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Walpurgite

Big Photo

Schmiedestollen dump, Wittichen, Schenkenzell, Black Forest, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
© Stephan Wolfsried

Show Walpurgite Photos (15)
Formula:
(BiO)
 
4
(UO
 
2
)[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:yellow, orange-yellow; ...
Hardness:3½
Name:For the type locality, Walpurgis vein, Weißer Hirsch Mine, Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany.


Walpurgite Group

Classification of Walpurgite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/E.10-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.EA.05

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
E : Uranyl phosphates and arsenates
A : UO2:RO4 = 1:2
Dana 8th edition ID:40.5.9.1

40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
5 : AXO4·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:20.6.6

20 : Arsenates (also arsenates with phosphate, but without other anions)
6 : Arsenates of Bi
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Type Occurrence of Walpurgite

Type Locality:Walpurgis Flacher vein, Weißer Hirsch Mine (Shaft 3), Neustädtel, Schneeberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany
Year of Discovery:1871
Associated Minerals at type locality:
ZeuneriteUranospiniteUranosphaeriteTorbernite

Physical Properties of Walpurgite

Lustre:Adamantine, Greasy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Colour:yellow, orange-yellow; colourless to light yellow in transmitted light.
Hardness (Mohs):3½
Cleavage:Perfect
On {010}, perfect.
Density (calculated):6.69 g/cm3

Crystallography of Walpurgite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 7.13Å, b = 10.44Å, c = 5.49Å
α = 101.6°, β = 110.82°, γ = 88.28°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.683 : 1 : 0.526
Unit Cell Volume:V 373.79 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals lath-like [001] and tabular {010} with an oblique termination. Occurs also as sub-parallel aggregates and radial groups.
Twinning:Twin plane and composition surface {010}, common, the twinned aggregates pseudo-monoclinic (resembling gypsum).
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Walpurgite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.871 - 1.910 nβ = 1.975 - 2.000 nγ = 2.005 - 2.060
2V:Measured: 50° to 60°, Calculated: 54° to 74°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.134 - 0.150

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

Chemical Properties of Walpurgite

Formula:
(BiO)
 
4
(UO
 
2
)[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
Essential elements:As, Bi, H, O, U
All elements listed in formula:As, Bi, H, O, U

Relationship of Walpurgite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):
8.EA.05Orthowalpurgite
(BiO)
 
4
(UO
 
2
)[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.EA.05Phosphowalpurgite
(BiO)
 
4
(UO
 
2
)[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.EA.10Hallimondite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)[AsO
 
4
]
 
2
 · nH
 
2
O, 0 ≤ n ≤ 0.5
8.EA.10Parsonsite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
8.EA.15Ulrichite
CaCu(UO
 
2
)[PO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
8.EA.20Lakebogaite
CaNaFe
3+
2
H(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
(OH)
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
8
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:
20.6.1Rooseveltite
BiAsO
 
4
20.6.2Preisingerite
Bi
 
3
[O|OH|(AsO
 
4
)
 
2
]
20.6.3Arsenobismite
20.6.4Atelestite
Bi
 
8
[O
 
5
|(OH)
 
5
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
]
20.6.5Mixite
BiCu
 
6
[(OH)
 
6
|(AsO
 
4
)
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O

Other Names for Walpurgite

Synonyms:
Phosphate-walpurgiteWaltherite (of Vogl)
German names:
Walpurgin
Russian names:
Вальпургит
Spanish names:
Walpurgita

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 Walpurgite

Reference List:Weisbach, A. (1871), Vorläufige Mittheilung [Über Trögerit und Walpurgin].- Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paläontologie, 869-870.

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

Winkler (1873) Journal für praktische Chemie, Leipzig: 7: 6.

Zepharovich, V.R. von (1873). Mineralogisches Lexicon fur das Kaiserthum Oesterreich. vol. 2: 341 (Cites Lindacker in Vogl (1857) relating to Waltherite).

Weisbach, A. (1877) Jahrbuch für das Berg- und Hüttenwesen im Königreiche Sachsen, Abhandlungen, 1.

Bertrand (1881) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 4: 58 (as Waltherite).

Chester, A.H. (1896) A Dictionary of the Names of Minerals including Their History and Etymology, 320pp., New York: 285 (Waltherite).

Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 155.

Frondel, C. (1943) American Mineralogist: 28: 521 (as Waltherite).

Fischer (1946) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 106: 25.

Fischer (1948) Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte, Abt. A: 44.

Evans (1950) American Mineralogist: 35: 1021.

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.: 796-797.

Mereiter, K. (1982b) The crystal structure of walpurgite, (UO2)Bi4O4(AsO4)2·2H2O. Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen: 30: 129-139.

American Mineralogist (1983): 68: 852.

European Journal of Mineralogy (1995): 7: 1313.

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 Walpurgite

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    Localities for Walpurgite

    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.
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Karlovy Vary Region
        • Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge)
          • Ostrov
            • Jáchymov (St Joachimsthal)
    		Vogl (1857) Gangverhaltn. und Mineralreich, Joachimsthal, Teplitz: 169; Palache et al (1951), Dana's System of Mineralogiy, 7th. ed., Vol. 2: 262.
    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: 797; Lapis (2002): (7/8), 54.
        • Mariánské Lázně (Marienbad)
          • Slavkovský Les Mts
    		Sejkora, J., Cejka, J., Hlousek, J., Srein, V., Novotna, M. (2002): Phosphatian walpurgite from Smrkovec, the Slavonsky Les Mts. (Czech Republic): its description and physico-chemical characteristics. Neues Jahrb.Mineral, Mh., 2002, 353-367
      • Liberec Region
        • Harrachov (Harrachsdorf)
    		Bradna, J., Šita, F.: Nálezy minerál na Rýžovišti u Harrachova. Opera Corcontica, 1968, 5, s. 246-247.
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Schenkenzell
          • Wittichen
            • Burgfelsen
    		No reference listed
            • Heubach Valley
    		No reference listed
    K. Walenta: "Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes", Weise (Munich), 1992
        • Schiltach
          • Stammelbach valley
    		[Lapis 1992, 11, p.13-20]
        • Triberg
          • Nußbach
    		No reference listed
        • Wolfach
          • Oberwolfach
            • Rankach valley
    		WALENTA, K. (1995): Neue Mineralfunde von der Grube Clara. 6. Folge, 2. Teil. - Lapis 20 (6), 41 und 46-49.
    • Saxony
      • Erzgebirge
        • Altenberg
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
        • Ehrenfriedersdorf
          • Geyer
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
        • Johanngeorgenstadt
    		Gröbner, J., Grimm, O. & Zienau, H. (2005): Neufunde interessanter Wismut- und Uranmineralien am Schaarschacht, Johanngeorgenstadt, Sachsen. Lapis 30 (6), 44-51; 62.
        • Schneeberg District
          • Neustädtel
    		Lapis 30(7/8):41-70 (2005)
    Lapis 30(7/8):41-70 (2005)
    Lapis 30(7/8):41-70 (2005)
    Lapis 30(7/8):41-70 (2005)
    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: 793.
    A. Weisbach (1871): Vorläufige Mittheilung [Über Trögerit und Walpurgin].- Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paläontologie, 869-870; 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: 797, 967, 991.
    Lapis 30(7/8):41-70 (2005)
    Lapis 30(7/8):41-70 (2005)
          • Wolfgang Maaßen Mine field
    		Lapis 30(7/8):41-70 (2005)
          • Zschorlau
    		Lapis 30(7/8):41-70 (2005)
      • Vogtland
        • Oelsnitz
    		Gröbner, J. and Kolitsch, U. (2007): The minerals of the uranium prospect at Tirpersdorf, Vogtland. Lapis 32, 37-42; 58. (in German)
    Namibia
     
    • Erongo Region
      • Karibib District
    		Schnaitmann, E. A., Nägele, H., Niedermayr, G., Brandstätter, F. & Jahn, S. (2007): Das Metazeunerit-Pocket auf Tubussis 22, Erongo. Mineralien-Welt 18 (2), 33-43. (in German)
    Portugal
     
    • Viseu District
      • Viseu
    		Luis Martins collection
    UK
     
    • Scotland
      • Dumfries & Galloway (Kirkcudbrightshire)
        • Dalbeattie
    		Livingstone, 2002, p. 186
        • Needle's Eye
    		BMS Database
    Mineral and/or Locality
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