (three co-type specimens).
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Fracture surfaces and small vugs in brecciated quartz veins.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Markcooperite
Other Language Names for Markcooperite
Dutch:Markcooperiet
German:Markcooperit
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 19 photos of Markcooperite associated with Housleyite | Pb6CuTe6+4O18(OH)2 |
| 11 photos of Markcooperite associated with Eckhardite | (Ca,Pb)Cu2+Te6+O5(H2O) |
| 10 photos of Markcooperite associated with Ottoite | Pb2TeO5 |
| 5 photos of Markcooperite associated with Khinite | Pb2+Cu2+3[Te6+O6](OH)2 |
| 4 photos of Markcooperite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 4 photos of Markcooperite associated with Chlorargyrite | AgCl |
| 3 photos of Markcooperite associated with Thorneite | Pb6(Te6+2O10)(CO3)Cl2(H2O) |
| 2 photos of Markcooperite associated with Native Gold | Au |
| 2 photos of Markcooperite associated with Timroseite | Pb2Cu5(TeO6)2(OH)2 |
| 1 photo of Markcooperite associated with Pyrolusite | Mn4+O2 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 7.EB. | Bobcookite | NaAl(UO2)2(SO4)4 · 18H2O |
| 7.EB. | Zincorietveldite | Zn(UO2)(SO4)2(H2O)5 |
| 7.EB. | Chenowethite | Mg(H2O)6[(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2] · 5H2O |
| 7.EB.I | Shinarumpite | [Co(H2O)6][(UO2)(SO4)2(H2O)] · 4H2O |
| 7.EB. | Alwilkinsite-(Y) | Y(UO2)3(SO4)2O(OH)3(H2O)7 · 7H2O |
| 7.EB. | Gurzhiite | Al(UO2)(SO4)2F · 10H2O |
| 7.EB.05 | Johannite | Cu(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| 7.EB.05 | Meitnerite | (NH4)(UO2)(SO4)(OH) · 2H2O |
| 7.EB.10 | Rietveldite | Fe(UO2)(SO4)2(H2O)5 |
| 7.EB.10 | Deliensite | Fe[(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2](H2O)7 |
| 7.EB.15 | Strassmannite | Al(UO2)(SO4)2F · 16H2O |
| 7.EB.15 | Leydetite | Fe(UO2)(SO4)2 · 11H2O |
| 7.EB.15 | Magnesioleydetite | Mg(UO2)(SO4)2 · 11H2O |
| 7.EB.20 | Greenlizardite | (NH4)Na(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2 · 4H2O |
Radioactivity
Radioactivity:
| Element | % Content | Activity (Bq/kg) | Radiation Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uranium (U) | 26.2139% | 6,553,475 | α, β, γ |
| Thorium (Th) | 0.0000% | 0 | α, β, γ |
| Potassium (K) | 0.0000% | 0 | 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 Markcooperite
Not fluorescent.
Other Information
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 Markcooperite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-39671.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Markcooperite
Localities for Markcooperite
Showing 5 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.
DR Congo | |
| Analyzed by Joy Desor. |
USA | |
| Kampf et al. (2010) |
| Kampf et al. (2010) | |
| Kampf et al. (2010) | |
| Marek Chorazewicz (2026) |
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Bird Nest drift, Otto Mountain, Baker, Soda Mountains, Silver Lake Mining District, San Bernardino County, California, USA