Mindat Logo
Home Page Log In Message Board The Mindat Directory
Register Search Pages Chat Now! (6 online) Mindat Auctions

Oursinite

Big Photo

Shinkolobwe Mine (Kasolo Mine), Shinkolobwe, Central area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
© sandro maggia

Formula:
(Co,Mg)(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Pale yellow
Hardness:3 - 3½
Name:From the french oursin, in allusion to its appearance like a sea urchin


Uranophane Group

Classification of Oursinite

IMA status:Approved 1982
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/B.34-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AK.10

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
K : Uranyl neso- and polysilicates
Dana 8th edition ID:53.3.1.7

53 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups and Other Anions or Complex Cations
3 : Insular SiO4 Groups and Other Anions of Complex Cations with (UO2)
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.16.19

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
16 : Silicates of U
mindat.org URL:http://www.mindat.org/min-3047.html
Please feel free to link to this page.

Type Occurrence of Oursinite

Type Locality:Shinkolobwe Mine (Kasolo Mine), Shinkolobwe, Central area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)

Physical Properties of Oursinite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Pale yellow
Hardness (Mohs):3 - 3½
Cleavage:Distinct/Good
on {hk0}
Density (calculated):3.674 g/cm3

Crystallography of Oursinite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Cmca (C2/m 2/c 21/a)
Cell Parameters:a = 7.0494Å, b = 17.55Å, c = 12.734Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.402 : 1 : 0.726
Unit Cell Volume:V 1575.4 ų
Z:4
Morphology:Radiating aggregates of acicular crystals to 1mm.

Optical Data of Oursinite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.624 nβ = 1.640 nγ = 1.650
2V:Measured: 76° , Calculated: 76°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.026

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:weak

Chemical Properties of Oursinite

Formula:
(Co,Mg)(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Co, H, O, Si, U
All elements listed in formula:Co, H, Mg, O, Si, U
Common Impurities:Ni

Relationship of Oursinite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.AK.05Soddyite
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
SiO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
9.AK.10Cuprosklodowskite
Cu(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.AK.10Sklodowskite
Mg(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
9.AK.15Boltwoodite
(K,Na)(UO
 
2
)[HSiO
 
4
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
9.AK.15Kasolite
Pb(UO
 
2
)[SiO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
9.AK.15Natroboltwoodite
(H
 
3
O)(Na,K)UO
 
2
SiO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
9.AK.15Uranophane
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
9.AK.15Beta-Uranophane
9.AK.20Swamboite
UH
 
6
(UO
 
2
)
 
6
(SiO
 
4
)
 
6
·30H
 
2
O
9.AK.25Haiweeite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[Si
 
5
O
 
12
(OH)
 
2
]·4.5H
 
2
O
9.AK.25Metahaiweeite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
·nH
 
2
O
9.AK.25Ranquilite
9.AK.30Weeksite
K
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)
 
3
·4H
 
2
O
9.AK.30Coutinhoite
Th
 
x
Ba
 
(1-2x)
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
13
·(H
 
2
O)
 
1+y
 (0 < x < 0.5 and 0 < y < (2+x))
9.AK.35Ursilite
(Mg,Ca)
 
4
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)
 
5.5
(OH)
 
5
·13H
 
2
O
9.AK.35Magnioursilite
Mg
 
4
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)
 
5
(OH)
 
6
·20H
 
2
O
9.AK.35Calcioursilite
Ca
 
4
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)
 
5
(OH)
 
6
·15H
 
2
O
9.AK.40Uranosilite
UO
 
3
 · 7SiO
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.16.1Uranosilite
UO
 
3
 · 7SiO
 
2
14.16.2Coffinite
(U,Th)[(OH)
 
4x
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-x
]
14.16.3Soddyite
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
SiO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
14.16.4Swamboite
UH
 
6
(UO
 
2
)
 
6
(SiO
 
4
)
 
6
·30H
 
2
O
14.16.5Weeksite
K
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)
 
3
·4H
 
2
O
14.16.6Boltwoodite
(K,Na)(UO
 
2
)[HSiO
 
4
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
14.16.7Natroboltwoodite
(H
 
3
O)(Na,K)UO
 
2
SiO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
14.16.8Cuprosklodowskite
Cu(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
14.16.9Sklodowskite
Mg(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
14.16.10Uranophane
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
14.16.11β-Uranophane
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
14.16.12Haiweeite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[Si
 
5
O
 
12
(OH)
 
2
]·4.5H
 
2
O
14.16.13Metahaiweeite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
·nH
 
2
O
14.16.14Thorogummite
(Th,U)[(OH)
 
4x
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-x
]
14.16.15Steacyite
([ ],K)(Na,Ca)
 
2
(Th,U)[Si
 
8
O
 
20
]
14.16.16Ekanite
(Ca,Fe
2+
 
,Pb)
 
2
(Th,U)[Si
 
8
O
 
20
]
14.16.17Kasolite
Pb(UO
 
2
)[SiO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
14.16.18 Orlite
Pb
 
3
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O

Other Names for Oursinite

Synonyms:
IMA1982-051
Other Languages:
German:Oursinit
Spanish:Oursinita

Other Information

Health Warning:Radioactive

References for Oursinite

Reference List:Deliens, M. and Piret, P. (1983) L'oursinite (Co0.86Mg0.10Ni0.04)0.2UO3·2SiO2·6H2O, nouveau mineral de Shinkolobwe, Shaba, Zaïre. Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie (1983): 196: 305-308.

American Mineralogist (1984): 69: 567.

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

Burns, P.C. & Hughes Kubatko, K.-A. (2006): A novel arrangement of silicate tetrahedra in the uranyl sheet of oursinite, (Co0.8Mg0.2)[(UO2)(SiO3OH)]2(H2O)6. American Mineralogist, 91, 333-336.

Kobatko, K.-A. and Burns, P.C. (2006) A novel arrangement of silicate tetrahedra in the uranyl silicate sheetof oursinite, (Co0.8Mg0.2)[(UO2)(SiO3OH)]2(H2O)6. American Mineralogist: 91: .

Articles/Blogs about Oursinite

Internet Links for Oursinite

Search Engines:
  • Look for Oursinite on Google
  • Look for Oursinite images on Google
    • External Links:
  • Look for Oursinite on Webmineral
  • Look for Oursinite on Athena Mineralogy
  • Look for Oursinite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Oursinite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Oursinite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Oursinite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • Top quality minerals from Kristalle of California
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Wendel Minerals - Auktion & Shop
  • Fine Minerals from Dan Weinrich Minerals
  • Buy fine minerals and gemstones from Pala International
  • The Arkenstone - Fine Minerals
  • Mineral Classics - Worldwide Collector Quality Minerals and Gems
  • Buy Fine Minerals from mineralsweb.com
  • Search for Oursinite on minvision.com
  • Search for - Oursinite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
  • Find Oursinite on www.crystalclassics.co.uk
  • Fabre Minerals - search for Oursinite specimens
    • Jobs:
  • Mining & Geology Jobs

    • Page Sponsor

    Sponsorship:This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.

    Localities for Oursinite

    Hide Locality List
    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    These maps work faster with Firefox!
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Katanga (Shaba)
      • Katanga Copper Crescent
        • Central area
          • Shinkolobwe
    		Bull.Minéral.(1983) 106, 305-308
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
    www.mindat.org Web
    Copyright © Jolyon & Ida Ralph 1993-2008. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register.