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Sengierite

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Luiswishi Mine, Lubumbashi (Elizabethville), Southern area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
© Stephan Wolfsried

Show Sengierite Photos (17)
Formula:
Cu
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[VO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Olive-green, yellowish ...
Hardness:2½
Name:Named after Edgard Sengier (1879-1963), Director, Union Miniere du Haut- Katanga, Zaire.


Carnotite Group.

An uncommon secondary mineral deposited from solutions derived from altering uraninite.

Classification of Sengierite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/E.11-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.HB.10

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
H : V[5,6] Vanadates
B : Uranyl Sorovanodates
Dana 8th edition ID:42.6.10.1

42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : A2(XO4)Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:21.4.6

21 : Vanadates (and vanadates with arsenate or phosphate)
4 : Vanadates of U, Mn, Fe or Ni
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Type Occurrence of Sengierite

Type Locality:Luiswishi Mine, Lubumbashi (Elizabethville), Southern area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA: #103963.
Year of Discovery:1949
Associated Minerals at type locality:
VolborthiteVandenbrandeiteMalachiteChrysocolla

Physical Properties of Sengierite

Lustre:Adamantine, Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Olive-green, yellowish green
Streak:Light green
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
On {001}, perfect
Density (measured):4.05 g/cm3
Density (calculated):4.1 g/cm3

Crystallography of Sengierite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/b {P1 1 21/b} {P21/c} {P1 21/c 1} {P21/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 10.599Å, b = 8.093Å, c = 10.085Å
β = 103.42°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.31 : 1 : 1.246
Unit Cell Volume:V 841.45 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Crystals six-sided thin plates, flattened on {001}, and exhibiting {001}, {110}, {100}, {201}, and {111:; also as flaky coatings.

Optical Data of Sengierite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.760 - 1.770 nβ = 1.920 - 1.940 nγ = 1.940 - 1.970
2V:Measured: 37° to 39°, Calculated: 36°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.180 - 0.200

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:r > v
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:X = Bluish green to colourless
Y = Olive-green to greenish yellow
Z = Yellowish green to colourless

Chemical Properties of Sengierite

Formula:
Cu
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[VO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Cu, H, O, U, V
All elements listed in formula:Cu, H, O, U, V

Relationship of Sengierite to other Species

Member of Group:
Carnotite Group:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
4.HB.05Carnotite
K
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[VO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
4.HB.05Margaritasite
(Cs,K,H
 
3
O)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[VO
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
4.HB.15Curienite
Pb(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[VO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
4.HB.15Francevillite
(Ba,Pb)(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[VO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
4.HB.15Fritzscheite
Mn(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
,VO
 
4
)
 
2
·10H
 
2
O (?)
4.HB.20Metavanuralite
Al(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[OH|(VO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 8H
 
2
O
4.HB.20Vanuralite
Al(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[OH|(VO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 11H
 
2
O
4.HB.25Metatyuyamunite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[VO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 3-5H
 
2
O
4.HB.25Tyuyamunite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[VO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5-8H
 
2
O
4.HB.30Strelkinite
Na
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[VO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
4.HB.35Uvanite
U
 
2
V
 
6
O
 
21
·15H
 
2
O
4.HB.40Rauvite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
V
 
10
O
 
28
·16H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
21.4.1Uvanite
U
 
2
V
 
6
O
 
21
·15H
 
2
O
21.4.2Vanuranylite
(H
 
3
O)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[VO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
21.4.3Strelkinite
Na
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[VO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
21.4.4Carnotite
K
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[VO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
21.4.5Margaritasite
(Cs,K,H
 
3
O)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[VO
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
21.4.7Metatyuyamunite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[VO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 3-5H
 
2
O
21.4.8Tyuyamunite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[VO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5-8H
 
2
O
21.4.9Rauvite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
V
 
10
O
 
28
·16H
 
2
O
21.4.10Francevillite
(Ba,Pb)(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[VO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
21.4.11Metavanuralite
Al(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[OH|(VO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 8H
 
2
O
21.4.12Vanuralite
Al(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[OH|(VO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 11H
 
2
O
21.4.13Curienite
Pb(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[VO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
21.4.14Fritzscheite
Mn(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
,VO
 
4
)
 
2
·10H
 
2
O (?)
21.4.15Palenzonaite
(Ca,Na)
 
3
CaMn
2+
2
[VO
 
4
]
 
3
21.4.16Santafeite
(Ca,Sr,Na)
 
