Vandenbrandeite
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About Vandenbrandeite
Formula:
Cu(UO2)(OH)4
Colour:
Blackish green to dark green with bluish green tint
Lustre:
Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous, Greasy
Hardness:
4
Specific Gravity:
5.03
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named by Alfred Schoep in 1932 in honour of Pierre Van den Brande (born Brussels April 11 th 1896 and died December 10th 1957 near Kabombwe, DRCongo, after an attack by elephants), Belgian geologist, Geological Survey of Katanga, who discovered the deposit at Kalongwe.
Highly stable in the presence of water and H2O2.
Classification of Vandenbrandeite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1932
4/H.04-10
4.GB.45
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
5.3.2.1
5 : OXIDES CONTAINING URANIUM OR THORIUM
3 : AXO4·xH2O
5 : OXIDES CONTAINING URANIUM OR THORIUM
3 : AXO4·xH2O
7.16.9
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
16 : Oxides of U
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
16 : Oxides of U
Physical Properties of Vandenbrandeite
Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous, Greasy
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Blackish green to dark green with bluish green tint
Streak:
Green
Hardness:
4 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {001} perfect; distinct in the zone [001]; and, indistinct also in that zone.
On {001} perfect; distinct in the zone [001]; and, indistinct also in that zone.
Density:
5.03 g/cm3 (Measured) 5.26 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Vandenbrandeite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.765 - 1.770 nβ = 1.780 - 1.792 nγ = 1.800
2V:
Measured: 90° , Calculated: 60° to 88°
Birefringence:
0.035
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.035

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:
none
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X blue green, Z yellow green
Chemical Properties of Vandenbrandeite
Formula:
Cu(UO2)(OH)4
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Vandenbrandeite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Setting:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.86 Å, b = 5.44 Å, c = 6.10 Å
α = 91.87°, β = 102.0°, γ = 89.62°
α = 91.87°, β = 102.0°, γ = 89.62°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.445 : 1 : 1.121
Unit Cell V:
254.99 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Somewhat bladed {001} crystals with acute habit, often in parallel aggregates; lathlike at times. Massive.
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0012336 | Vandenbrandeite | Rosenzweig A, Ryan R R (1977) Vandenbrandeite CuUO2(OH)4 Crystal Structure Communications 6 53-56 | 1977 | Musonoi Mine, Kolwezi, Katanga, Zaire | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
5.06 Å | (40) |
4.29 Å | (100) |
2.92 Å | (80) |
2.56 Å | (40) |
2.09 Å | (30) |
1.85 Å | (30) |
1.47 Å | (30) |
1.32 Å | (30) |
Comments:
ICDD 4-340 (natural)
Geological Environment
Geological Setting:
Oxide zone above a supergene copper deposit
Type Occurrence of Vandenbrandeite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
1) Natural History Museum, Paris, France, 134-72.
2) The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1933,261–263.
2) The Natural History Museum, London, England, 1933,261–263.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Schoep, A. (1932) La vandenbrandeite, un nouveau minéral uranifére. Annales du Musée du Congo Belge, Tervuren: 1(3): 24-31.
Synonyms of Vandenbrandeite
Other Language Names for Vandenbrandeite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
23 photos of Vandenbrandeite associated with Cuprosklodowskite | Cu(UO2)2(SiO3OH]2 · 6H2O |
17 photos of Vandenbrandeite associated with Malachite | Cu2(CO3)(OH)2 |
13 photos of Vandenbrandeite associated with Guilleminite | Ba(UO2)3(SeO3)2O2 · 3H2O |
6 photos of Vandenbrandeite associated with Kasolite | Pb(UO2)(SiO4) · H2O |
2 photos of Vandenbrandeite associated with Schoepite | (UO2)8O2(OH)12 · 12H2O |
2 photos of Vandenbrandeite associated with Demesmaekerite | Pb2Cu5(UO2)2(SeO3)6(OH)6 · 2H2O |
2 photos of Vandenbrandeite associated with Shabaite-(Nd) | Ca(Nd,Sm,Y)2(UO2)(CO3)4(OH)2 · 6H2O |
2 photos of Vandenbrandeite associated with Soddyite | (UO2)2SiO4 · 2H2O |
2 photos of Vandenbrandeite associated with Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
2 photos of Vandenbrandeite associated with Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
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.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.65 | Uranosphaerite | Bi(UO2)O2(OH) | Mon. 2/m |
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. |
7.16.10 | 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. |
7.16.33 | Uranosphaerite | Bi(UO2)O2(OH) | Mon. 2/m |
Fluorescence of Vandenbrandeite
Not fluorescent
Other Information
Notes:
2327 and 1604 cm−1 bands of the Raman spectra are overtones; a 1554 cm−1 band is a combination band
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 Vandenbrandeite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Schoep, A. (1932) La vandenbrandeite, un nouveau minéral uranifére. Annales du Musée du Congo Belge, Tervuren: 1(3): 24-31.
