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Althupite

A valid IMA mineral species
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08263820016735284711762.jpg
Althupite

Kobokobo pegmatite, Shabunda Territory, South Kivu, DR Congo
08372450014947517946039.jpg
Althupite

Kobokobo pegmatite, Shabunda Territory, South Kivu, DR Congo
04737040015741005207578.jpg
Althupite, etc.

Kobokobo pegmatite, Shabunda Territory, South Kivu, DR Congo
02048150016715478919426.jpg
Althupite

Kobokobo pegmatite, Shabunda Territory, South Kivu, DR Congo
08372450014947517946039.jpg
Althupite

Kobokobo pegmatite, Shabunda Territory, South Kivu, DR Congo
03934170015728086626205.jpg
Althupite, etc.

Kobokobo pegmatite, Shabunda Territory, South Kivu, DR Congo
08263820016735284711762.jpg
Althupite

Kobokobo pegmatite, Shabunda Territory, South Kivu, DR Congo
08372450014947517946039.jpg
Althupite

Kobokobo pegmatite, Shabunda Territory, South Kivu, DR Congo
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About AlthupiteHide

Formula:
AlTh(UO2)7(PO4)4(OH)5O2 · 15H2O
Colour:
Yellow
Lustre:
Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous
Hardness:
3½ - 4
Specific Gravity:
3.91
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named in 1987 by Paul Piret and Michel Deliens for its constituent elements: Al, Th, U and P.
This page provides mineralogical data about Althupite.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
149
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:149:4
GUID
(UUID V4):
54320fb2-89ae-4fec-bd85-9b385c2284cc

IMA Classification of AlthupiteHide

IMA status:
Approved
IMA Formula:
AlTh(UO2)7(PO4)4O2(OH)5 · 15H2O
Approval year:
1986

Classification of AlthupiteHide

Strunz-mindat (2023):
8.EC.25

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
E : Uranyl phosphates and arsenates
C : UO2:RO4 = 3:2
Dana 8th ed.:
42.4.13.1

42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
4 : (AB)5(XO4)2Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:
19.11.33

19 : Phosphates
11 : Phosphates of U

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference
AhpIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of AlthupiteHide

Lustre:
Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Yellow
Streak:
Yellow
Hardness:
3½ - 4 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Flexible
Density:
3.91 g/cm3 (Measured)    3.98 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of AlthupiteHide

Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.620 nβ = 1.661 nγ = 1.665
2V:
Measured: 31° , Calculated: 34°
Birefringence:
0.045
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.045
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Moderate
Dispersion:
r < v strong
Optical Extinction:
Z ^ c = 15°, X ~ a
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X = very pale yellow, Y = Z = yellow

Chemistry of AlthupiteHide

Mindat Formula:
AlTh(UO2)7(PO4)4(OH)5O2 · 15H2O
Elements listed:
Al, H, O, P, Th, U - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of AlthupiteHide

Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Setting:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.953 Å, b = 18.567 Å, c = 13.504 Å
α = 72.64°, β = 68.20°, γ = 84.21°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.59 : 1 : 0.727
Unit Cell V:
2,433.54 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
As thin tabular crystals, flattened on {100} and terminated by {011} and {021}, to 0.1 mm, and in parallel groups.

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0012087AlthupitePiret P, Deliens M (1987) Les phosphates d'uranyle et d'aluminium de Kobokobo IX. L'althupite AlTh(UO2)[(UO2)3O(OH)PO4)2]2(OH)3*15H2O, nouveau mineral; proprietes et structure cristalline Bulletin de Mineralogie 110 65-7219870293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
10.2 Å(100)
6.67 Å(40)
5.80 Å(50)
5.09 Å(70)
4.91 Å(40)
4.41 Å(50)
2.896 Å(50)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event<2.4
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals]
47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates]
47f : [Uranyl (U⁶⁺) minerals]

Type Occurrence of AlthupiteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Kobokobo pegmatite, Shabunda Territory, South Kivu, DR Congo
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Royal Museum of Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium, RMG6178.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
A secondary mineral in the uraniferous zone of an altered granite pegmatite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
UpaliteTrianguliteThreadgolditeRanunculitePhuralumite
MunditeMeta-autuniteColumbite-(Fe)-Columbite-(Mn) SeriesBeryl

