Becquerelite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Becquerelite
Antoine Henri Becquerel
Formula:
Ca(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 8H2O
Colour:
Amber-yellow, golden to lemon-yellow, yellow-orange, brownish yellow; yellow in transmitted light
Lustre:
Adamantine, Greasy
Hardness:
2½
Specific Gravity:
5.09 - 5.2
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in honor of Antoine Henri Becquerel (15 December 1852 Paris, France - 25 August 1908, Le Croisic, Brittany, France), physicist who discovered radioactivity in 1896. Among many honors, he was awarded the 1903 Nobel Prize in Physics, along with Marie SkĆodowska-Curie and Pierre Curie.
Highly stable in the presence of hydrogen peroxide. At intermediate H2O2 concentrations, it is second most stable phase after schoepite. At high concentrations of H2O2, the stability path is as follows: studtite, schoepite, metaschoepite, becquerelite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
597
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:597:7
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
5adabed2-ca92-43f7-b5b8-a82be4e3e8bc
IMA Classification of Becquerelite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1922
Classification of Becquerelite
4.GB.10
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
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
5.7.1.2
5 : OXIDES CONTAINING URANIUM OR THORIUM
7 : AX6O19·xH2O
5 : OXIDES CONTAINING URANIUM OR THORIUM
7 : AX6O19·xH2O
7.16.11
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
16 : Oxides of U
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
16 : Oxides of U
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMAâCNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Bqr | IMAâCNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMAâCNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Becquerelite
Adamantine, Greasy
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Amber-yellow, golden to lemon-yellow, yellow-orange, brownish yellow; yellow in transmitted light
Streak:
Yellow
Hardness:
2½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
on {001}; imperfect on {101}, {010} and {110}
on {001}; imperfect on {101}, {010} and {110}
Density:
5.09 - 5.2 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.1 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Becquerelite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.725 - 1.735 nβ = 1.815 - 1.825 nγ = 1.825 - 1.830
2V:
Measured: 32°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.100
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Very High
Dispersion:
r > v, marked
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X = colourless to pale yellow, Y = Z = yellow to deep yellow; Orientation: X = c, Y = a, Z = b
Chemistry of Becquerelite
Mindat Formula:
Ca(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 8H2O
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Pb
Crystallography of Becquerelite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:
Pna21
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.8378 Å, b = 12.3781 Å, c = 14.9238 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.118 : 1 : 1.206
Unit Cell V:
2,556.23 Ă
Âł (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Crystals usually tabular on {001}, with a pseudohexagonal outline, also prismatic, elongated along [010] into thick laths; striations parallel to [100] on {010}; also as coatings and fine-grained aggregates.
Twinning:
On {110}, polysynthetic, producing pseudohexagonal aggregates.
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0001132 | Becquerelite | Pagoaga M K, Appleman D E, Stewart J M (1987) Crystal structures and crystal chemistry of the uranyl oxide hydrates becquerelite, billietite, and protasite American Mineralogist 72 1230-1238 |  | 1987 | Shaba, Zaire | 0 | 293 |
| 0002789 | Becquerelite | Burns P C, Li Y (2002) The structures of becquerelite and Sr-exchanged becquerelite American Mineralogist 87 550-557 | | 2002 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0002790 | Becquerelite | Burns P C, Li Y (2002) The structures of becquerelite and Sr-exchanged becquerelite put occ in tables American Mineralogist 87 550-557 | | 2002 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0012079 | Becquerelite | Piret-Meunier J, Piret P (1982) Nouvelle determination de la structure cristalline de la bequerelite Bulletin de Mineralogie 105 606-610 | 1982 | Shinkolobwe, Shaba, Zaire | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 7.50 Ă | (10) |
| 3.22 Ă | (9) |
| 3.75 Ă | (8) |
| 3.56 Ă | (8) |
| 2.58 Ă | (7) |
| 4.71 Ă | (6) |
| 1.943 Ă | (5) |
Comments:
Recorded on material from Shaba Province, Congo
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Near-surface Processes | |
| 27 : Radioactive decay; auto-oxidation | |
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites | |
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47f : [Uranyl (Uâ¶âș) minerals] |
Geological Setting:
In oxidized portions of uranium deposits; also in pegmatites
Type Occurrence of Becquerelite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Fairly well formed, brownish yellow crystals to 0.45 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Natural History Museum, Paris, France (No. 122.135)
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Among weathering products of uraninite in the oxidized portions of a uranium deposit
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Schoep, A. (1922) Sur la becquerelite, nouveau minĂ©ral radioactif. Comptes rendu de lâAcadĂ©mie des sciences de Paris: 174: 1240-1242.
