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Uranosphaerite

Big Photo

Clara Mine, Rankach valley, Oberwolfach, Wolfach, Black Forest, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
© Stephan Wolfsried

Show Uranosphaerite Photos (25)
Formula:
Bi(UO
 
2
)O
 
2
(OH)
System:MonoclinicColour:Yellow-orange, reddish ...
Lustre:GreasyHardness:2 - 3
Name:From uranium plus Greek "sphaira", sphere, alluding to its composition and occurrence in ball-like masses.
This page provides mineralogical data about Uranosphaerite.

Classification of Uranosphaerite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/H.08-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.GB.65

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
G : Uranyl Hydroxides
B : With additional cations (K, Ca, Ba, Pb, etc.); with mainly UO2(O,OH)5 pentagonal polyhedra
Dana 8th edition ID:5.9.1.1

5 : OXIDES CONTAINING URANIUM OR THORIUM
9 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:7.16.33

7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
16 : Oxides of U
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Type Occurrence of Uranosphaerite

Type Locality:Walpurgis Flacher vein, Weißer Hirsch Mine (Shaft 3), Neustädtel, Schneeberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany
Year of Discovery:1873

Physical Properties of Uranosphaerite

Lustre:Greasy
Colour:Yellow-orange, reddish orange, brick red
Streak:Light orange
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 3
Density (measured):6.36 g/cm3

Crystallography of Uranosphaerite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 7.559Å, b = 7.811Å, c = 7.693Å
β = 92.88°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.968 : 1 : 0.985
Unit Cell Volume:V 453.6 ų
Z:4
Morphology:Hemispherical aggregate forms comprised of minute, acutely terminated crystals elongated [001]. Concentric and radiated structures.

Optical Data of Uranosphaerite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.959 nβ = 1.981 nγ = 2.060
2V:Measured: 56° , Calculated: 58°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.101

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

Chemical Properties of Uranosphaerite

Formula:
Bi(UO
 
2
)O
 
2
(OH)
Essential elements:Bi, H, O, U
All elements listed in formula:Bi, H, O, U

Relationship of Uranosphaerite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
4.GB.05Agrinierite
K
 
2
(Ca,Sr)(UO
 
2
)
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
4.GB.05Compreignacite
K
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
6
O
 
4
(OH)
 
6
 · 7H
 
2
O
4.GB.05Rameauite
K
 
2
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
6
(OH)
 
16
 · H
 
2
O
4.GB.10Becquerelite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
6
O
 
4
(OH)
 
6
 · 8H
 
2
O
4.GB.10Billietite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
6
O
 
4
(OH)
 
6
 · 4-8H
 
2
O
4.GB.10Protasite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
4.GB.15Richetite
PbU
 
4
O
 
13
·4H
 
2
O
4.GB.20Bauranoite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 1-2H
 
2
O
4.GB.20Calciouranoite
(Ca,Ba,Pb)U
 
2
O
 
7
·5H
 
2
O
4.GB.20Metacalciouranoite
(Ca,Ba,Na
 
2
)U
 
2
O
 
7
·2H
 
2
O
4.GB.25Fourmarierite
PbU
 
4
O
 
13
·4H
 
2
O
4.GB.30Wölsendorfite
(Pb,Ca)U
 
2
O
 
7
·2H
 
2
O
4.GB.35Masuyite
Pb(UO
 
2
)
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
4.GB.40Metavandendriesscheite
PbU
 
7
O
 
22
·nH
 
2
O n < 12
4.GB.40Vandendriesscheite
PbU
 
7
O
 
22
·12H
 
2
O
4.GB.45Vandenbrandeite
Cu(UO
 
2
)(OH)
 
4
4.GB.50Sayrite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
4.GB.55Curite
Pb
 
3
(UO
 
2
)
 
8
O
 
8
(OH)
 
6
·2H
 
2
O
4.GB.60Iriginite
UO
 
2
Mo
 
2
O
 
7
·3H
 
2
O
4.GB.70Holfertite
Ca
 
x
U
6+
2-x
Ti(O
 
8-x
OH
 
4x
) · 3H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
7.16.1Uraninite
UO
 
2
7.16.2Schoepite
(UO
 
2
)
 
8
O
 
2
(OH)
 
12
 · 12H
 
2
O
7.16.3Paraschoepite
UO
 
3
 · 2H
 
2
O
7.16.4Metaschoepite
UO
 
3
 · 1-2H
 
2
O
7.16.5Metastudtite
UO
 
4
 · 2H
 
2
O
7.16.6Studtite
UO
 
4
 · 4H
 
2
O
7.16.7Ianthinite
U
4+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
5
O
 
7
 · 10H
 
2
O
7.16.8Compreignacite
K
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
6
O
 
4
(OH)
 
6
 · 7H
 
2
O
7.16.9Vandenbrandeite
Cu(UO
 
2
)(OH)
 
4
7.16.10Roubaultite
Cu
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(OH)
 
10
 · 5H
 
2
O
7.16.11Becquerelite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
6
O
 
4
(OH)
 
6
 · 8H
 
2
O
7.16.12Rameauite
K
 
2
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
6
(OH)
 
16
 · H
 
2
O
7.16.13Agrinierite
K
 
2
(Ca,Sr)(UO
 
2
)
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
7.16.14Protasite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.16.15Billietite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
6
O
 
4
(OH)
 
6
 · 4-8H
 
2
O
7.16.16Bauranoite
Ba(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(OH)
 
6
 · 1-2H
 
2
O
7.16.17Metacalciouranoite
(Ca,Ba,Na
 
2
)U
 
2
O
 
7
·2H
 
2
O
7.16.18Calciouranoite
(Ca,Ba,Pb)U
 
2
O
 
7
·5H
 
2
O
7.16.19Orthobrannerite
UTi
 
4
O
 
12
(OH)
 
