Kamotoite-(Y)
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About Kamotoite-(Y)
Formula:
Y2(UO2)4(CO3)3O4 · 14H2O
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named by M. Deliens and P. Piret in 1986 after the town of Kamoto, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo, where the type locality is situated.
One of 4 currently known yttrium-uranium(uranyl) minerals of the natural salts class; the other representatives of this group are bijvoetite-(Y) (carbonate), alwilkinsite-(Y) and sejkoraite-(Y) (sulphates). Kamotoite-(Y) is thus the second natural Y-U carbonate after bijvoetite-(Y).
The similarity of kamotoite-(Y) and bijvoetite-(Y) may be more than chemical in natue, as Plášil & Petříček (2017) have shown that structures of these two minerals are the same (although the identity of these two minerals is not yet confirmed). Nevertheless, the XR pattern is pseudo-orthorhombic due to twinning, and the structure is based on sheets of the bijvoetite-(Y) uranyl/anion-topology, the sheets being electroneutral. Water resides in the interlayer space and does not directly coordinate any cation.
The similarity of kamotoite-(Y) and bijvoetite-(Y) may be more than chemical in natue, as Plášil & Petříček (2017) have shown that structures of these two minerals are the same (although the identity of these two minerals is not yet confirmed). Nevertheless, the XR pattern is pseudo-orthorhombic due to twinning, and the structure is based on sheets of the bijvoetite-(Y) uranyl/anion-topology, the sheets being electroneutral. Water resides in the interlayer space and does not directly coordinate any cation.
Classification of Kamotoite-(Y)
Approved
Approval year:
1985
First published:
1986
5/F.06-20
5.EA.30
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
E : Uranyl Carbonates
A : UO2:CO3 > 1:1
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
E : Uranyl Carbonates
A : UO2:CO3 > 1:1
16b.3.3.1
16b : HYDRATED CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
3 : AmBn(XO3)pZqxH2O & with (m+n):p = 2:1
16b : HYDRATED CARBONATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
3 : AmBn(XO3)pZq
11.11.15
11 : Carbonates
11 : Carbonates of Cr and U
11 : Carbonates
11 : Carbonates of Cr and U
Optical Data of Kamotoite-(Y)
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.604 nβ = 1.667 nγ = 1.731
2V:
Measured: 87° , Calculated: 86°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.127

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:
Moderate
Dispersion:
r > v
Chemical Properties of Kamotoite-(Y)
Formula:
Y2(UO2)4(CO3)3O4 · 14H2O
IMA Formula:
Y2O4(UO2)4(CO3)3 · 14H2O
Crystallography of Kamotoite-(Y)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.3525(5) Å, b = 12.9432(5) Å, c = 19.4409(7) Å
β = 99.857(3)°
β = 99.857(3)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.954 : 1 : 1.502
Unit Cell V:
3069.8 ų
Z:
4
Comment:
space group is P21/n
Type Occurrence of Kamotoite-(Y)
Synonyms of Kamotoite-(Y)
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
8 photos of Kamotoite-(Y) associated with Astrocyanite-(Ce) | Cu2(Ce,Nd,La)2(UO2)(CO3)5(OH)2 · 1.5H2O |
3 photos of Kamotoite-(Y) associated with Uraninite | UO2 |
2 photos of Kamotoite-(Y) associated with Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
1 photo of Kamotoite-(Y) associated with Shabaite-(Nd) | Ca(Nd,Sm,Y)2(UO2)(CO3)4(OH)2 · 6H2O |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
5.EA.05 | UM1997-24-CO:CaCuHU | Ca2Cu(UO2)2(CO3)2O3 · 3H2O | |
5.EA.10 | Urancalcarite | Ca(UO2)3(CO3)(OH)6 · 3H2O | Orth. |
5.EA.15 | Wyartite | CaU5+(UO2)2(CO3)O4(OH) · 7H2O | Orth. |
5.EA.20 | Oswaldpeetersite | (UO2)2(CO3)(OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
5.EA.25 | Roubaultite | Cu2(UO2)3(CO3)2O2(OH)2 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
5.EA.35 | Sharpite | Ca(UO2)3(CO3)4 · 3H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
11.11.1 | Stichtite | Mg6Cr3+2(OH)16[CO3] · 4H2O | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