Synonyms of Becquerelite
Other Language Names for Becquerelite
French:BecquerĂšlite
German:Beckerelit
Becquerelit
Becquerelit
Russian:ĐĐ”ĐșĐșĐ”ŃДлОŃ
Spanish:Beckerelita
Becquerelita
Becquerelita
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
| 38 photos of Becquerelite associated with Uraninite | UO2 |
| 27 photos of Becquerelite associated with Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
| 18 photos of Becquerelite associated with Fourmarierite | Pb(UO2)4O3(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| 10 photos of Becquerelite associated with Curite | Pb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2 |
| 9 photos of Becquerelite associated with Schoepite | (UO2)8O2(OH)12 · 12H2O |
| 9 photos of Becquerelite associated with Studtite | [(UO2)(O2)(H2O)2] · H2O |
| 8 photos of Becquerelite associated with Rutherfordine | (UO2)CO3 |
| 7 photos of Becquerelite associated with Wölsendorfite | Pb7(UO2)14O19(OH)4 · 12H2O |
| 7 photos of Becquerelite associated with Billietite | Ba(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 4-8H2O |
| 6 photos of Becquerelite associated with Lepersonnite-(Gd) | Ca(Gd,Dy)2(UO2)24(SiO4)4(CO3)8(OH)24 · 48H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.GB.05 | Agrinierite | K2(Ca,Sr)[(UO2)3O3(OH)2]2 · 5H2O |
| 4.GB.05 | Compreignacite | K2(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 7H2O |
| 4.GB.05 | Rameauite | K2Ca(UO2)6O6(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 4.GB.10 | Billietite | Ba(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 4-8H2O |
| 4.GB.10 | Protasite | Ba(UO2)3O3(OH)2 · 3H2O |
| 4.GB.15 | Richetite | (Fe3+,Mg)Pb 8.6(UO2)36O36(OH)24 · 41H2O |
| 4.GB.20 | Bauranoite | Ba(UO2)2(OH)6 · 1-2H2O |
| 4.GB.20 | Calciouranoite | (Ca,Ba,Pb)U2O7 · 5H2O |
| 4.GB.20 | Metacalciouranoite | (Ca,Ba,Pb,K2)U2O7 · 2H2O |
| 4.GB.25 | Fourmarierite | Pb(UO2)4O3(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| 4.GB.30 | Wölsendorfite | Pb7(UO2)14O19(OH)4 · 12H2O |
| 4.GB.35 | Masuyite | Pb(UO2)3O3(OH)2 · 3H2O |
| 4.GB.40 | Metavandendriesscheite | PbU7O22 · nH2O n < 12 |
| 4.GB.40 | Vandendriesscheite | PbU7O22 · 12H2O |
| 4.GB.45 | Vandenbrandeite | Cu(UO2)(OH)4 |
| 4.GB.50 | Sayrite | Pb2(UO2)5O6(OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 4.GB.55 | Curite | Pb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2 |
| 4.GB.60 | Iriginite | (UO2)Mo2O7 · 3H2O |
| 4.GB.65 | Uranosphaerite | Bi(UO2)O2(OH) |
| 4.GB.70 | Holfertite | CaxU6+2-xTi(O8-xOH4x) · 3H2O |
| 4.GB.75 | Carlosbarbosaite | (UO2)2Nb2O6(OH)2 · 2H2O |
| 4.GB.80 | Gauthierite | KPb[(UO2)7O5(OH)7] · 8H2O |
| 4.GB.85 | Kroupaite | KPb0.5[(UO2)8O4(OH)10] · 10H2O |
| 4.GB.90 | Leesite | K(H2O)2[(UO2)4O2(OH)5] · 3H2O |
| 4.GB.95 | Shinkolobweite | Pb1.25[U5+(H2O)2(U6+O2)5O8(OH)2](H2O)5 |
| 4.GB.95 | Nollmotzite | Mg[U5+(U6+O2)2O4F3] · 4H2O |
Other Information
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Becquerelite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-597.html
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References for Becquerelite
Reference List:
