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Upalite

Big Photo

Eight Mile Park pegmatite District, Fremont Co., Colorado, USA
© 2008, J. Weissman

Formula:
Al(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
O(OH)·7H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Amber-yellow, ...
Name:The name reflects its composition: uranyl (U), phosphorus (P) and aluminium (Al).


Upalite Group.

Classification of Upalite

IMA status:Approved 1978
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/E.05-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.EC.05

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
E : Uranyl phosphates and arsenates
C : UO2:RO4 = 3:2
Dana 8th edition ID:42.7.12.1

42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.11.26

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

Type Locality:Kobokobo pegmatite, Lusungu River District, Sud-Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Year of Discovery:1979

Physical Properties of Upalite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:Amber-yellow, yellow-brown

Crystallography of Upalite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 13.7Å, b = 16.82Å, c = 9.33Å
β = 111.5°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.815 : 1 : 0.555
Unit Cell Volume:V 2,000.35 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Upalite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.649 nβ = 1.666 nγ = 1.676
2V:Measured: 74° , Calculated: 74°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.027

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

Chemical Properties of Upalite

Formula:
Al(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
O(OH)·7H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, H, O, P, U
All elements listed in formula:Al, H, O, P, U

Relationship of Upalite to other Species

Related to:
  • Upalite Group
    • Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

    - +
    8.EC.05Françoisite-(Nd)
    (Nd,Ce,Sm)(UO
     
    2
    		)
     
    3
    		[O|OH|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		] · 6H
     
    2
    		O
    8.EC.05Phuralumite
    Al
     
    2
    		(UO
     
    2
    		)
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    3
    		] · 13H
     
    2
    		O
    8.EC.05Françoisite-(Ce)
    (Ce,Nd,Ca)[(UO
     
    2
    		)
     
    3
    		O(OH)(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		]·6H
     
    2
    		O
    8.EC.10Arsenuranylite
    Ca(UO
     
    2
    		)
     
    4
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|AsO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 6H
     
    2
    		O
    8.EC.10Dewindtite
    Pb(UO
     
    2
    		)
     
    3
    		[OH|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 3H
     
    2
    		O
    8.EC.10Kivuite
    H
     
    2
    		Th(UO
     
    2
    		)
     
    3
    		[O|OH|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		] · 6H
     
    2
    		O (?)
    8.EC.10Phosphuranylite
    (H
     
    3
    		O)
     
    3
    		KCa(UO
     
    2
    		)
     
    7
    		[O|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    4
    		 · 8H
     
    2
    		O
    8.EC.10Yingjiangite
    K
     
    2
    		Ca(UO
     
    2
    		)
     
    7
    		(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    4
    		(OH)
     
    6
    		 · 6H
     
    2
    		O
    8.EC.10Renardite
    8.EC.15Dumontite
    Pb
     
    2
    		(UO
     
    2
    		)
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 3H
     
    2
    		O
    8.EC.15Hügelite
    Pb
     
    2
    		(UO
     
    2
    		)
     
    3
    		[O|AsO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 5H
     
    2
    		O
    8.EC.20Metavanmeersscheite
    U
    4+
     
    		(UO
     
    2
    		)
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 2H
     
    2
    		O
    8.EC.20Vanmeersscheite
    U
    4+
     
    		(UO
     
    2
    		)
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    2
    		|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 4H
     
    2
    		O
    8.EC.20Arsenovanmeersscheite
    U
    4+
     
    		(UO
     
    2
    		)
     
    3
    		(AsO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		(OH)
     
    2
    		 · 4H
     
    2
    		O
    8.EC.25Althupite
    AlTh(UO
     
    2
    		)
     
    7
    		[O
     
    2
    		|(OH)
     
    5
    		|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    4
    		] · 15H
     
    2
    		O
    8.EC.30Mundite
    Al(UO
     
    2
    		)
     
    3
    		[(OH)
     
    3
    		|(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		] · 5.5H
     
    2
    		O
    8.EC.35Phurcalite
    Ca
     
    2
    		(UO
     
    2
    		)
     
    3
    		[O|PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 7H
     
    2
    		O
    8.EC.40Bergenite
    Ca
     
    2
    		Ba
     
    4
    		[(UO
     
    2
    		)
     
    3
    		O
     
    2
    		(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    2
    		]
     
    3
    		·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
    19.11.11Metatorbernite
    Cu(UO
     
    2
    		)
     
    2
    		[PO
     
    4
    		]
     
    2
    		 · 8H
     
    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
    19.11.27Furongite
    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
    HAl(UO
     
    2
    		)
     
    4
    		(PO
     
    4
    		)
     
    4
    		·40H
     
    2
    		O
    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 Upalite

    Synonyms:
    IMA1978-045
    Other Languages:
    German:Upalit
    Russian:Упалит
    Spanish:Upalita

    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 Upalite

    Reference List:Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie (1979): 102: 333-337.

    American Mineralogist (1980): 65: 208.

    Piret, P. and Declercq, J.-P. (1983) Structure cristalline de l'upalite Al[(UO2)3OOH)(PO4)2]·7H2O. Un exemple de macle mimétique. Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie: 106: 383-389.

    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 Upalite

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

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    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Sud-Kivu
      • Lusungu River District
    		Bull.Minéral.(1979) 102, 333-337
    Mineral and/or Locality
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