Schoepite - Shinkolobwe Mine, Shinkolobwe, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo

I would expect schoepite to form acicular to lath-like crystals, not such blocky individuals.
What's the opinion of Katanga / U mineral specialists?

Hi Uwe,

I can confirm that this is schoepite from Shinkolobwe. No doubt.
The more lath-like crystals exist but are always pseudomorphs after rutherfordine, ianthinite or other.
The MR volume 20 number 4 from 1989 page 285 shows a good example of the mineral as it occur at Shinkolobwe.

I hope this helps.

Take care and best regards.

Paul.

Hi,

Schoepite occurs most often in tabular crystals flattened on 001; there is a yellow variety known as epi-ianthinite. The presentation of this variety is the same as the ianthinite but the chemical composition and properties are those of schoepite ( op cit M.Deliens in "Les minéraux secondaires d'uranium du Zaïre" )
See a nice description of schoepite in: [www.agab.be]

Roger