{{Short description|Uranium carbonate mineral}} {{Infobox mineral | name = Liebigite | image = Liebigite-171838.jpg | alt = | caption = Liebigite crystals from the Ralston Buttes District, Jefferson County, Colorado | category = Carbonate mineral | formula = Ca<sub>2</sub>(UO<sub>2</sub>)(CO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub>·11H<sub>2</sub>O | IMAsymbol = Lbi<ref>{{Cite journal|last=Warr|first=L.N.|date=2021|title=IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols|url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/journals/mineralogical-magazine/article/imacnmnc-approved-mineral-symbols/62311F45ED37831D78603C6E6B25EE0A|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|url-access=subscription}}</ref> | strunz = 5.ED.20 | system = Orthorhombic | class = Pyramidal (mm2) <br/><small>(same H-M symbol)</small> | symmetry = ''Bba2'' | unit cell = a = 16.699, b = 17.557 <br/>c = 13.697&nbsp;[Å]; Z&nbsp;=&nbsp;8 | colour = Green to yellowish-green | habit = Rare as short prismatic crystals; scaly or granular, in aggregates, crusts, and films | twinning = | cleavage = Distinct on {100} | fracture = | tenacity = Brittle | mohs = {{frac|2|1|2}} – 3 | lustre = Vitreous, pearly | streak = | diaphaneity = Transparent, translucent | gravity = 2.41 | density = | polish = | opticalprop = Biaxial (+) | refractive = n<sub>α</sub> = 1.497 n<sub>β</sub> = 1.502 n<sub>γ</sub> = 1.539 | birefringence = δ = 0.042 | pleochroism = Visible: X = nearly colourless Y = Z = light yellowish green | 2V = 37° to 42° | dispersion = | extinction = | length fast/slow = | fluorescence = Strong green to blue-green under short and long wave UV | absorption = | melt = | fusibility = | diagnostic = | solubility = | impurities = | alteration = | other = 25px Radioactive | references = <ref name=Mindat>[http://www.mindat.org/min-2398.html Mindat.org]</ref><ref name=Webmin>[http://webmineral.com/data/Liebigite.shtml Webmineral data]</ref><ref name=HBM>[http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/liebigite.pdf Handbook of Mineralogy]</ref> }}

'''Liebigite''' is a uranium carbonate mineral with the chemical formula: Ca<sub>2</sub>(UO<sub>2</sub>)(CO<sub>3</sub>)<sub>3</sub>·11H<sub>2</sub>O. It is a secondary mineral occurring in the oxidizing zone of uranium-bearing ores. It is green to yellow green in colour. It has a Mohs hardness of about 3. Liebigite, like some other uranium minerals, is fluorescent under UV light and is also translucent. It crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, but only rarely forms distinct crystals. It typically forms encrustations or granular aggregates.<ref name=Mindat/><ref name=Webmin/><ref name=HBM/>

It was first described in 1848 for an occurrence in Adrianople, Edirne Province, Marmara region, Turkey.<ref name=Mindat/> It was named for German chemist Justus von Liebig (1803–1873).<ref name=HBM/>

==References== {{Reflist}}

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Category:Carbonate minerals Category:Uranium(VI) minerals Category:Orthorhombic minerals Category:Minerals in space group 41 Category:Justus von Liebig

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