Uranosphaerite
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About Uranosphaerite
Formula:
Bi(UO2)O2(OH)
Colour:
Yellow-orange, reddish orange, brick red
Lustre:
Greasy
Hardness:
2 - 3
Specific Gravity:
6.36
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
From uranium plus Greek "sphaira", sphere, alluding to its composition and occurrence in ball-like masses.
This page provides mineralogical data about Uranosphaerite.
Classification of Uranosphaerite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
4/H.08-10
4.GB.65
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
5.9.1.1
5 : OXIDES CONTAINING URANIUM OR THORIUM
9 : Miscellaneous
5 : OXIDES CONTAINING URANIUM OR THORIUM
9 : Miscellaneous
7.16.33
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
16 : Oxides of U
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
16 : Oxides of U
Physical Properties of Uranosphaerite
Greasy
Colour:
Yellow-orange, reddish orange, brick red
Streak:
Light orange
Hardness:
2 - 3 on Mohs scale
Density:
6.36 g/cm3 (Measured)
Optical Data of Uranosphaerite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.959 nβ = 1.981 nγ = 2.060
2V:
Measured: 56° , Calculated: 58°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.101

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:
strong
Chemical Properties of Uranosphaerite
Formula:
Bi(UO2)O2(OH)
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Uranosphaerite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.559 Å, b = 7.811 Å, c = 7.693 Å
β = 92.88°
β = 92.88°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.968 : 1 : 0.985
Unit Cell V:
453.6 ų
Z:
4
Morphology:
Hemispherical aggregate forms comprised of minute, acutely terminated crystals elongated [001]. Concentric and radiated structures.
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0005845 | Uranosphaerite | Hughes K A, Burns P C, Kolitsch U (2003) Crystal structure and crystal chemistry of uranosphaerite, Bi(UO2)O2OH The Canadian Mineralogist 41 677-685 | ![]() | 2003 | Clara barite and fluorite mine, Black Forest, Germany | 0 | 293 |
0005846 | Uranosphaerite | Hughes K A, Burns P C, Kolitsch U (2003) Crystal structure and crystal chemistry of uranosphaerite, Bi(UO2)O2OH The Canadian Mineralogist 41 677-685 | ![]() | 2003 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
Type Occurrence of Uranosphaerite
Synonyms of Uranosphaerite
Other Language Names for Uranosphaerite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
10 photos of Uranosphaerite associated with Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
3 photos of Uranosphaerite associated with Zeunerite | Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2 · 12H2O |
2 photos of Uranosphaerite associated with Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
1 photo of Uranosphaerite associated with Bismutite | (BiO)2CO3 |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
4.GB.05 | Agrinierite | K2(Ca,Sr)[(UO2)3O3(OH)2]2 · 5H2O | Orth. |
4.GB.05 | Compreignacite | K2(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 7H2O | Orth. |
4.GB.05 | Rameauite | K2Ca(UO2)6O6(OH)4 · 6H2O | Mon. m : Bb |
4.GB.10 | Becquerelite | Ca(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 8H2O | Orth. mm2 : Pna21 |
4.GB.10 | Billietite | Ba(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 4-8H2O | Orth. mm2 |
4.GB.10 | Protasite | Ba(UO2)3O3(OH)2 · 3H2O | Mon. |
4.GB.15 | Richetite | (Fe3+,Mg)Pb 8.6(UO2)36O36(OH)24 · 41H2O | Tric. |
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 | Orth. |
4.GB.30 | Wölsendorfite | Pb7(UO2)14O19(OH)4 · 12H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm |
4.GB.35 | Masuyite | Pb(UO2)3O3(OH)2 · 3H2O | Orth. |
4.GB.40 | Metavandendriesscheite | PbU7O22 · nH2O n < 12 | Orth. |
4.GB.40 | Vandendriesscheite | PbU7O22 · 12H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbca |
4.GB.45 | Vandenbrandeite | Cu(UO2)(OH)4 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
4.GB.50 | Sayrite | Pb2(UO2)5O6(OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m |
4.GB.55 | Curite | Pb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
4.GB.60 | Iriginite | (UO2)Mo2O7 · 3H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcm |
4.GB.70 | Holfertite | CaxU6+2-xTi(O8-xOH4x) · 3H2O | Trig. 3 : P3 |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
7.16.1 | Uraninite | UO2 | Iso. m3m (4/m 3 2/m) : Fm3m |
7.16.2 | Schoepite | (UO2)8O2(OH)12 · 12H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbca |
7.16.3 | Paraschoepite | UO3 · 2H2O | Orth. |
7.16.4 | Metaschoepite | (UO2)8O2(OH)12 · 10H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbcn |
7.16.5 | Metastudtite | UO4 · 2H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
7.16.6 | Studtite | [(UO2)(O2)(H2O)2] · H2O | Mon. |
7.16.7 | Ianthinite | U4+(UO2)5O7 · 10H2O | Orth. mm2 : Amm2 |
7.16.8 | Compreignacite | K2(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 7H2O | Orth. |
7.16.9 | Vandenbrandeite | Cu(UO2)(OH)4 | Tric. 1 : P1 |
7.16.10 | Roubaultite | Cu2(UO2)3(CO3)2O2(OH)2 · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
7.16.11 | Becquerelite | Ca(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 8H2O | Orth. mm2 : Pna21 |
7.16.12 | Rameauite | K2Ca(UO2)6O6(OH)4 · 6H2O | Mon. m : Bb |
7.16.13 | Agrinierite | K2(Ca,Sr)[(UO2)3O3(OH)2]2 · 5H2O | Orth. |
7.16.14 | Protasite | Ba(UO2)3O3(OH)2 · 3H2O | Mon. |
7.16.15 | Billietite | Ba(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 4-8H2O | Orth. mm2 |
7.16.16 | Bauranoite | Ba(UO2)2(OH)6 · 1-2H2O | |
7.16.17 | Metacalciouranoite | (Ca,Ba,Pb,K2)U2O7 · 2H2O | |
7.16.18 | Calciouranoite | (Ca,Ba,Pb)U2O7 · 5H2O | |
7.16.19 | Orthobrannerite | U4+U6+Ti4O12(OH)2 | Orth. |
7.16.20 | Thorutite | (Th,U,Ca)Ti2(O,OH)6 | Mon. |
7.16.21 | Davidite-(La) | La(Y,U)Fe2(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)18(O,OH,F)38 | Trig. |
7.16.22 | Davidite-(Ce) | Ce(Y,U)Fe2(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)18(O,OH,F)38 | Trig. 3 : R3 |
7.16.23 | Brannerite | UTi2O6 | Mon. 2/m : B2/m |
7.16.24 | Fourmarierite | Pb(UO2)4O3(OH)4 · 4H2O | Orth. |
7.16.25 | Richetite | (Fe3+,Mg)Pb 8.6(UO2)36O36(OH)24 · 41H2O | Tric. |
7.16.26 | Curite | Pb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pnma |
7.16.27 | Masuyite | Pb(UO2)3O3(OH)2 · 3H2O | Orth. |
7.16.28 | Vandendriesscheite | PbU7O22 · 12H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Pbca |
7.16.29 | Metavandendriesscheite | PbU7O22 · nH2O n < 12 | Orth. |
7.16.30 | Sayrite | Pb2(UO2)5O6(OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. 2/m |
7.16.31 | Wölsendorfite | Pb7(UO2)14O19(OH)4 · 12H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm |
7.16.32 | Clarkeite | (Na,Ca,Pb)(UO2)O(OH) · 0-1H2O | Trig. |
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.
References for Uranosphaerite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Weisbach, A. (1873): Neue Uranerze von Neustädtel bei Schneeberg.- Jahrbuch für das Berg- und Hüttenwesen im Königreiche Sachsen, Abhandlungen, 119-121.
Winkler (1873), J. pr. Chem.: 7: 5.
Palache, Charles, Harry Berman & Clifford Frondel (1944), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana Yale University 1837-1892, Volume I: Elements, Sulfides, Sulfosalts, Oxides. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York. 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 631.
Protas, J. (1959): Contribution à l'étude des oxydes d'uranium hydratés. Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie et de Cristallographie: 82, 239-272 (in French).
Science (1965): 149: 742-744.
Hughes, K.-A., Burns, P.C. and Kolitsch, U. (2003): Crystal structure and crystal chemistry of uranosphaerite, Bi(UO2)O2OH. Canadian Mineralogist: 41: 677-685.
Burns, P.C. (2005) U 6+ minerals and inorganic compounds: insights into an expanded structural hierarchy of crystal structures. Canadian Mineralogist: 43: 1839-1894.
Sejkora, J., Cejka, J. & Kolitsch, U. (2008): Uranosphaerite from Horni Halze near Medenec (Krusne hory Mountains, Czech Republic): description and vibrational characteristics. Neues Jb. Mineral. Abh. 185, 91-98.
Colmenero, F., Plášil, J., Němec, I. (2020) Uranosphaerite: Crystal structure, hydrogen bonding, mechanics, infrared and Raman spectroscopy and thermodynamics. Journal of Physics and Chemistry of Solids, 141, 109400.
Internet Links for Uranosphaerite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4112.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Uranosphaerite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| D A Berkman (1968) The geology of the Rum Jungle Uranium Deposits. Symposium on Uranium Deposits in Australia 1968 pp.12-31 |
| Coats & Blissett (1971); Brugger, J. et al. (2004) |
Belgium | |
| Jacques Jedwab collection |
Czech Republic | |
| Pauliš P., Kopecký S., Černý P. 2007: Uranové minerály České Republiky a jejich naleziště. 1. část. (Kutna Hora, issue 1) |
| Lapis 2002(7/8), 63-65 |
| Sejkora, j., Veselovský, F., Šrein, V.: The supergene mineralization of uranium occurence Rýžoviště near Harrachov (Krkonoše Mts., Czech republic). Acta Mus. Nat. Prague, Ser. B, Hist. nat., 1994, 50, p. 55-91. |
| Pauliš P., Kopecký S., Černý P. 2007: Uranové minerály České Republiky a jejich naleziště. 1. část. (Kutna Hora, issue 1) |
| Sejkora, Jiří; Čejka, Jiří (2007), Šreinite from Horní Halže, the Krušné hory Mountains, Czech Republic, a new mineral species, its comparison with asselbornite from Schneeberg, and new data for asselbornite. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie - Abhandlungen, Volume 184(2), 197-206; J. Sejkora, J. Čejka and U. Kolitsch (2008): Uranosphaerite from Horní Halže near Mědenec (Krušné hory Mountains, Czech Republic): description and vibrational characteristics. N. Jb. Mineral. Abh. 185, 91-98. ; Sejkora, Jiří, Jiří Čejka, Vladimir Šrein (2007), Supergene uranium mineralization from Horní Halže, near Medenec (Krušné hory Mountains), Czech Republic. Journal of Geosciences 52, 199-210. |
France | |
| R. Pierrot, L. Chauris, C. Laforêt and F. Pillard : "Inventaire Minéralogique de la France N° 9 : Morbihan", BRGM, 1980. |
| Le Règne Minéral, Hors Série IV, 1998 |
| Le Règne Minéral, Hors Série IV, 1998 |
Le Règne Minéral, Hors Série IV, 1998 | |
Germany | |
| WALENTA, K. (1999): Neue Mineralfunde von der Grube Clara. 8. Folge, 1. Teil. Lapis 24 (11), 34-37; SLOTTA, C. (2004): Neufund 2004: Roter Uranosphärit von der Grube Clara. – Lapis 29 (11), 44. |
| Weiss: "Mineralfundstellen, Deutschland West", Weise (Munich), 1990 |
| Schnorrer, G., Kronz, A. & Pascher,G. (2003): Cheralith, Monazit und Xenotim - drei neue Minerale der Xenotim-Monazit-Gruppe sowie Uranosphaerit, ein sekundäres Wismut-Uran-Mineral vom ehemaligen Phosphatpegmatit Hagendorf-Süd/Oberpfalz. Aufschluss, 54, 267-272. (in German) |
| Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001 |
Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001 | |
| A. Weisbach (1873): Neue Uranerze von Neustädtel bei Schneeberg.- Jahrbuch für das Berg- und Hüttenwesen im Königreiche Sachsen, Abhandlungen, 119-121; 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: 967. |
Russia | |
| Alekseev, V. I., & Marin, Y. B. (2015). Composition and evolution of accessory mineralization of Li–F granites in the Far East as indicators of their ore potential. Geology of Ore Deposits, 57(8), 635-644. |
Hagendorf South Pegmatite, Hagendorf, Waidhaus, Neustadt an der Waldnaab District, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany