Redcanyonite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Redcanyonite
Formula:
(NH4)2Mn[(UO2)4O4(SO4)2](H2O)4
Colour:
Red-orange
Hardness:
2
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named for Red Canyon in southeast Utah, USA.
Structurally related to zippeite. Unique combination of elements; the first mineral to combine N, Mn, and U.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
50786
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:50786:4
Classification of Redcanyonite
The zippeite-type sheet
The uranyl sulfate sheet topology found in the members of the zippeite group.
IMA Classification of Redcanyonite
Approved
IMA Formula:
(N3-H4)2Mn2+[(U6+O2)4O4(S6+O4)2](H2O)4
Approval year:
2016
First published:
2018
Type description reference:
Olds, Travis A., Plášil, Jakub, Kampf, Anthony R., Burns, Peter C., Nash, Barbara P., Marty, Joe, Rose, Timothy P., Carlson, Shawn M. (2018) Redcanyonite, (NH4)2Mn[(UO2)4O4(SO4)2](H2O)4, a new zippeite-group mineral from the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA. Mineralogical Magazine, 82 (6) 1261-1275 doi:10.1180/minmag.2017.081.094
7.EC.05
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rcy | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Redcanyonite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Redcanyonite
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Red-orange
Streak:
Pale orange
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
on {010}
on {010}
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Optical Data of Redcanyonite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.725(3) nβ = 1.755(3) nγ = 1.850(5)
2V:
Measured: 60° (2), Calculated: 61.3°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.125
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:
r < v, very strong
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X = orange, Y = yellow and Z = orange; Y << X < Z
Comments:
The optical orientation is X = b, Y ≈ c*, Z ≈ a
Chemistry of Redcanyonite
Mindat Formula:
(NH4)2Mn[(UO2)4O4(SO4)2](H2O)4
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Redcanyonite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
B2/m
Setting:
C2/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.657(2) Å, b = 14.155(3) Å, c = 8.843(2) Å
β = 104.12(2)°
β = 104.12(2)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.612 : 1 : 0.625
Unit Cell V:
1050.9 ų
Z:
2
Morphology:
Radial aggregates, needles and blades (individually reaching up to 0.2 mm in length,) with aggregates measuring up to 1 mm in diameter. Crystals are flattened on {010} and elongated along [100]. Forms observed: {010}, {001}, {101}, and {10-1}.
Twinning:
Twinning is ubiquitous, by 180° rotation on [100].
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 8.55 Å | (21) |
| 7.19 Å | (100) |
| 3.600 Å | (33) |
| 3.453 Å | (56) |
| 3.112 Å | (72) |
| 2.657 Å | (23) |
| 2.491 Å | (21) |
| 2.069 Å | (20) |
Reference:
Olds, Travis A., Plášil, Jakub, Kampf, Anthony R., Burns, Peter C., Nash, Barbara P., Marty, Joe, Rose, Timothy P., Carlson, Shawn M. (2018) Redcanyonite, (NH4)2Mn[(UO2)4O4(SO4)2](H2O)4, a new zippeite-group mineral from the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA. Mineralogical Magazine, 82 (6) 1261-1275 doi:10.1180/minmag.2017.081.094
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47b : [Sulfates and sulfites] | |
| 47e : [Vanadates, chromates, manganates] | |
| 47f : [Uranyl (U⁶⁺) minerals] | |
| Stage 10a: Neoproterozoic oxygenation/terrestrial biosphere | <0.6 |
| 53 : Other minerals with taphonomic origins | <0.4 |
Type Occurrence of Redcanyonite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Radial aggregates of red–orange needles and blades individually reaching up to 0.2 mm long, with aggregates measuring up to 1 mm in diameter
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Mineralogical collections of the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, Los Angeles, California, USA (catalogue numbers 66293, 66294, 66295, 66296, 66297 and 66298)
Empirical Formula of Type Material:
(NH4)2.02(Mn0.49Cu0.09Zn0.06)Σ0.64H+0.72[(UO2)4O4(S0.99P0.01O4)2](H2O)4
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Olds, Travis A., Plášil, Jakub, Kampf, Anthony R., Burns, Peter C., Nash, Barbara P., Marty, Joe, Rose, Timothy P., Carlson, Shawn M. (2018) Redcanyonite, (NH4)2Mn[(UO2)4O4(SO4)2](H2O)4, a new zippeite-group mineral from the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA. Mineralogical Magazine, 82 (6) 1261-1275 doi:10.1180/minmag.2017.081.094
Synonyms of Redcanyonite
Other Language Names for Redcanyonite
Dutch:Redcanyoniet
German:Redcanyonit
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 8 photos of Redcanyonite associated with Devilline | CaCu4(SO4)2(OH)6 · 3H2O |
| 5 photos of Redcanyonite associated with Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| 3 photos of Redcanyonite associated with Alwilkinsite-(Y) | Y(UO2)3(SO4)2O(OH)3(H2O)7 · 7H2O |
| 2 photos of Redcanyonite associated with Pentahydrite | MgSO4 · 5H2O |
| 2 photos of Redcanyonite associated with Natrozippeite | Na5(UO2)8(SO4)4O5(OH)3 · 12H2O |
| 1 photo of Redcanyonite associated with Johannite | Cu(UO2)2(SO4)2(OH)2 · 8H2O |
| 1 photo of Redcanyonite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 1 photo of Redcanyonite associated with Jáchymovite | (UO2)8(SO4)(OH)14 · 13H2O |
| 1 photo of Redcanyonite associated with Ammoniozippeite | (NH4)2[(UO2)2(SO4)O2] · H2O |
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. | Seaborgite | LiK2Na6(UO2)(SO4)5(SO3OH)(H2O) |
| 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 | 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
Fluorescence of Redcanyonite
Nonfluorescent.
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 Redcanyonite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-50786.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Redcanyonite
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., Burns, Peter C., Nash, Barbara P., Marty, Joe, Rose, Timothy P., Carlson, Shawn M. (2018) Redcanyonite, (NH4)2Mn[(UO2)4O4(SO4)2](H2O)4, a new zippeite-group mineral from the Blue Lizard mine, San Juan County, Utah, USA. Mineralogical Magazine, 82 (6) 1261-1275 doi:10.1180/minmag.2017.081.094
Localities for Redcanyonite
Showing 2 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) | |
| Hålenius et al. (2016) +2 other references |
| Kampf et al. (2018) |
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Blue Lizard Mine, Red Canyon Mining District, San Juan County, Utah, USA