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Weeksite

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Rössing Mine, Arandis, Swakopmund District, Erongo Region, Namibia
© Elmar Lackner

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Formula:
K
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)
 
3
·4H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Yellow
Hardness:1 - 2
Name:Named after Alice Mary Dowse Weeks (1909-1988), professor of mineralogy, Temple University (Philadelphia, USA).
This page provides mineralogical data about Weeksite.

Classification of Weeksite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:8/H.37-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:9.AK.30

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
K : Uranyl neso- and polysilicates
Dana 8th edition ID:53.3.2.1

53 : NESOSILICATES Insular SiO4 Groups and Other Anions or Complex Cations
3 : Insular SiO4 Groups and Other Anions of Complex Cations with (UO2)
Hey's CIM Ref.:14.16.5

14 : Silicates not Containing Aluminum
16 : Silicates of U
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Type Occurrence of Weeksite

Type Locality:Autunite #8 claim, Topaz Mountain, Thomas Range, Juab Co., Utah, USA
Year of Discovery:1960

Physical Properties of Weeksite

Lustre:Waxy, Silky
Colour:Yellow
Hardness (Mohs):1 - 2

Crystallography of Weeksite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 14.26Å, b = 35.88Å, c = 14.2Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.397 : 1 : 0.396
Unit Cell Volume:V 7,265.41 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Weeksite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.596 nβ = 1.603 nγ = 1.606
2V:Measured: 60° , Calculated: 66°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.010

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

Chemical Properties of Weeksite

Formula:
K
 
2
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)
 
3
·4H
 
2
O
Essential elements:H, K, O, Si, U
All elements listed in formula:H, K, O, Si, U
Common Impurities:Al,Fe,Ca,Ba,Na,C

Relationship of Weeksite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
9.AK.05Soddyite
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
SiO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
9.AK.10Cuprosklodowskite
Cu(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.AK.10Oursinite
(Co,Mg)(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.AK.10Sklodowskite
Mg(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
9.AK.15Boltwoodite
(K,Na)(UO
 
2
)[HSiO
 
4
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
9.AK.15Kasolite
Pb(UO
 
2
)[SiO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
9.AK.15Natroboltwoodite
(H
 
3
O)(Na,K)UO
 
2
SiO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
9.AK.15Uranophane
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
9.AK.15Beta-Uranophane
9.AK.20Swamboite
UH
 
6
(UO
 
2
)
 
6
(SiO
 
4
)
 
6
·30H
 
2
O
9.AK.25Haiweeite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[Si
 
5
O
 
12
(OH)
 
2
]·4.5H
 
2
O
9.AK.25Metahaiweeite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
·nH
 
2
O
9.AK.25Ranquilite
9.AK.30Coutinhoite
Th
 
x
Ba
 
(1-2x)
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
Si
 
5
O
 
13
·(H
 
2
O)
 
1+y
 (0 < x < 0.5 and 0 < y < (2+x))
9.AK.35Ursilite
(Mg,Ca)
 
4
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)
 
5.5
(OH)
 
5
·13H
 
2
O
9.AK.35Magnioursilite
Mg
 
4
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)
 
5
(OH)
 
6
·20H
 
2
O
9.AK.35Calcioursilite
Ca
 
4
(UO
 
2
)
 
4
(Si
 
2
O
 
5
)
 
5
(OH)
 
6
·15H
 
2
O
9.AK.40Uranosilite
UO
 
3
 · 7SiO
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
14.16.1Uranosilite
UO
 
3
 · 7SiO
 
2
14.16.2Coffinite
(U,Th)[(OH)
 
4x
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-x
]
14.16.3Soddyite
(UO
 
2
)
 
2
SiO
 
4
·2H
 
2
O
14.16.4Swamboite
UH
 
6
(UO
 
2
)
 
6
(SiO
 
4
)
 
6
·30H
 
2
O
14.16.6Boltwoodite
(K,Na)(UO
 
2
)[HSiO
 
4
] · 0.5H
 
2
O
14.16.7Natroboltwoodite
(H
 
3
O)(Na,K)UO
 
2
SiO
 
4
·H
 
2
O
14.16.8Cuprosklodowskite
Cu(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
14.16.9Sklodowskite
Mg(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
14.16.10Uranophane
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
14.16.11β-Uranophane
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
14.16.12Haiweeite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[Si
 
5
O
 
12
(OH)
 
2
]·4.5H
 
2
O
14.16.13Metahaiweeite
Ca(UO
 
2
)
 
2
Si
 
6
O
 
15
·nH
 
2
O
14.16.14Thorogummite
(Th,U)[(OH)
 
4x
|(SiO
 
4
)
 
1-x
]
14.16.15Steacyite
([ ],K)(Na,Ca)
 
2
(Th,U)[Si
 
8
O
 
20
]
14.16.16Ekanite
(Ca,Fe
2+
 
,Pb)
 
2
(Th,U)[Si
 
8
O
 
20
]
14.16.17Kasolite
Pb(UO
 
2
)[SiO
 
4
] · H
 
2
O
14.16.18 Orlite
Pb
 
3
(UO
 
2
)
 
3
(Si
 
2
O
 
7
)
 
2
·6H
 
2
O
14.16.19Oursinite
(Co,Mg)(UO
 
2
)
 
2
[HSiO
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O

Other Names for Weeksite

Other Languages:
German:Weeksit
Russian:Уиксит
Spanish:Weeksita

Other Information

Health Warning:Contains uranium. Always wash hands after handling. Do not lick or ingest. Store in an uninhabited area

References for Weeksite

Reference List:Outerbridge W.F., Staatz, M. H., Meyrowitz, R. & Pommer, A. M. (1960), Weeksite, a new uranium silicate from the Thomas Range, Juab Co., UT, American Mineralogist: 45: 39-52.

Doklady Akademii Nauk SSSR: 282(5): 1132-1136.

Jackson, J.M. and Burns, P.C. (2001) A re-evaluation of the structure of weeksite, a uranyl silicate framework mineral. Canadian Mineralogist: 39: 187-195.

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 Weeksite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Weeksite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Weeksite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Weeksite

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