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Metatorbernite

Big Photo

Musonoi Mine, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
© 2002 Thames Valley Minerals

Show Metatorbernite Photos (126)
Formula:
Cu(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
System:TetragonalColour:Pale green to dark green
Hardness:2½
Name:Named "meta" indicating a lower hydration level and its relationship to torbernite.


Metatorbernite Group.

A secondary mineral resulting from the weathering/dehydration of Torbernite. Forms also directly above 75° C.
Crystals can be either cloudy and dull or translucent and glassy.

Classification of Metatorbernite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/E.02-60
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.EB.10

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
E : Uranyl phosphates and arsenates
B : UO2:RO4 = 1:1
Dana 8th edition ID:40.2a.13.2

40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
2a : AB2(XO4)2·xH2O, containing (UO2)2+
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.11.11

19 : Phosphates
11 : Phosphates of U
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Type Occurrence of Metatorbernite

Type Locality:Schneeberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany
Year of Discovery:1786

Occurrences of Metatorbernite

Geological Setting:Secondary mineral in weathering uranium-bearing deposits.

Physical Properties of Metatorbernite

Lustre:Sub-Adamantine, Vitreous, Pearly
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Comment:Lustre pearly on {010}
Colour:Pale green to dark green
Comment:May exhibit anomalous interference colours.
Streak:pale green
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
Perfect on {001}
indistict on {010}
Density (measured):3.52 - 3.7 g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.7(5) g/cm3

Crystallography of Metatorbernite

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Class (H-M):4/m - Dipyramidal
Space Group:P4/n
Cell Parameters:a = 6.9756(5) Å, c = 17.349(2) Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 2.487
Unit Cell Volume:V 844.2 ų
Z:2
Morphology:Commonly as pseudomorphs after torbernite, square tabular crystals, flattened on {001} and modified by {011}, in lamellar or subparallel to sheaflike aggregates, rosettes.
Twinning:Merohedral twinning.
Comment:Data for synthetic crystal.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Metatorbernite

Type:Uniaxial (+/-)
RI values: nω = 1.618 - 1.631 nε = 1.622 - 1.628
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.004

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:r > v extreme
Pleochroism:Weak
Comments:O = Green
E = Pale green to blue
Comments:Anomalously biaxial in sectors.

Chemical Properties of Metatorbernite

Formula:
Cu(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Cu, H, O, P, U
All elements listed in formula:Cu, H, O, P, U
Common Impurities:Ca,Ba,Mg

Relationship of Metatorbernite to other Species

Member of Group:
Meta-autunite Group:
A(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(XO
 
4
)
 
2
·nH
 
2
O (n = 6, 7 or 8)
Common Associates:
TorberniteMeta-autunite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.EB.05Autunite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·11H
 
2
O
8.EB.05Heinrichite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
·10H
 
2
O
8.EB.05Kahlerite
Fe(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
·12H
 
2
O
8.EB.05Nováčekite-I
Mg(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
·12H
 
2
O
8.EB.05Saléeite
Mg(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·10H
 
2
O
8.EB.05Torbernite
Cu(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·12H
 
2
O
8.EB.05Uranocircite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 10H
 
2
O
8.EB.05Uranospinite
Ca(UO
 
2
)(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
·10H
 
2
O
8.EB.05Xiangjiangite
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)(UO
 
2
)
 
4
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 22H
 
2
O
8.EB.05Zeunerite
Cu(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
·12H
 
2
O
8.EB.05UM1997-18-AsO:HNiU
Ni(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
·6-8H
 
2
O
8.EB.05Metarauchite
Ni(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
·8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Bassetite
Fe
2+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Lehnerite
Mn
2+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Meta-autunite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
· 6-8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Metasaléeite
Mg(UO
 
2
)(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Metauranocircite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 7H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Metauranospinite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Metaheinrichite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Metakahlerite
Fe
2+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Metakirchheimerite
Co(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Metanováčekite
Mg(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4-8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Metazeunerite
Cu(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Przhevalskite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Meta-lodèvite
8.EB.15Abernathyite
K
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.EB.15Chernikovite
(H
 
3
O)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.EB.15Meta-ankoleite
K
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.EB.15Natrouranospinite
(Na
 
2
,Ca)(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
8.EB.15Trögerite
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
·12H
 
2
O (?)
8.EB.15Uramphite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.EB.15Uramarsite
(NH
 
4
,H
 
3
O)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
8.EB.20Threadgoldite
Al(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 8H
 
2
O
8.EB.20Chistyakovaite
Al(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[(F,OH)|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 6.5H
 
2
O
8.EB.25Arsenuranospathite
HAl(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
·40H
 
2
O
8.EB.25Uranospathite
Al
 
1-x
[]
 
x
)[(UO
 
2
)(PO
 
4
)]
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
20+3x
F
 
1-3x
, (0 < x < 0.33)
8.EB.30Vochtenite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Fe
3+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 12-13H
 
2
O
8.EB.35Coconinoite
Fe
3+
2
Al
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|SO
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 20H
 
2
O
8.EB.40Ranunculite
HAlUO
 
2
PO
 
4
(OH)
 
3
·4H
 
2
O
8.EB.45Triangulite
Al
 
3
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
5
·5H
 
2
O
8.EB.50Furongite
Al
 
13
(UO
 
2
)
 
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
13
(OH)
 
14
 · 58H
 
2
O
8.EB.55Sabugalite
HAl(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·16H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.11.1Lermontovite
UPO
 
4
·OH·H
 
2
O
19.11.2Metavanmeersscheite
U
4+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.11.3Vanmeersscheite
U
4+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.11.4Chernikovite
(H
 
