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Uranospathite

Formula:
HAl(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·40H
 
2
O
System:TetragonalColour:Yellow, light ...
Hardness:2 - 2½
Name:In allusion to its composition, containing URANium plus Greek σπάθη for "SPATHe", sword or broad blade, alluding to its common habit.


Uranospathite Group.

An uncommon secondary mineral occurring in the oxidized zones of uranium-bearing hydrothermal deposits.

Classification of Uranospathite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/E.04-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.EB.25

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
E : Uranyl phosphates and arsenates
B : UO2:RO4 = 1:1
Dana 8th edition ID:40.2a.22.1

40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
2a : AB2(XO4)2·xH2O, containing (UO2)2+
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.11.32

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

Type Locality:Wheal Basset, Basset Mines, Carnkie, Illogan, Camborne - Redruth - St Day District, Cornwall, England, UK
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Museum of Practical Geology, Ludlam collection: #L1941, now in The Natural History Museum, London, England.
Year of Discovery:1915

Physical Properties of Uranospathite

Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent
Colour:Yellow, light yellow-green
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 2½
Cleavage:Perfect
On {001}, perfect; on {100} and {010}, good.
Density (measured):2.5 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.49 g/cm3

Crystallography of Uranospathite

Crystal System:Tetragonal
Class (H-M):4/m - Dipyramidal
Space Group:P42/n
Cell Parameters:a = 7Å, c = 30.02Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 4.289
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,470.98 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:2
Morphology:Crystals platy, rectangular, flattened on {001}, striated parallel to the elongation [010], and exhibiting {100} and {010}, in fanlike groups.
Twinning:On {110}, forming cruciform groupings.
Comment:Point Group/Class & Space Group are probable.

Optical Data of Uranospathite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.492 nβ = 1.510 nγ = 1.521
2V:Measured: 69° , Calculated: 70°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.029

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:r > v strong
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:X = Pale yellow
Y = Z = Deep yellow

Chemical Properties of Uranospathite

Formula:
HAl(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·40H
 
2
O
Essential elements:Al, H, O, P, U
All elements listed in formula:Al, H, O, P, U

Relationship of Uranospathite to other Species

Common Associates:
Bassetite
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
8.EB.05Autunite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·11H
 
2
O
8.EB.05Heinrichite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
·10H
 
2
O
8.EB.05Kahlerite
Fe(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
·12H
 
2
O
8.EB.05Nováčekite
Mg(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
·12H
 
2
O
8.EB.05Saléeite
Mg(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·10H
 
2
O
8.EB.05Torbernite
Cu(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·12H
 
2
O
8.EB.05Uranocircite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
· 10H
 
2
O
8.EB.05Uranospinite
Ca(UO
 
2
)(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
·10H
 
2
O
8.EB.05Xiangjiangite
(Fe
3+
 
,Al)(UO
 
2
)
 
4
[OH|(SO
 
4
)
 
2
|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 22H
 
2
O
8.EB.05Zeunerite
Cu(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
·12H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Bassetite
Fe
2+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
· 8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Lehnerite
Mn
2+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
· 8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Meta-autunite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
· 6-8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Metasaléeite
Mg(UO
 
2
)(PO
 
4
)
 
2
·8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Metauranocircite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
· 7H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Metauranospinite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
· 8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Metaheinrichite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
· 8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Metakahlerite
Fe
2+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
· 8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Metakirchheimerite
Co(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
· 8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Metanováčekite
Mg(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
· 4-8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Metatorbernite
Cu(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
· 8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Metazeunerite
Cu(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
· 8H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Przhevalskite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
2
|PO
 
4
]
 
2
· 3H
 
2
O
8.EB.10Meta-lodèvite
8.EB.15Abernathyite
K
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
· 6H
 
2
O
8.EB.15Chernikovite
(H
 
3
O)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
· 6H
 
2
O
8.EB.15Meta-ankoleite
K
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
· 6H
 
2
O
8.EB.15Natrouranospinite
(Na
 
2
,Ca)(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
· 5H
 
2
O
8.EB.15Trögerite
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
·12H
 
2
O (?)
8.EB.15Uramphite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[PO
 
4
]
 