2
7.16.20Thorutite
(Th,U,Ca)Ti
 
2
(O,OH)
 
6
7.16.21Davidite-(La)
(La,Ce)(Y,U,Fe)(Ti,Fe)
 
20
(O,OH)
 
38
7.16.22Davidite-(Ce)
(Ce,La)(Y,U,Fe)(Ti,Fe)
 
20
(O,OH)
 
38
7.16.23Brannerite
(U
4+
 
,Ca)(Ti,Fe
3+
 
)
 
2
O
 
6
7.16.24Fourmarierite
PbU
 
4
O
 
13
·4H
 
2
O
7.16.25Richetite
PbU
 
4
O
 
13
·4H
 
2
O
7.16.26Curite
Pb
 
3
(UO
 
2
)
 
8
O
 
8
(OH)
 
6
·2H
 
2
O
7.16.27Masuyite
Pb(UO
 
2
)
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
7.16.28Vandendriesscheite
PbU
 
7
O
 
22
·12H
 
2
O
7.16.29Metavandendriesscheite
PbU
 
7
O
 
22
·nH
 
2
O n < 12
7.16.30Sayrite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
2
·4H
 
2
O
7.16.31Wölsendorfite
(Pb,Ca)U
 
2
O
 
7
·2H
 
2
O
7.16.32Clarkeite
(Na,Ca,Pb)
 
2
U
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7

Other Names for Uranosphaerite

Synonyms:
Uranospherite
German names:
UranosphaeritUranosphäritUranospherit
Russian names:
Ураносферит
Spanish names:
UranosphaeritaUranospherita

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 Uranosphaerite

Reference List:Weisbach, A. (1873): Neue Uranerze von Neustädtel bei Schneeberg.- Jahrbuch für das Berg- und Hüttenwesen im Königreiche Sachsen, Abhandlungen, 119-121.

Winkler (1873), J. pr. Chem.: 7: 5.

Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 631.

Protas, J. (1959): Contribution à l'étude des oxydes d'uranium hydratés. Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie: 82, 239-272. (in French).

Science (1965): 149: 742-744.

Hughes, K.-A., P. C. Burns and U. Kolitsch (2003): Crystal structure and crystal chemistry of uranosphaerite, Bi(UO2)O2OH. Canadian Mineralogist: 41: 677-685.

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

Sejkora, J., J.Cejka, & u. Kolitsch (2008): Uranosphaerite from Horni Halze near Medenec (Krusne hory Mountains, Czech Republic): description and vibrational characteristics. Neues Jj. Mineral. Abh. 185, 91-98.

Internet Links for Uranosphaerite

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    Localities for Uranosphaerite

    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.
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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
      • Flinders Ranges
        • North Flinders Ranges
          • Mt Painter area
            • Radium Ridge
    		Coats & Blissett (1971); Brugger, J. et al. (2004)
    Belgium
     
    • Luxembourg Province
      • Wellin
    		Jacques Jedwab
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Karlovy Vary Region
        • Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge)
          • Ostrov
    		Lapis 2002(7/8), 63-65
      • Liberec Region
        • Harrachov (Harrachsdorf)
    		Sejkora, j., Veselovský, F., Šrein, V.: The supergene mineralization of uranium occurence Rýžoviště near Harrachov (Krkonoše Mts., Czech republic). Acta Mus. Nat. Prague, Ser. B, Hist. nat., 1994, 50, p. 55-91.
      • Ústí Region
        • Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge)
          • Klášterec nad Ohří
    		Sejkora, Jiří; Čejka, Jiří (2007), Šreinite from Horní Halže, the Krušné hory Mountains, Czech Republic, a new mineral species, its comparison with asselbornite from Schneeberg, and new data for asselbornite. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie - Abhandlungen, Volume 184(2)197-206.
    France
     
    • Brittany
      • Morbihan
        • Lignol
    		Le Règne Minéral, Hors Série IV, 1998
        • Pontivy
          • Guern
    		R. Pierrot, L. Chauris, C. Laforêt and F. Pillard : "Inventaire Minéralogique de la France N° 9 : Morbihan", BRGM, 1980.
    • Limousin
      • Creuse
        • Crozant
    		Le Règne Minéral, Hors Série IV, 1998
    Le Règne Minéral, Hors Série IV, 1998
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Wolfach
          • Oberwolfach
            • Rankach valley
    		WALENTA, K. (1999): Neue Mineralfunde von der Grube Clara. 8. Folge, 1. Teil. Lapis 24 (11), 34-37.
    • Bavaria
      • Franconia
        • Fichtelgebirge
          • Weißenstadt
            • Großschloppen
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
      • Upper Palatinate
        • Oberpfälzer Wald
          • Vohenstrauß
            • Waidhaus
              • Hagendorf
    		Schnorrer, G., Kronz, A. & Pascher,G. (2003): Cheralith, Monazit und Xenotim - drei neue Minerale der Xenotim-Monazit-Gruppe sowie Uranosphaerit, ein sekundäres Wismut-Uran-Mineral vom ehemaligen Phosphatpegmatit Hagendorf-Süd/Oberpfalz. Aufschluss, 54, 267-272. (in German)
    • Saxony
      • Erzgebirge
        • Ehrenfriedersdorf
          • Geyer
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
        • Schneeberg District
          • Neustädtel
            • Weißer Hirsch Mine (Shaft 3)
    		A. Weisbach (1873): Neue Uranerze von Neustädtel bei Schneeberg.- Jahrbuch für das Berg- und Hüttenwesen im Königreiche Sachsen, Abhandlungen, 119-121; 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.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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