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Wyartite

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

Formula:
Ca
 
3
U
4+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
6
[(OH)
 
9
|CO
 
3
]
 
2
 · 3-5H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Black, violet-black ...
Lustre:Vitreous, Sub-Metallic, DullHardness:3 - 4
Name:Named after Jean Wyart (1902-1992), Professor of Mineralogy, Sorbonne, Paris, France
This page provides mineralogical data about Wyartite.

Classification of Wyartite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/F.05-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.EA.15

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
E : Uranyl Carbonates
A : UO2:CO3 > 1:1
Dana 8th edition ID:16b.7.4.1

16b : HYDRATED CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : Miscellaneous
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.11.8

11 : Carbonates
11 : Carbonates of Cr and U
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Type Occurrence of Wyartite

Type Locality:Shinkolobwe Mine (Kasolo Mine), Shinkolobwe, Central area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
Year of Discovery:1959

Physical Properties of Wyartite

Lustre:Vitreous, Sub-Metallic, Dull
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent, Opaque
Colour:Black, violet-black (fresh); yellowish brown, greenish brown (exposed)
Hardness (Mohs):3 - 4

Crystallography of Wyartite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 11.25Å, b = 7.1Å, c = 20.8Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.585 : 1 : 2.93
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,661.40 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Wyartite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.890 nγ = 1.910
2V:Measured: 48°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.020

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

Chemical Properties of Wyartite

Formula:
Ca
 
3
U
4+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
6
[(OH)
 
9
|CO
 
3
]
 
2
 · 3-5H
 
2
O
Essential elements:C, Ca, H, O, U
All elements listed in formula:C, Ca, H, O, U

Relationship of Wyartite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.EA.10Urancalcarite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|CO
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
5.EA.20Oswaldpeetersite
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[(OH)
 
2
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.EA.25Roubaultite
Cu
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(OH)
 
10
 · 5H
 
2
O
5.EA.30Kamotoite-(Y)
Y
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
[O
 
4
|(CO
 
3
)
 
3
] · 14H
 
2
O
5.EA.35Sharpite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
6
[(OH)
 
4
|(CO
 
3
)
 
5
] · 6H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
11.11.1Stichtite
Mg
 
6
Cr
 
2
[(OH)
 
16
|CO
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
11.11.2Rutherfordine
(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
11.11.3Joliotite
(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
] · nH
 
2
O
11.11.4Grimselite
K
 
3
Na(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
 · H
 
2
O
11.11.5Bayleyite
Mg
 
2
(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
 · 18H
 
2
O
11.11.6Metazellerite
Ca(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
11.11.7Zellerite
Ca(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
11.11.9Urancalcarite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
3
[(OH)
 
6
|CO
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
11.11.10Sharpite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
6
[(OH)
 
4
|(CO
 
3
)
 
5
] · 6H
 
2
O
11.11.11Voglite
Ca
 
2
Cu(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O (?)
11.11.12Andersonite
Na
 
2
Ca(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
 · 6H
 
2
O
11.11.13Swartzite
MgCa(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
 · 12H
 
2
O
11.11.14Rabbittite
Ca
 
3
Mg
 
3
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|(CO
 
3
)
 
6
] · 18H
 
2
O
11.11.15Kamotoite-(Y)
Y
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
[O
 
4
|(CO
 
3
)
 
3
] · 14H
 
2
O
11.11.16Shabaite-(Nd)
Ca(Nd,Sm,Y)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)[(OH)
 
2
|(CO
 
3
)
 
4
] · 6H
 
2
O
11.11.17Astrocyanite-(Ce)
Cu
 
2
(Ce,Nd,La)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)[(OH)
 
2
|(CO
 
3
)
 
5
] · 1.5H
 
2
O
11.11.18Bijvoetite-(Y)
(Y,Dy)
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
[(OH)
 
6
|(CO
 
3
)
 
2
] · 11H
 
2
O
11.11.19Widenmannite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
11.11.20Znucalite
Zn
 
12
Ca(UO
 
2
)[(OH)
 
22
|(CO
 
3
)
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O

Other Names for Wyartite

Synonyms:
Ianthinite (of Bignand)
Other Languages:
German:Wyartit
Russian:Виартит
Spanish:Wyartita

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 Wyartite

Reference List:Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie (1959): 82: 80-86.

American Mineralogist (1959): 44: 908.

Burns, P.C. and Finch, R.J. (1999) Wyartite: crystallographic evidence for the first pentavalent-uranium mineral. American Mineralogist (1999): 84: 1456-1460.

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

Articles/Blogs about Wyartite

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    Localities for Wyartite

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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.
    Australia
     
    • Northern Territory
      • Kakadu National Park
        • Jabiru
    Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)
     
    • Katanga (Shaba)
      • Katanga Copper Crescent
        • Central area
          • Shinkolobwe
    		[MinRec 20:288]
    France
     
    • Rhône-Alpes
      • Loire
        • St Priest-la-Prugne
    		Le Règne Minéral, Hors Série IV, 1998
    Mineral and/or Locality
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