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Sharpite

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Shinkolobwe Mine (Kasolo Mine), Shinkolobwe, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)

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Formula:
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
6
(CO
 
3
)
 
5
(OH)
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Greenish-yellow, ...
Hardness:2½
Name:Named after Major Robert Rich Sharp (1881-), discoverer of the uranium deposit at Shinkolobwe, Zaire in 1915.
This page provides mineralogical data about Sharpite.

Classification of Sharpite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/F.04-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.EA.35

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
E : Uranyl Carbonates
A : UO2:CO3 > 1:1
Dana 8th edition ID:16b.7.10.1

16b : HYDRATED CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.11.10

11 : Carbonates
11 : Carbonates of Cr and U
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Type Occurrence of Sharpite

Type Locality:Shinkolobwe Mine (Kasolo Mine), Shinkolobwe, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Year of Discovery:1935
Associated Minerals at type locality:
UranophaneCuriteBecquerelite

Physical Properties of Sharpite

Colour:Greenish-yellow, olive-green
Hardness (Mohs):2½

Crystallography of Sharpite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 21.99Å, b = 15.63Å, c = 4.48Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.407 : 1 : 0.287
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,539.79 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Occurs as crusts of thin, radiating fibers.

Optical Data of Sharpite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.633 nγ = 1.720
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.087

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:weak to distinct
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:X = Brownish
Y (perp. laths) =
Z (elong.) = greenish yellow

Chemical Properties of Sharpite

Formula:
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
6
(CO
 
3
)
 
5
(OH)
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
Essential elements:C, Ca, H, O, U
All elements listed in formula:C, Ca, H, O, U

Relationship of Sharpite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.EA.05UM1997-24-CO:CaCuHU
Ca
 
2
Cu(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
2
O
 
3
 · 3H
 
2
O
5.EA.10Urancalcarite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
5.EA.15Wyartite
CaU
5+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)O
 
4
(OH) · 7H
 
2
O
5.EA.20Oswaldpeetersite
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
5.EA.25Roubaultite
Cu
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(OH)
 
10
 · 5H
 
2
O
5.EA.30Kamotoite-(Y)
Y
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
O
 
4
 · 14H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
11.11.1Stichtite
Mg
 
6
Cr
 
2
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
16
 · 4H
 
2
O
11.11.2Rutherfordine
(UO
 
2
)CO
 
3
11.11.3Joliotite
(UO
 
2
)CO
 
3
 · nH
 
2
O
11.11.4Grimselite
K
 
3
Na(UO
 
2
)(CO
 
3
)
 
3
 · H
 
2
O
11.11.5Bayleyite
Mg
 
2
(UO
 
2
)(CO
 
3
)
 
3
 · 18H
 
2
O
11.11.6Metazellerite
Ca(UO
 
2
)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
11.11.7Zellerite
Ca(UO
 
2
)(CO
 
3
)
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
11.11.8Wyartite
CaU
5+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)O
 
4
(OH) · 7H
 
2
O
11.11.9Urancalcarite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(CO
 
3
)(OH)
 
6
 · 3H
 
2
O
11.11.11Voglite
Ca
 
2
Cu(UO
 
2
)(CO
 
3
)
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
11.11.12Andersonite
Na
 
2
Ca(UO
 
2
)(CO
 
3
)
 
3
 · 6H
 
2
O
11.11.13Swartzite
MgCa(UO
 
2
)(CO
 
3
)
 
3
 · 12H
 
2
O
11.11.14Rabbittite
Ca
 
3
Mg
 
3
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)
 
6
(OH)
 
4
 · 18H
 
2
O
11.11.15Kamotoite-(Y)
Y
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
3
O
 
4
 · 14H
 
2
O
11.11.16Shabaite-(Nd)
Ca(Nd,Sm,Y)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
11.11.17Astrocyanite-(Ce)
Cu
 
2
(Ce,Nd,La)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)(CO
 
3
)
 
5
(OH)
 
2
 · 1.5H
 
2
O
11.11.18Bijvoetite-(Y)
(Y,Dy)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(CO
 
3
)
 
4
(OH)
 
6
 · 11H
 
2
O
11.11.19Widenmannite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)(CO
 
3
)
 
3
11.11.20Znucalite
Zn
 
12
Ca(UO
 
2
)(CO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH)
 
22
 · 4H
 
2
O

Other Names for Sharpite

Other Languages:
German:Sharpit
Spanish:Sharpita

Other Information

Other Information:Soluble in dilute acids with effervescence.
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 Sharpite

Reference List:

- +
Mélon (1938) Bull. séan. inst. roy. colon. Belge 9: 333.

American Mineralogist (1939): 24: 658.

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: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 275.

American Mineralogist (1985): 70: 220.

Internet Links for Sharpite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Sharpite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Sharpite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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
        • Shinkolobwe
    		Bull.Inst.roy.col.belge,(1938) 9, 333-336; Lapis 17(3), 13-40 (1992)
    France
     
    • Alsace
      • Haut-Rhin
        • Thur valley (Thann valley)
          • Kruth
    		No reference listed
    • Limousin
      • Haute-Vienne
        • Bessines-sur-Gartempe
    		Le Règne Minéral, Hors Série IV, 1998
    Germany
     
    • Rhineland-Palatinate
      • Hunsrück
        • Birkenfeld
          • Ellweiler
    		Aufschluss 69/(7+8), Lapis 79/(7+8)
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