12
(Mn
2+
 
,Fe
3+
 
,Al,Mg)
 
8
Mn
4+
8
(VO
 
4
)
 
16
(OH,O)
 
20
 · 8H
 
2
O
21.4.17Pyrobelonite
PbMn
2+
 
[OH|VO
 
4
]
21.4.18Brackebuschite
Pb
 
2
(Mn
3+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)[OH|(VO
 
4
)
 
2
]
21.4.19Čechite
Pb(Fe
2+
 
,Mn
2+
 
)[OH|VO
 
4
]
21.4.20Heyite
Pb
 
5
Fe
2+
2
[O
 
2
|VO
 
4
]
 
2
21.4.21Mounanaite
PbFe
3+
2
[VO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2(OH,F)
21.4.22Schubnelite
Fe
 
2-x
V
 
2
O
 
4
(OH)
 
4
21.4.23Fervanite
Fe
 
4
(VO
 
4
)
 
4
·5H
 
2
O
21.4.24Kazakhstanite
Fe
 
5
V
 
3
V
 
12
O
 
39
(OH)
 
9
·9H
 
2
O
21.4.25Bokite
(Al,Fe
3+
 
)
 
1.3
[(V
5+
 
,V
4+
 
,Fe
3+
 
)
 
4
O
 
10
]
 
2
 · 7.5H
 
2
O
21.4.26Rusakovite
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)
 
5
[(OH)
 
9
|(VO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
21.4.27Kolovratite
(Zn,Ni,Cu)
 
2-5
Al
 
4-6
(Si,V
4+
 
,V
5+
 
)
 
4
(O,OH)
 
20
·7.5H
 
2
O

Other Names for Sengierite

Other Languages:
German:Sengierit
Russian:Сенжьерит
Spanish:Sengierita

Other Information

Other Information:Radioactive. Soluble in acids.
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Sengierite

Reference List:Vaes and Kerr (1949) American Mineralogist: 34: 109-120.

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.: 1047-1048.

Hutton, C.O. (1957) Sengierite from Bisbee, Arizona. American Mineralogist, 42, 408–411.

Frondel, C. (1958) Systematic mineralogy of uranium and thorium. U.S. Geological Survey Bull. 1064: 258–260.

Piret, P., Declercq, J.-P., and Wauters-Stoop, D. (1980) Structure cristalline de la sengiérite. Bulletin de Mineralogie: 103: 176-179(in French with English abstract).

American Mineralogist (1981): 66: 220 (abstract).

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

Internet Links for Sengierite

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    Localities for Sengierite

    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.
    (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.
    Argentina
     
    • Mendoza
      • Malargüe Department
        • Pampa Amarilla District
    		Brodtkorb, M.K. de, Minerlogia y genesis del yacimiento Huemul, Mendoza. Tesis Doctoral. Facultad de Ciencias Exactas, Fisicas y Naturales, Buenos Aires. 1963; American Mineralogist: 51: 1-13
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Hradec Králové Region
        • Broumov (Braunau)
    		Pauliš P., Kopecký S., Černý P. 2007: Uranové minerály České Republiky a jejich naleziště. 1. část. (Kutna Hora, issue 1)
    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Katanga (Shaba)
      • Katanga Copper Crescent
        • Central area
          • Shinkolobwe
        • Southern area
          • Lubumbashi (Elizabethville)
    		Am Min (1949) 34 (1-2), 109-120; 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: 1048.
        • Western area
          • Kolwezi
    		No reference listed
    France
     
    • Languedoc-Roussillon
      • Hérault
        • Lodève
    		No reference listed
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Wolfach
          • Oberwolfach
            • Rankach valley
    		U. Kolitsch, J. Gröbner, G. Blaß, H.-W. Graf und A. Pring (2005): Neufunde aus der Grube Clara im mittleren Schwarzwald (II): Dreyerit, Gasparit-(Ce), Klinobisvanit, Kobaltkoritnigit, Metatyuyamunit, Roscoelith, Sengierit, Vésigniéit und Wakefieldit. Lapis 30 (9), 35-39; 58. (in German)
    Morocco
     
    No reference listed
    USA
     
    • Arizona
      • Cochise Co.
        • Mule Mts
          • Warren District
            • Bisbee
    		Hutton, C.O. (1957), Sengierite from Bisbee, AZ, Am.Min.: 42: 408-411; Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 366; Galbraith, F.W. & D.J. Brennan (1959), Minerals of AZ: 77.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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