Schoep, Alfred (1924) Recherches sur la becquerelite et sur la schoepite ; mesures de cristaux, analyse chimique, déshydratation. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 47 (5) 147-157 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1924.3944
Schoep, Alfred, Stradiot, Sadi (1948) Additional data on the properties of becquerelite and billietite. American Mineralogist, 33 (7-8) 503-507
Frondel, Judith W., Cuttitta, Frank (1953) Studies of uranium minerals (XII) : The status of billietite and Becquerelite. American Mineralogist, 38 (11-12) 1019-1024
(1958) Systematic mineralogy of uranium and thorium. Bulletin Vol. 1064. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/b1064 pp.62-68
Christ, C. L., Clark, J. R. (1960) Crystal chemical studies of some uranyl oxide hydrates. American Mineralogist, 45 (9-10) 1026-1061
Piret-Meunier, Jacqueline, Piret, Paul (1982) Nouvelle détermination de la structure cristalline de la becquerélite. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 105 (6) 606-610 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1982.7641
Pagoaga, M. Katherine, Appleman, Daniel E., Stewart, James M. (1987) Crystal structures and crystal chemistry of the uranyl oxide hydrates becquerelite, billietite, and protasite. American Mineralogist, 72 (11-12) 1230-1238
Vochten, R., Van Haverbeke, L. (1990) Transformation of schoepite into the uranyl oxide hydrates: Becquerelite, billietite and wölsendorfite. Mineralogy and Petrology, 43 (1) 65-72 doi:10.1007/bf01164222
Glatz, R. E., Li, Y., Hughes, K.-A., Cahill, C. L., Burns, P. C. (2002) Synthesis and structure of a new Ca uranyl oxide hydrate, Ca[(UO2)4O3(OH)4](H2O)2, and its relationship to becquerelite. The Canadian Mineralogist, 40 (1) 217-224 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.40.1.217
Amayri, S., Arnold, T., Foerstendorf, H., Geipel, G., Bernhard, G. (2004) Spectroscopic characterization of synthetic becquerelite, Ca[UO2)6O4(OH)6]·8H2O, and swartzite, CaMg[UO2(CO3)3]·12H2O. The Canadian Mineralogist, 42 (4) 953-962 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.42.4.953
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
Kubatko, K.-A., Helean, K., Navrotsky, A., Burns, P. C. (2006) Thermodynamics of uranyl minerals: Enthalpies of formation of uranyl oxide hydrates. American Mineralogist, 91 (4) 658-666 doi:10.2138/am.2006.1856
Schindler, M., Hawthorne, F. C., Burns, P. C., Maurice, P. A. (2006) Dissolution of uranyl-oxide-hydroxy-hydrate minerals. II. Becquerelite. The Canadian Mineralogist, 44 (5) 1207-1225 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.44.5.1207
Localities for Becquerelite
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
â - 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Argentina | |
| Lucero et al. (1963) |
| Lucero et al. (1963) | |
| American Mineralogist: 46: 12-25. | |
| Las Especies Minerales de La Republica ... |
Australia | |
| Henry et al. (2005) |
| Henry et al. (2005) | |
Austria | |
| Paar et al. (1978) |
| Strasser (1989) | |
Brazil | |
| Pires et al. (2014) |
Canada | |
| Tyson (1989) |
| Nova Scotia Natural Resources Mineral ... |
| Cloutier et al. (2009) |
| Rich et al. (1977) | |
| Anthony (1997) | |
| Anthony (1997) |
China | |
| Long Lu et al. (2006) |
Czech Republic | |
| Lapis 2002 (7/8) |
