Uricite is a rare organic mineral form of uric acid, C5H4N4O3. It is a soft yellowish white mineral which crystallizes in the monoclinic system.
| Uricite | |
|---|---|
| General | |
| Category | Mineral |
| Formula (repeating unit) | C5H4N4O3 |
| IMA symbol | Uri[1] |
| Strunz classification | 10.CA.40 |
| Crystal system | Monoclinic |
| Crystal class | Prismatic (2/m) (same H-M symbol) |
| Space group | P21/a |
| Unit cell | a = 14.46 Å, b = 7.4 Å c = 6.2 Å; β = 65.2°; Z = 4 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Yellowish white, colorless, light brown |
| Mohs scale hardness | 1–2 |
| Streak | White |
| Diaphaneity | Translucent |
| Specific gravity | 1.85 (calculated) |
| Optical properties | Biaxial |
| References | [2][3][4] |
Discovery and occurrence
editIt was first described in 1973 for an occurrence in bat guano in Dingo Donga Cave, Eucla, Western Australia.[2] The name is for its composition, anhydrous uric acid. It occurs with biphosphammite, brushite and syngenite at the type locality in Dingo Donga Cave.[3]
References
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ a b Uricite on Mindat.org
- ^ a b Handbook of Mineralogy
- ^ Uricite data on Webmineral
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