Abernathyita
Abernathyita is a mineral with formula K(UO₂)(AsO₄)·3H₂O, in the Arseniatos group. This specimen comes from Mina Descuido Nº 12004, Los Baños de Sierra Alhamilla, Pechina, Almería, Andalucía, España.
Description
La Nube. An exceptional cottony-looking piece with abernathyite on a magnesite and gypsum (sericolite-type) matrix. Under ultraviolet light it resembles a universe of stars. The green-yellow platy crystals shine even at the molecular level.
History of this specimen
An extremely rare mineral in Spain. This specimen is particularly notable for its richness, being far more heavily loaded with abernathyite than most known pieces from El Descuido, which usually display only one or two tiny specks. Meli collected it during a particularly grueling expedition into the deep, partially flooded, and highly hazardous lower levels of the mine. In 2017, it was initially misidentified as metaheinrichite and later as metanováčekite, until subsequent analytical testing definitively confirmed it to be abernathyite.
About Abernathyita
A scientific rarity. Abernathyite is a hydrated uranyl arsenate with potassium. Discovered in 1956 at the Temple Mountain mine, Utah, USA, and named in honour of Jess Abernathy, a uranium mine operator. It shows intense green fluorescence under UV. It occurs in uranium deposits as a secondary mineral and is extremely rare in Spain.
About the locality
Although now closed, the El Descuido mine at Baños de Sierra Alhamilla (Pechina, Almería) is an underground labyrinth with three entrances and numerous open galleries that once served to extract iron. In recent years, those who, like Amelia Molina, entered the galleries to recover these specimens had to use oxygen masks due to the depth, the high ambient humidity, and the more than likely presence of airborne radioactive gases and particles. The mine is recorded under no. 28470 (former concession no. 12004).
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0003
- Composition
- K(UO₂)(AsO₄)·3H₂O
- Name
- Abernathyita
- Group
- Arseniatos
- Category
- Núcleus Ardens
- Matrix
- Yeso, Magnesita
- Mine
- Mina Descuido Nº 12004
- District / Municipality
- Los Baños de Sierra Alhamilla, Pechina
- Province
- Almería
- Region
- Andalucía
- Country
- España
- Size (cm)
- 9 x 6 x 4
- Weight
- 136 g
- Ex-collection
- Francisco Becerra
- Etymology
- Named in honour of Jess Abernathy, prospector and uranium mine operator, and above all a direct supplier of very good material to geologists and laboratories.
- Quality
- Top
- Value trend
- Al alza
Related specimens
- Aragonito (Blanco (Bulboso)) — España
- Barita — España
- Calcita (Dorada) — España
- Jacinto de Compostela — España
- Magnetita — España
- Magnetita — España
- Malaquita (Microbotrioidal) — España
- Uranofana — España