11.11.2 | Rutherfordine | (UO2)CO3 | Orth. mm2 : Imm2 |
11.11.3 | Joliotite | (UO2)CO3 · nH2O | Orth. |
11.11.4 | Grimselite | K3Na(UO2)(CO3)3 · H2O | Hex. |
11.11.5 | Bayleyite | Mg2(UO2)(CO3)3 · 18H2O | Mon. |
11.11.6 | Metazellerite | Ca(UO2)(CO3)2 · 3H2O | Orth. |
11.11.7 | Zellerite | Ca(UO2)(CO3)2 · 5H2O | Orth. |
11.11.8 | Wyartite | CaU5+(UO2)2(CO3)O4(OH) · 7H2O | Orth. |
11.11.9 | Urancalcarite | Ca(UO2)3(CO3)(OH)6 · 3H2O | Orth. |
11.11.10 | Sharpite | Ca(UO2)3(CO3)4 · 3H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm |
11.11.11 | Voglite | Ca2Cu(UO2)(CO3)4 · 6H2O | Mon. |
11.11.12 | Andersonite | Na2Ca(UO2)(CO3)3 · 6H2O | Trig. 3 : R3 |
11.11.13 | Swartzite | MgCa(UO2)(CO3)3 · 12H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
11.11.14 | Rabbittite | Ca3Mg3(UO2)2(CO3)6(OH)4 · 18H2O | Mon. |
11.11.16 | Shabaite-(Nd) | Ca(Nd,Sm,Y)2(UO2)(CO3)4(OH)2 · 6H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
11.11.17 | Astrocyanite-(Ce) | Cu2(Ce,Nd,La)2(UO2)(CO3)5(OH)2 · 1.5H2O | Hex. |
11.11.18 | Bijvoetite-(Y) | Y8(UO2)16(CO3)16O8(OH)8 · 39H2O | Mon. |
11.11.19 | Widenmannite | Pb2(OH)2[(UO2)(CO3)2] | Orth. |
11.11.20 | Znucalite | Zn12Ca(UO2)(CO3)3(OH)22 · 4H2O | Orth. |
Other Information
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Display Requirements:
Radioactive
Health Risks:
This radioactive specie sit always on massive uraninite and should be manipulated and stored with precautions.
References for Kamotoite-(Y)
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Deliens, M., Piret, P. (1986) La kamototïte-(Y), un nouveau carbonate d'uranyle et de terres rares de Kamoto, Shaba, Zaïre. Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie: 109: 643-647.
Hawthorne, F.C., Burke, E.A.J., Ercit, T.S., Grew, E.S., Grice, J.D., Jambor, J.L., Puziewicz, J., Roberts, A.C., Vanko, D.A. (1988) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 73: 189-199.
Deliens, M., Piret, P., Van Der Meersche, E. (1990) Les minéraux secondaires d'uranium du Zaïre, deuxieme complement. Institut royal des sciences naturelles de Belgique, 39 pages.
Plášil, J. & Petříček, V. (2017): Crystal structure of the (REE)-uranyl carbonate mineral kamotoite-(Y). Mineralogical Magazine: 81: 653-660.
Internet Links for Kamotoite-(Y)
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-2150.html
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Kamotoite-(Y)
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Canada | |
| ontariominerals.com; Rocks & Min. (2007) 82:232-233 |
Czech Republic | |
| Lapis 2002(7/8), 63-65 |
DR Congo (TL) | |
| Deliens, M., Piret, P. (1986) La kamototïte-(Y), un nouveau carbonate d'uranyle et de terres rares de Kamoto, Shaba, Zaïre. Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie, 109, 643-647.; European Journal of Mineralogy (1990) 2.; Deliens, M. (1996) Overzicht van de mineralogie van de koper-, kobalt- en uraniumvoorkomens in Zuid-Shaba (Zaïre). Pages 35-49 in: Schatten der Aarde. Van mineraal tot juweel. Tentoonstelling in de abdij Saint-Gérard de Brogne van 27 april tot 27 oktober 1996. Catalogus opgemaakt onder de leiding van R. Warin, AGAB en P. Van hee, MKA (in Dutch).; |
| Wilson, W. E. (2018) The Musonoi mine, Kolwezi District, Lualaba Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo. Mineralogical Record 49:236-304 |
Germany | |
| Markl, G. & Slotta, C. (2011): Die Uranmineralien des Lagerstättenreviers Wittichen im mittleren Schwarzwald. Lapis 36 (3), 25-37; 54 (in German). |
Norway | |
| Kristiansen, R. (1990): Nye sekundære uranmineraler fra Bjertnes, Krødsherad. STEIN 17(1), 25-28 |
Switzerland | |
| Stalder, H. A., Wagner, A., Graeser, S. and Stuker, P. (1998): "Mineralienlexikon der Schweiz", Wepf (Basel), p. 236.; Meisser, N. (2012): La minéralogie de l'uranium dans le massif des Aiguilles Rouges. Matér. Géol. Suisse, Sér. géotech. 96, 183 p. |
Kamoto East Open cut, Kamoto, Kolwezi mining district, Lualaba, DR Congo