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Swamboite

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Swambo Hill (Swambo Mine), Swambo, Central area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
© Knut Eldjarn

Show Swamboite Photos (5)
Formula:
UH
 
6
(UO
 
2
)
 
6
(SiO
 
4
)
 
6
·30H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Light yellow
Hardness:2½
Name:Named after its discovery locality, in the Swambo deposit, Democratic Republic of the Congo (Zaire).
This page provides mineralogical data about Swamboite.

Classification of Swamboite

IMA status:Approved 1981
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/B.36-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AK.20

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
K : Uranyl neso- and polysilicates
Dana 8th edition ID:53.3.1.8

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.:14.16.4

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
16 : Silicates of U
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Type Occurrence of Swamboite

Type Locality:Swambo Hill (Swambo Mine), Swambo, Central area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Year of Discovery:1981

Physical Properties of Swamboite

Colour:Light yellow
Hardness (Mohs):2½

Crystallography of Swamboite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 17.64Å, b = 21Å, c = 20.12Å
β = 103.42°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.84 : 1 : 0.958
Unit Cell Volume:V 7,249.74 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Swamboite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.640 nβ = 1.661 nγ = 1.663
2V:Measured: 34° , Calculated: 32°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.023

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

Chemical Properties of Swamboite

Formula:
UH
 
6
(UO
 
2
)
 
6
(SiO
 
4
)
 
6
·30H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, O, Si, U
All elements listed in formula:H, O, Si, U

Relationship of Swamboite 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.10Oursinite
(Co,Mg)(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.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
14.16.5Weeksite
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
14.16.19Oursinite
(Co,Mg)(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O

Other Names for Swamboite

Synonyms:
IMA1981-008
Other Languages:
German:Swamboit
Spanish:Swamboita

Other Information

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 Swamboite

Reference List:Canadian Mineralogist (1981): 19: 553-557.

American Mineralogist (1983): 68: 1250.

Articles/Blogs about Swamboite

Internet Links for Swamboite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Swamboite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Swamboite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Swamboite

    (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
          • Swambo
    		Can.Min.(1981) 19, 553-557; Lapis 17(3), 13-40 (1992)
    USA
     
    • Utah
      • San Juan Co.
        • White Canyon District
          • White Canyon
    		R&M 75:4 p240-248
    Mineral and/or Locality
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