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Vandenbrandeite

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Musonoi Mine, Kolwezi, Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
© Stephan Wolfsried

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Formula:
Cu(UO
 
2
)(OH)
 
4
System:TriclinicColour:Dark green with bluish ...
Hardness:4
Name:Named after Pierre Van den Brande, Belgium geologist, Geological Survey of Katanga, who discovered the deposit at Kalongwe.
This page provides mineralogical data about Vandenbrandeite.

Classification of Vandenbrandeite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/H.04-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.GB.45

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:5.3.2.1

5 : OXIDES CONTAINING URANIUM OR THORIUM
3 : AXO4·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:7.16.9

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

Type Locality:Kalongwe deposit, Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Year of Discovery:1932

Physical Properties of Vandenbrandeite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Translucent on thin edges
Colour:Dark green with bluish green tint
Streak:Green
Hardness (Mohs):4
Cleavage:Perfect
On {001} perfect; distinct in the zone [001]; and, indistinct also in that zone.
Density (measured):5.03 g/cm3

Crystallography of Vandenbrandeite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 7.86Å, b = 5.44Å, c = 6.1Å
α = 91.87°, β = 102°, γ = 89.62°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.445 : 1 : 1.121
Unit Cell Volume:V 254.99 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Small crystals tabular {001}, often in parallel aggregates; lathlike at times. Massive.

Optical Data of Vandenbrandeite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.760 - 1.770 nβ = 1.780 - 1.792 nγ = 1.800
2V:Measured: 90° , Calculated: 60° to 88°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.040

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Very High
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Vandenbrandeite

Formula:
Cu(UO
 
2
)(OH)
 
4
Essential elements:Cu, H, O, U
All elements listed in formula:Cu, H, O, U

Relationship of Vandenbrandeite 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.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.65Uranosphaerite
Bi(UO
 
2
)O
 
2
(OH)
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
7.16.10Roubaultite
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
7.16.33Uranosphaerite
Bi(UO
 
2
)O
 
2
(OH)

Other Names for Vandenbrandeite

Synonyms:
Uranolepidite
German names:
UranolepiditVandenbrandeit
Russian names:
Ванденбрандеит
Spanish names:
UranolepiditaVandenbrandeita

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 Vandenbrandeite

Reference List:Schoep (1932), Ann. Mus. Congo belge, Tervuren, 1(1), no. 3, 25-31.

Thoreau (1933), Soc. géol. Belgique, Ann.: 55: C3 (as Uranolepidite).

American Mineralogist (1933): 18: 179.

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: 632-633.

American Mineralogist (1951): 36: 394-410.

Frondel, C. (1958), US Geological Survey Bulletin 1064: 100-103.

Rosenzweig, A. and Ryan, R.R. (1977b) Vandenbrandeite CuUO2(OH)4. Cryst. Struct. Commun.: 6: 53-56.

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 Vandenbrandeite

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    Localities for Vandenbrandeite

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    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.
    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Katanga (Shaba)
      • Katanga Copper Crescent
        • Central area
          • Kambove
          • Shinkolobwe
    		[MinRec 20:287]
          • Swambo
        • Southern area
          • Lubumbashi (Elizabethville)
    		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: 1048; Mineralogical Record: 20: 268.
        • Western area
    		Am Min 36:394-410
          • Kolwezi
            • Kamoto
    		J.W. Anthony, R.A. Bideaux, K.W. Bladh, M.C. Nichols: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. V (2003)
    [MinRec 9:33, 9:114]
    France
     
    • Languedoc-Roussillon
      • Hérault
        • Lodève
    		[Le Règne Minéral 1997, 13, p.5-18]
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cornwall
        • St Just District
          • Botallack - Pendeen Area
            • Botallack
    		No reference listed
    Mineral and/or Locality
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