Crystal structure of the Urusovite. — Photo: Hoa112008 · Public domain
Urusovite
Urusovite is a rare copper aluminium arsenate mineral with formula: CuAlAsO5. It is a monoclinic-prismatic light green mineral. Its type locality and only reported occurrence is in the Novaya fumarole, Second scoria cone, North Breach, Great Fissure eruption, Tolbachik volcano, Kamchatka Oblast', Far-Eastern Region, Russia. It was named after Vadim Sergeevich Urusov, crystal chemist of Moscow State University. It was approved by the International Mineralogical Association in 1998.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Urusovite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the arsenate class, with the chemical formula CuAlO(AsO₄).
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/c).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 4; specific gravity 3.93; White streak; Vitreous luster; refractive index 1.704; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Uusv, IMA status: approved, named in 1998.
Forms as a sublimate at a volcanic fumarole.
It is found associated with Ponomarevite, piypite, sylvite, dolerophanite, euchlorine, tenorite, hematite.
The mineral was named to honor crystal chemist Vadim Sergeevich Urusov (b. 1936).