Synonyms of AlthupiteHide

Other Language Names for AlthupiteHide

German:Althupit
Spanish:Althupita

Relationship of Althupite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Phosphuranylite Group
Other Members of this group:
BergeniteCa2Ba4(UO2)9(PO4)6O6 · 16H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
DewindtiteH2Pb3(UO2)6O4(PO4)4 · 12H2OOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmma
DumontitePb2(UO2)3O2(PO4)2 · 5H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
Françoisite-(Ce)(Ce,Nd,Ca)(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH) · 6H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
Françoisite-(Nd)(Nd,Ce,Sm)(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH) · 6H2OMon. 2/m
HügelitePb2(UO2)3(AsO4)2O2 · 5H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
PhosphuranyliteKCa(H3O)3(UO2)7(PO4)4O4 · 8H2OOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm
PhuralumiteAl2[(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH)](OH)3(H2O)9Mon. 2/m
PhurcaliteCa2(UO2)3(PO4)2O2 · 7H2OOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbca
UpaliteAl(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH) · 7H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
VanmeersscheiteU6+(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2OOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
YingjiangiteK2Ca(UO2)7(PO4)4(OH)6 · 6H2OOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm

Common AssociatesHide

Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
1 photo of Althupite associated with ApatiteCa5(PO4)3(Cl/F/OH)
1 photo of Althupite associated with MuscoviteKAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

8.EC.05Françoisite-(Nd)(Nd,Ce,Sm)(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH) · 6H2OMon. 2/m
8.EC.05PhuralumiteAl2[(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH)](OH)3(H2O)9Mon. 2/m
8.EC.05UpaliteAl(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH) · 7H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.EC.05Françoisite-(Ce)(Ce,Nd,Ca)(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH) · 6H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.EC.10ArsenuranyliteCa(UO2)4(AsO4)2(OH)4 · 6H2OOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
8.EC.10DewindtiteH2Pb3(UO2)6O4(PO4)4 · 12H2OOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmma
8.EC.10KivuiteTh(UO2)4(PO3OH)2(OH)8 · 7H2O
8.EC.10PhosphuranyliteKCa(H3O)3(UO2)7(PO4)4O4 · 8H2OOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm
8.EC.10YingjiangiteK2Ca(UO2)7(PO4)4(OH)6 · 6H2OOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm
8.EC.10RenarditePb(UO2)4(PO4)2(OH)4 · H2OOrth.
8.EC.15DumontitePb2(UO2)3O2(PO4)2 · 5H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
8.EC.15HügelitePb2(UO2)3(AsO4)2O2 · 5H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
8.EC.20MetavanmeersscheiteU6+(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)6 · 2H2OOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Fddd
8.EC.20VanmeersscheiteU6+(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2OOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m)
8.EC.20ArsenovanmeersscheiteU6+(UO2)3(AsO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2OOrth. mm2 : Pmn21
8.EC.30MunditeAl(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5.5H2OOrth.
8.EC.35PhurcaliteCa2(UO2)3(PO4)2O2 · 7H2OOrth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbca
8.EC.40BergeniteCa2Ba4(UO2)9(PO4)6O6 · 16H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b

Fluorescence of AlthupiteHide

In UV light:
Apparently not fluorescent

Other InformationHide

Notes:
radioactive
Health Risks:
Contains uranium - always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking. Never lick or ingest. Avoid prolonged exposure in proximity of the body. Store away from inhabited areas.

Internet Links for AlthupiteHide

References for AlthupiteHide

Reference List:
Piret, Paul, Deliens, Michel (1987) Les phosphates d'uranyle et d'aluminium de Kobokobo. IX. L'althupite AlTh(UO2)[(UO2)3O(OH)(PO4)2]2(OH)3·15H2O, nouveau minéral ; propriétés et structure cristalline. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 110 (1) 65-72 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1987.8026
Hawthorne, Frank C., Burke, Ernst A. J., Ercit, T. Scott, Grew, Edward S., Grice, Joel D., Jambor, John L., Puziewicz, Jacek, Roberts, Andrew C., Vanko, David A. (1988) New Mineral Names. American Mineralogist, 73 (1-2) 189-199
Burns, Peter C. (2005) U6+ minerals and inorganic compounds: insights into an expanded structural hierarchy of crystal structures. The Canadian Mineralogist, 43 (6) 1839-1894 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.43.6.1839

Localities for AlthupiteHide

This 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.

Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. - Good crystals or important locality for species. - World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
DR Congo (TL)
 
  • South Kivu
    • Shabunda Territory
properties et structures cristalline. Bulletin de Minéralogie: 110: 65-72.
Piret, Paul, Deliens, Michel (1987) Les phosphates d'uranyle et d'aluminium de Kobokobo. IX. L'althupite AlTh(UO2)[(UO2)3O(OH)(PO4)2]2(OH)3·15H2O, nouveau minéral ; propriétés et structure cristalline. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 110 (1) 65-72 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1987.8026
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