2
· 6H
 
2
O
8.EB.15Uramarsite
(NH
 
4
,H
 
3
O)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[(AsO
 
4
,PO
 
4
)]
 
2
· 6H
 
2
O
8.EB.20Threadgoldite
Al(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 8H
 
2
O
8.EB.20Chistyakovaite
Al(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[(F,OH)|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 6.5H
 
2
O
8.EB.25Arsenuranospathite
HAl(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(AsO
 
4
)
 
4
·40H
 
2
O
8.EB.25Sabugalite
HAl(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
·16H
 
2
O
8.EB.30Vochtenite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)Fe
3+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
[OH|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 12-13H
 
2
O
8.EB.35Coconinoite
Fe
3+
2
Al
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|SO
 
4
|(PO
 
4
)
 
4
] · 20H
 
2
O
8.EB.40Ranunculite
HAlUO
 
2
PO
 
4
(OH)
 
3
·4H
 
2
O
8.EB.45Triangulite
Al
 
3
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
5
·5H
 
2
O
8.EB.50Furongite
Al
 
13
(UO
 
2
)
 
7
(PO
 
4
)
 
13
(OH)
 
14
· 58H
 
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,Ca)(UO
 
2
)
 
3
[OH|(H
 
2
O,OH)|(PO
 
4
)
 
2
] · 3H
 
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
19.11.26Upalite
Al(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
O(OH)·7H
 
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
19.11.33Althupite
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 Uranospathite

German names:
UranospathitUranspat
Russian names:
Ураношпатит
Spanish names:
Uranospathita

Other Information

IR Spectrum:Yellowish green (UV).
Other Information:Radioactive. Readily dehydrates to Sabugalite.
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 Uranospathite

Reference List:Hallimond (1915) Mineralogical Magazine: 17: 221-230.

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.: 990.

Walenta, K. (1978) Uranospathite and arsenuranospathite. Mineralogical Magazine, 42, 117–128.

American Mineralogist (1979): 64: 465.

The structure and composition of uranospathite,Al1–x∅x[(UO2)(PO4)]2 (H2O)20+3xF1–3x, 0 less than x less than 0.33, a non-centrosymmetric fluorine-bearing mineral of the autunite group, and of a related synthetic lower hydrate, Al0.67∅0.33[(UO2)(PO4)]2(H2O)15: Canadian Mineralogist (2005): 43: 989-1003.

Internet Links for Uranospathite

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

    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.
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    (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.
    Australia
     
    • South Australia
      • Olary Province
        • Mingary
          • Radium Hill area
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Karlovy Vary Region
        • Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge)
          • Ostrov
    Lapis 2002(7/8), 63-65
    France
     
    • Limousin
      • Creuse
        • Guéret
      • Haute-Vienne
        • Compreignac
    Le Règne Minéral, Hors Série IV, 1998
        • Razès
    Le Règne Minéral, Hors Série IV, 1998
        • Saint-Sylvestre
    Le Règne Minéral, Hors Série IV, 1998
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Menzenschwand
    Walenta: "Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes", Weise (Munich), 1992
    • Saxony
      • Erzgebirge
        • Schneeberg District
          • Neustädtel
            • Weißer Hirsch Mine (Shaft 3)
    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: 967.
    Italy
     
    • Piedmont
      • Verbano-Cusio-Ossola Province
        • Ossola Valley
          • Antrona Valley
            • Montescheno
    Rivista Mineralogica Italiana, 23 (1), 42-49
    South Africa
     
    • Western Cape Province
      • Beaufort West District
    Minerals of South Africa
    Spain
     
    • Extremadura
      • Badajoz
    Grupo Mineralogista de Madrid(1994) Don Benito, uranio en la pizarra. Bocamina, Vol.0, p 39. (in Spanish)
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cornwall
        • Camborne - Redruth - St Day District
          • Illogan
            • Carnkie
              • Basset Mines
    [Embrey & Symes, 1987, 45 - "Minerals of Cornwall and Devon"]
    USA
     
    • Utah
      • San Juan Co.
        • Paradox Valley
          • Paradox Valley District
    UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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