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Andersonite

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Drosen, Ronneburg U deposit, Gera, Thuringia, Germany
© Thomas Witzke

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Formula:
Na
 
2
Ca(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
 · 6H
 
2
O
System:TrigonalColour:Yellow-green, bright ...
Lustre:VitreousHardness:2½
Name:
For Charles A. Anderson (1902-1990), American geologist, US Geological Survey.
This page provides mineralogical data about Andersonite.

Classification of Andersonite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/F.02-40
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:5.ED.30

5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
E : Uranyl Carbonates
D : UO2:CO3 = 1:3
Dana 8th edition ID:15.2.5.1

15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
2 : AmBn(XO3)p·xH2O, with (m+n):p > 1:1
Hey's CIM Ref.:11.11.12

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

Type Locality:Hillside Mine (Happy Jack MS 920 claim; Camp MS 919 claim; Seven Stars MS 916 claim), Bozarth Mesa, Bagdad, Eureka District, Yavapai Co., Arizona, USA
Year of Discovery:1948
Geological Setting of type material:Post-mining efflorescences on mine walls.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
SwartziteSchröckingeriteGypsumBayleyite

Physical Properties of Andersonite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Yellow-green, bright green
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Density (measured):2.8 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.86 g/cm3

Crystallography of Andersonite

Crystal System:Trigonal
Class (H-M):3 - Rhombohedral
Space Group:R3
Cell Parameters:a = 18Å, c = 23.83Å
Ratio:a:c = 1 : 1.324
Unit Cell Volume:V 6,686.51 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Occurs as clusters of minute pseudo-cubic crystals.

Optical Data of Andersonite

Type:Uniaxial (+)
RI values: nω = 1.520 nε = 1.540
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.020

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Pleochroism:Visible
Comments:O = colourless
E = Light yellow

Chemical Properties of Andersonite

Formula:
Na
 
2
Ca(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
 · 6H
 
2
O
Essential elements:C, Ca, H, Na, O, U
All elements listed in formula:C, Ca, H, Na, O, U

Relationship of Andersonite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
5.ED.05Bayleyite
Mg
 
2
(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
 · 18H
 
2
O
5.ED.10Swartzite
MgCa(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
 · 12H
 
2
O
5.ED.15Albrechtschraufite
Ca
 
4
Mg(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[F
 
2
|(CO
 
3
)
 
6
] · 17 H
 
2
O
5.ED.20Liebigite
Ca
 
2
(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
 · 11H
 
2
O
5.ED.25Rabbittite
Ca
 
3
Mg
 
3
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[(OH)
 
4
|(CO
 
3
)
 
6
] · 18H
 
2
O
5.ED.35Grimselite
K
 
3
Na(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
 · H
 
2
O
5.ED.40Widenmannite
Pb
 
2
(UO
 
2
)[CO
 
3
]
 
3
5.ED.45Znucalite
Zn
 
12
Ca(UO
 
2
)[(OH)
 
22
|(CO
 
3
)
 
3
] · 4H
 
2
O
5.ED.50Čejkaite
Na
 
4
(UO
 
2
)(CO
 
3
)
 
3
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
11.11.8Wyartite
Ca[U
5+
 
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(CO
 
3
)O
 
4
(OH)](H
 
2
O)
 
7
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 (?)
11.11.13Swartzite
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
)
 
4
] · 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 Andersonite

Other Languages:
German:Andersonit
Russian:Андерсонит
Spanish:Andersonita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Bright pastel green (a unique color)(SW UV).
Other Information:Soluble in water.
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 Andersonite

Reference List:Axelrod, Grimaldi, Milton, and Murata (1951) American Mineralogist: 36: 1-22.

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: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 239.

Acta Crystallographica: B37: 1496-1500.

Mereiter, K. (1986c) Neue kristallographische Daten ueber das Uranmineral Andersonit. Anzeiger Österreichen Akademie der Wissenschaften, Mathematisch-Naturwissenschaftliche Klasse: 123(3): 39-41.

Kubatko, Karrie-Ann, Katheryn Helean, Alexandra Navrotsky, and Peter C. Burns (2005), Thermodynamics of uranyl minerals: Enthalpies of formation of rutherfordine, UO2CO3, andersonite, Na2CaUO2(CO3)3(H2O)5, and grimselite, K3NaUO2(CO3)3H2O: American Mineralogist: 90: 1284-1290.

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 Andersonite

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    Localities for Andersonite

    Show Locality List (37 Items)
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    Copyright © Jolyon Ralph and Ida Chau 1993-2009. Site Map. Locality, mineral & photograph data are the copyright of the individuals who submitted them.Further information contact the Site hosted & developed by Jolyon Ralph. Mindat.org is an online information resource dedicated to providing free mineralogical information to all. Mindat relies on the contributions of hundreds of members and supporters. If you would like to add information to improve the quality of our database, then click here to register. Current server date and time: 18th Nov 2009 14:23:49