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Wölsendorfite

Big Photo

Shinkolobwe Mine (Kasolo Mine), Shinkolobwe, Central area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
© Stephan Wolfsried

Show Wölsendorfite Photos (12)
Formula:
(Pb,Ca)U
 
2
O
 
7
·2H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Orange-red, bright ...
Hardness:5
Name:Named after its discovery locality, Wölsendorf, Bavaria, Germany.
This page provides mineralogical data about Wölsendorfite.

Classification of Wölsendorfite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:4/H.06-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:4.GB.30

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:5.4.3.2

5 : OXIDES CONTAINING URANIUM OR THORIUM
4 : AX2O7·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:7.16.31

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

Type Locality:Wölsendorf Fluorite mining District, Schwandorf, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany
Year of Discovery:1957

Physical Properties of Wölsendorfite

Colour:Orange-red, bright carmine-red
Hardness (Mohs):5

Crystallography of Wölsendorfite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:Cmcm (C2/m 2/c 21/m)
Cell Parameters:a = 14.131(1) Å, b = 13.885(1) Å, c = 55.969(4) Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.018 : 1 : 4.031
Unit Cell Volume:V 10982 ų
Z:8
Comment:Previously reported unit cell, a = 11.95, b = 13.99, c = 7.02 A, is possibly a subcell (or that of a polytype?)

Optical Data of Wölsendorfite

Type:Biaxial
RI values: nα = 2.050 nγ = 2.090
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.040

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

Chemical Properties of Wölsendorfite

Formula:
(Pb,Ca)U
 
2
O
 
7
·2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, O, Pb, U
All elements listed in formula:Ca, H, O, Pb, U

Relationship of Wölsendorfite 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.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.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
7.16.9Vandenbrandeite
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
7.16.32Clarkeite
(Na,Ca,Pb)
 
2
U
 
2
(O,OH)
 
7
7.16.33Uranosphaerite
Bi(UO
 
2
)O
 
2
(OH)

Other Names for Wölsendorfite

Synonyms:
Woelsendorfite
German names:
WoelsendorfitWolsendorfit
Russian names:
Велсендорфит
Spanish names:
WoelsendorfitaWolsendorfita

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 Wölsendorfite

Reference List:Comptes Rendus Hebdomadaires des Séances de l’ Académie des Sciences de Paris (1957): 244: 2942-2944.

American Mineralogist (1957): 42: 919.

Vochten, R. and L. Van Haverbeke (1990): Transformation of schoepite into the uranyl oxide hydrates: becquerelite, billietite and wölsendorfite: Mineralogy and Petrology: 43: 65-72.

Burns, P.C. (1999): A new sheet complex sheet of uranyl polyhedra in the structure of wölsendorfite. American Mineralogist 84: 1661-1673.

Burns, P.C. (2005): U6+ minerals and inorganic compounds: insights into an expanded structural hierarchy of crystal structures. Canadian Mineralogist: 43: 1839-1894.

Internet Links for Wölsendorfite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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    Localities for Wölsendorfite

    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
     
    • Northern Territory
      • Alligator Rivers Region
    Brazil
     
    • Southeast Region
      • Minas Gerais
        • Doce valley
          • Galiléia
    		Mineralogical Record: 17: 313.
    Czech Republic
     
    • Bohemia (Böhmen; Boehmen)
      • Karlovy Vary Region
        • Krušné Hory Mts (Erzgebirge)
          • Ostrov
    		Lapis 2002(7/8), 63-65
    • Moravia (Mähren; Maehren)
      • Olomouc Region
        • Javorník
          • Horní Hostice
    		No reference listed
    Sejkora, J.: Uranové ložisko Zálesí v Rychlebských horách. Bulletin mineralogicko-petrografického oddělení Národního muzea v Praze, 1994, roč. 2, s. 105-110.
    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Katanga (Shaba)
      • Katanga Copper Crescent
        • Central area
          • Shinkolobwe
    		[MinRec 20:287-288]
    France
     
    • Alsace
      • Haut-Rhin
        • Thur valley (Thann valley)
          • Kruth
    		Hohl: "Minéraux et Mines du Massif Vosgien", Editions du Rhin (Mulhouse), 1994
    • Brittany
      • Morbihan
        • Lignol
    		R. Pierrot, L. Chauris, C Laforêt and F. Pillard : "Inventaire Minéralogique de la France N° 9 : Morbihan", BRGM, 1980.
    • Burgundy
      • Saône-et-Loire
        • Grury
          • La Faye
    		Le Règne Minéral, Hors Série IV, 1998
    • Limousin
      • Haute-Vienne
        • Compreignac
    		Le Règne Minéral, Hors Série IV, 1998
    Le Règne Minéral, Hors Série IV (1998)
    Gabon
     
    • Haut-Ogooué
      • Franceville
    Germany
     
    • Baden-Württemberg
      • Black Forest
        • Menzenschwand
    		Walenta: "Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes", Weise (Munich), 1992
        • Schenkenzell
          • Wittichen
            • Burgfelsen
    		No reference listed
            • Heubach Valley
    		No reference listed
    K. Walenta: "Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes", Weise (Munich), 1992
    • Bavaria
      • Franconia
        • Fichtelgebirge
          • Weißenstadt
            • Großschloppen
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
      • Upper Palatinate
        • Schwandorf
    		No reference listed
            • Wölsendorf East District (Wölsendorf - Nabburg District)
    		Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990
    • Saxony
      • Vogtland
        • Oelsnitz
    		Gröbner, J. and Kolitsch, U. (2007): The minerals of the uranium prospect at Tirpersdorf, Vogtland. Lapis 32, 37-42; 58. (in German)
    Italy
     
    • Trentino-Alto Adige
      • Trento Province
        • Rendena Valley
    		Daniele Ravagnani - I giacimenti uraniferi italiani - Gruppo Min. Lombardo - Museo Civico di Storia Naturale di Milano, 1974
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Transbaikalia (Zabaykalye)
        • Chitinskaya Oblast'
          • Krasnokamensk
    		P.M. Kartashov data
    Sweden
     
    • Lappland
      • Arjeplog
    		No reference listed
      • Jokkmokk
    		No reference listed
    • Södermanland
      • Nyköping
    • Värmland
      • Torsby
    UK
     
    • England
      • Cornwall
        • St Just District
          • Botallack - Pendeen Area
            • Botallack
    		[Journal of the Russell Society, 6(1), 17-26 (1995)]
    USA
     
    • Colorado
      • Grand Co.
        • Wheeler Basin
    		Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckel, E. B.
    • Maine
      • Oxford Co.
        • Greenwood
    		King & Foord, 1994. Mineralogy of Maine, Vol.1, p.372.
        • Newry
    		No reference listed
    • Pennsylvania
      • Northampton Co.
        • Easton
          • Chestnut Hill
    		http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/wolsendorfite.pdf
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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