Leószilárdite

Leószilárdite is a mineral discovered by Travis Olds of the University of Notre Dame and colleagues in the Markey Mine in Utah, USA.^[3] They named the mineral in honor of Leó Szilárd, Hungarian-born physicist and inventor. Leószilárdite is the first naturally occurring sodium- and magnesium-containing uranyl carbonate. It is rare and water-soluble, and was discovered on a seam of carbon-rich material deposited by an ancient stream. Groundwater reacted with the uraninite ore to create leószilárdite and other minerals.^[4]

Leószilárdite
General
Category	Carbonate mineral
Formula	Na6Mg(UO2)2(CO3)6·6H2O
IMA symbol	Lsz[1]
Crystal system	Monoclinic
Crystal class	2/m - Prismatic
Identification
Color	Pale yellow or tan
References	[2]

Localities

USA: Markey Mine, Red Canyon, White Canyon District, San Juan County, Utah^[2]