3
O)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
19.11.5Vyacheslavite
UPO
 
4
(OH)·nH
 
2
O
19.11.6Metanatroautunite
NaUO
 
2
PO
 
4
·4H
 
2
O
19.11.7Yingjiangite
K
 
2
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
6
 · 6H
 
2
O
19.11.8Meta-ankoleite
K
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
19.11.9Uramphite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
19.11.10Torbernite
Cu(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·12H
 
2
O
19.11.12Saléeite
Mg(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·10H
 
2
O
19.11.13Ningyoite
CaU(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·1-2H
 
2
O
19.11.14Meta-autunite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
· 6-8H
 
2
O
19.11.15Autunite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·11H
 
2
O
19.11.16Pseudo-autunite
(H
 
3
O)
 
4
Ca
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
4
 · 5H
 
2
O (?)
19.11.17Phurcalite
Ca
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
[O|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 7H
 
2
O
19.11.18Phosphuranylite
(H
 
3
O)
 
3
KCa(UO
 
2
)
 
7
[O|PO
 
4
]
 
4
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.11.19Ulrichite
CaCu(UO
 
2
)[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.11.20Bergenite
Ca
 
2
Ba
 
4
[(UO
 
2
)
 
3
O
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
]
 
3
·16H
 
2
O
19.11.21Metauranocircite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 7H
 
2
O
19.11.22Uranocircite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 10H
 
2
O
19.11.23Ranunculite
HAlUO
 
2
PO
 
4
(OH)
 
3
·4H
 
2
O
19.11.24Triangulite
Al
 
3
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
5
·5H
 
2
O
19.11.25Mundite
Al(UO
 
2
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
3
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 5.5H
 
2
O
19.11.26Upalite
Al(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
O(OH)·7H
 
2
O
19.11.27Furongite
Al
 
13
(UO
 
2
)
 
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
13
(OH)
 
14
 · 58H
 
2
O
19.11.28Threadgoldite
Al(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 8H
 
2
O
19.11.29Phuralumite
Al
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 13H
 
2
O
19.11.30Moreauite
Al
 
3
UO
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
2
·13H
 
2
O
19.11.31Sabugalite
HAl(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·16H
 
2
O
19.11.32Uranospathite
Al
 
1-x
[]
 
x
)[(UO
 
2
)(PO
 
4
)]
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
20+3x
F
 
1-3x
, (0 < x < 0.33)
19.11.33Althupite
AlTh(UO
 
2
)
 
7
[O
 
2
|(OH)
 
5
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 15H
 
2
O
19.11.34Françoisite-(Nd)
(Nd,Ce,Sm)(UO
 
2
)
 
3
[O|OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 6H
 
2
O
19.11.35Kivuite
H
 
2
Th(UO
 
2
)
 
3
[O|OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 6H
 
2
O (?)
19.11.36Parsonsite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
19.11.37Dewindtite
Pb(UO
 
2
)
 
3
[OH|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.11.38Dumontite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.11.39Przhevalskite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
19.11.40Lehnerite
Mn
2+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.11.41Bassetite
Fe
2+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.11.42Vochtenite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Fe
3+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 12-13H
 
2
O

Other Names for Metatorbernite

Synonyms:
Meta-chalcoliteMeta-torbernite I
Other Languages:
German:Metakupferuranit
Metatorbernit
Russian:Метаторбернит
Spanish:Metatorbernita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Not fluorescent. (Epitaxial intergrowths with other uranyl mica may fluoresce, however.)
Other Information:Radioactive. Soluble in acids.
Health Warning:Contains uranium - always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking. Never lick or ingest. Avoid prolonged exposure in proximity of the body. Store away from inhabited areas.

References for Metatorbernite

Reference List:Pisani (1861) Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 52: 817.

Rinne (1901) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 618 (as Metakupferuranit).

Buchholz (1903) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 362.

Hallimond (1916) Mineralogical Magazine: 17: 326.

Stočes (1918) Rozpr. České Ak.: 27:, no. 27.

Bowen (1919) American Journal of Science: 48: 195.

Hallimond (1920) Mineralogical Magazine: 19: 43.

Buttgenbach (1924) Société géologique de Belgique, Liége, Bulletin, Annales: 47 (annex): 31C.

Hess (1924) US Geological Survey Bulletin 750D: 70.

Pelloux (1934) Atti Soc. Ligustica Sc. Lett. Genova: 13: 137.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 991-992.

Frondel, C. (1958) Systematic mineralogy of uranium and thorium. U.S. Geol. Sur. Bull. 1064, 208–211.

Ross, M., H.T. Evans, Jr., and D.E. Appleman (1964) Studies of the torbernite minerals (II): the crystal structure of meta-torbernite. American Mineralogist: 49: 1603–1621.

Bollettino della Societa dei Naturalisti in Napoli: 53: 99-104.

Stergiou, A.C., P.J. Rentzeperis, and S. Sklavounos (1993) Refinement of the crystal structure of metatorbernite. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie (1993): 205: 1-7.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 211: 701-702.

Atti della Societa Italiana di Scienze Naturali e del Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano: 84: 134-138.

Locock, A. J. & Burns, P. C. (2003): Crystal structures and synthesis of the copper-dominant members of the autunite and meta-autunite groups: torbernite, zeunerite, metatorbernite and metazeunerite. Canadian Mineralogist: 41: 489-502.

Burns, P.C. (2005) U 6+ minerals and inorganic compounds: insights into an expanded structural hierarchy of crystal structures. Canadian Mineralogist: 43: 1839-1894.

Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (2000) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume IV. Arsenates, Phosphates, Vanadates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 680pp.: 364.

Internet Links for Metatorbernite

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