| PauliĆĄ P. et al. (Kutna Hora, issue 1) |
| PauliĆĄ |
| Sejkora (1994) |
| PauliĆĄ P. et al. (Kutna Hora, issue 1) |
DR Congo (TL) | |
| Schoep (1922) +1 other reference |
| Deliens (1996) |
| J.W. Anthony et al. (2003) | |
| J.W. Anthony et al. (2003) | |
| Deliens (1992) | |
| Wilson (2018) |
Egypt | |
| Hussein et al. (1988) |
France | |
| - (1998) |
| J.-J. PĂ©richaud: "OĂč trouver les minĂ©raux d'Auvergne" et al. (Clermont-Ferrand) +1 other reference | |
| - (1998) |
| De Ascençao Guedes (2000) |
| - (1998) |
| - (1998) |
| "minéraux uranifÚres +1 other reference |
| Personal Collection |
| Bariand et al. (1993) +2 other references |
Germany | |
| Walenta (1992) +1 other reference |
| Dill et al. (2010) |
| Aufschluss 69/ (7+8) +1 other reference |
| Wittern (2001) |
| Anthony (1997) | |
| Gröbner et al. (2007) +1 other reference |
Hungary | |
| Zsombor Eva |
Italy | |
| Vignola P. et al. (2011) |
| De Michele V. (1979) |
| Ravagnani (1974) |
| Campostrini et al. (2006) |
| Campostrini et al. (2005) |
Madagascar | |
| Behier (1960) |
| Behier (1963) | |
| Behier (1960) |
Mexico | |
| Econ Geol (1991) +1 other reference |
Namibia | |
| Bowell et al. (2017) |
New Zealand | |
| Railton et al. (1990) |
Norway | |
| Neumann (1985) |
| Neumann (1985) |
Peru | |
| Li (2016) |
Poland | |
| Kucha (2021) +1 other reference |
| Syczewski et al. (2023) +1 other reference |
| Kucha (2021) +1 other reference |
Romania | |
| SzakĂĄll:Minerals of Carpathians |
Russia | |
| Aleshin et al. (2007) |
Slovakia | |
| Ferenc Ć . et al. (2018) |
South Africa | |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
Spain | |
| Gonzalez del TĂĄnago J. (1985) |
Switzerland | |
| Stalder et al. (1998) |
| Stalder et al. (1998) +1 other reference |
| |
UK | |
| Golley et al. (1995) |
| Golley et al. (1995) |
| Alysson Rowan collection +2 other references |
USA | |
| Frondel (1956) +4 other references |
| Frondel (1956) +4 other references | |
| Scarborough (1981) |
| Scarborough (1981) |
| Scarborough (1981) |
| Robert B. Scarborough (1981) |
| Galbraith (1959) |
| Scarborough (1981) |
| Dickinson +1 other reference |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) | |
| Am Min 50:909-923 +1 other reference |
| Schooner (circa 1980s) +1 other reference |
| Personal collection and XRD analysis by ... |
| |
| Northrop et al. (1996) |
| NMBMMR Memoir 15 Geology and Technology ... | |
| Anthony (1997) | |
| NMBMMR Memoir 15 Geology and Technology ... +1 other reference | |
| Finch et al. (1997) |
| Finch et al. (1997) | |
| American Mineralogist +1 other reference |
| Finch et al. (1997) |
| Page et al. (1956) +3 other references |
| Rocks & Min.:10:147 & 60:112 |
| Bullock (1981) |
| Bullock (1981) | |
| Bullock (1981) | |
| Page et al. (1956) +3 other references | |
| USGS Circular 336 +1 other reference |
| Bullock (1981) |
| Bullock (1981) |
| Page et al. (1956) +3 other references |
| Bullock (1981) | |
| Joe Marty photo | |
| Min Rec 2:210-211 | |
| Desor (11/2020) | |
| Bullock (1981) |
| Anthony (1997) |
| Rocks & Minerals 76:386 |
| Rocks & Minerals 76:386 |
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Shinkolobwe Mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo