Abelsonite Locality: Green River Formation, Uintah County, Utah, USA Reddish abelsonite crystal. Crystal size 1.8 mm. Collection and photo Thomas Witzke. — Photo: Thomas Witzke · CC BY-SA 3.0 de
Abelsonite
A nickel-bearing organic mineral — a natural porphyrin — discovered in Utah in 1969 and named for geochemist Philip Abelson.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Abelsonite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the organic mineral class, with the chemical formula NiC₃₁H₃₂N₄.
It crystallizes in the triclinic crystal system (space group P-1).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 3; specific gravity 1.33–1.48; Submetallic to adamantine luster.
IMA symbol Abl, IMA status: approved, named in 1975.
Forms secondarily on fracture surfaces in oil shale.
It is found associated with Albite, orthoclase, pyrite, quartz, mica, dolomite, analcime.
The mineral was named to honor Philip Hauge Abelson (1913–), American organic geochemist, President of the Carnegie Institution of Washington, D.C., USA, and Editor of Science.