{{short description|Phosphate mineral}} {{Infobox mineral | name = Hazenite | category = Phosphate mineral <br />Struvite group | image = | caption = | formula = {{chem2|KNaMg2(PO4)2 * 14 H2O}} | IMAsymbol = Hz<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Warr|first=L.N.|date=2021|title=IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols|journal=Mineralogical Magazine|volume=85|issue=3|pages=291–320|doi=10.1180/mgm.2021.43|bibcode=2021MinM...85..291W|s2cid=235729616|doi-access=free}}</ref> | molweight = 276.331 g/mol | strunz = 8.CH.40 | dana = 40.01.01.03 | system = Orthorhombic | class = Dipyramidal (mmm) <br/>H–M Symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m) | symmetry = ''Pmnb'' | unit cell = a = 6.9349, b = 25.1737 <br/>c = 11.2189&nbsp;[Å]; Z&nbsp;=&nbsp;4 | color = Colorless | habit = Radiating elongated tabular or prismatic clusters or single bladed tabular crystals | twinning = | cleavage = {001} Good | fracture = | tenacity = Brittle | mohs = 2 – 2.5 | luster = Vitreous | polish = | refractive = n<sub>α</sub> =1.494(1), n<sub>β</sub> = 1.498(1), n<sub>γ</sub> = 1.503(1) | opticalprop = Biaxial (+) | 2V = 41° | birefringence = | dispersion = Strong r < v | pleochroism = | fluorescence= | absorption = | streak = White | gravity = 1.91 | density = | melt = | fusibility = | diagnostic = | solubility = In water | diaphaneity = Transparent | other = | references = <ref name=Mindat>{{cite web|title=Hazenite|url=http://www.mindat.org/min-38992.html|website=mindat.org|publisher=Hudson Institute of Mineralogy|accessdate=15 May 2018}}</ref><ref name=AmMin>{{cite journal|last1=Yang|first1=H.|last2=Sun|first2=H. J.|last3=Downs|first3=R. T.|title=Hazenite, KNaMg2(PO4)2{middle dot}14H2O, a new biologically related phosphate mineral, from Mono Lake, California, U.S.A.|journal=American Mineralogist|date=21 March 2011|volume=96|issue=4|pages=675–681|doi=10.2138/am.2011.3668|s2cid=97332746}}</ref><ref name=Webmineral>{{cite web|last1=Barthelmy|first1=Dave|title=Hazenite Mineral Data|url=http://webmineral.com/data/Hazenite.shtml#.WvsYUS-G9SM|website=webmineral.com|accessdate=15 May 2018}}</ref> }}

'''Hazenite''' is a hydrous phosphate mineral with chemical formula of {{chem2|KNaMg2(PO4)2 * 14 H2O}}, therefore a hydrous alkali magnesium phosphate. It is a member of the struvite group.<ref name=Webmineral/>

It was first described for an occurrence adjacent to Mono Lake, California, and named after Robert M. Hazen of the Carnegie Institute.<ref>{{cite news |title=New mineral to be named "Hazenite" after Robert Hazen |url=https://legacy.gl.ciw.edu/news/personnel_awards_and_honors/new_mineral_be_named_hazenite_after_robert_hazen |accessdate=15 May 2018 |work=Geophysical Laboratory |publisher=Carnegie Institution of Washington |language=en |archive-date=16 May 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180516015316/https://legacy.gl.ciw.edu/news/personnel_awards_and_honors/new_mineral_be_named_hazenite_after_robert_hazen |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was approved as a new mineral on February 28, 2008 by the Commission on New Minerals of the International Mineralogical Association.

It occurs as crystal clusters associated with decomposed cyanobacteria remnants on calcite or aragonite.<ref name=Webmineral/> It is precipitated by microbes when the lake has been dry for so long that phosphorus levels build up, poisoning the microbes. They dispose of the excess phosphorus by excreting hazenite crystals.<ref>Hazen told the Los Angeles Times, "They're basically microbial poop. People tell me, 'Hazenite happens.'" ({{cite news|last1=Netburn|first1=Deborah|title=Way beyond diamonds: A look at some of the rarest minerals in the world|url=http://www.latimes.com/science/sciencenow/la-sci-sn-rare-minerals-20160213-story.html|date =13 February 2016|accessdate=15 May 2018|work=Los Angeles Times}})</ref> The crystals disappear when it rains or the lake level rises.<ref>{{cite news|last1=Wernick|first1=Adam|title=Evidence that we are in the Age of Man: Scientists catalog more human-made minerals|url=http://wesa.fm/post/evidence-we-are-age-man-scientists-catalog-more-human-made-minerals#stream/0|accessdate=15 May 2018|work=90.5 WESA|publisher=World Media Foundation|date=21 May 2017|language=en}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

Category:Potassium minerals Category:Sodium minerals Category:Magnesium minerals Category:Phosphate minerals Category:Orthorhombic minerals Category:Minerals in space group 62