Thoreau, J. (1933) L'uranolepidite, nouveau mineral uranifere de Shinkolobwe (Katanga). Annales de la Societe Geologique de Belgique: 55,1931-1932: C3-C5. (as Uranolepidite)
Foshag, W.F. (1933) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 18: 179-180.
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: 632-633.
Milne, I.H., Nuffield, E.W. (1951) Studies of radioactive compounds: I-vandenbrandeite. American Mineralogist: 36: 394-410.
Frondel, C. (1958) US Geological Survey Bulletin 1064: 100-103.
Rosenzweig, A. and Ryan, R.R. (1977) Vandenbrandeite CuUO2(OH)4. Crystal Structure Communications: 6: 53-56.
Cejka, J. (1994) Vandenbrandeite, CuUO2/OH4. Thermal analysis and infrared spectrum. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie Monatshefte: 1994(3): 112-120.
Botto, I.L., Barone, V.L., Sanchez, M.A. (2002) Spectroscopic and thermal contribution to the structural characterization of vandenbrandeite. Journal of Materials Science: 37: 177–183.
Burns, P.C. (2005) U6+ minerals and inorganic compounds: insights into an expanded structural hierarchy of crystal structures. The Canadian Mineralogist: 43: 1839-1894.
Colmenero, F., Plášil, J., Cobos, J., Sejkora, J., Timón, V., Čejka, J., Fernández, A.M., Petříček, V. (2019): Structural, mechanical, spectroscopic and thermodynamic characterization of the copper-uranyl tetrahydroxide mineral vandenbrandeite. RSC Advances: 9: 40708
Internet Links for Vandenbrandeite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4144.html
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External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Vandenbrandeite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Czech Republic | |
| Pauliš P., Kopecký S., Černý P. 2007: Uranové minerály České Republiky a jejich naleziště. 1. část. (Kutna Hora, issue 1) |
DR Congo | |
| 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). |
| Gauthier, Gilbert, François, Armand, Deliens, Michel, Piret, P. (1989) Famous Mineral Localities: The Uranium Deposits of the Shaba Region, Zaire. Mineralogical Record, 20(4), 265-288; 304 [287].; 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). |
| 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: 1048.; Gauthier, Gilbert, François, Armand, Deliens, Michel, Piret, P. (1989) Famous Mineral Localities: The Uranium Deposits of the Shaba Region, Zaire. Mineralogical Record, 20(4), 265-288; 304 [268].; 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). |
| Milne, I.H., Nuffield, E.W. (1951) Studies of radioactive compounds: I - Vandenbrandeite. American Mineralogist, 36(5-6), 394-410.; 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). |
| J.W. Anthony, R.A. Bideaux, K.W. Bladh, M.C. Nichols: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. V (2003) |
| Anderson, V. (1978) Microminerals. Mineralogical Record, 9(1), 32-34.; Pinch, William W. (1978) Rare Minerals Report. Mineralogical Record, 9(2), 113-114.; 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.; http://www.champ-hannut.be/fichierpdf/Rev%20SP%202017%20NL.pdf |
France | |
| Caubel, A. (1997) Minéralogie du gisement d'uranium de Rabejac (Hérault). Le Règne Minéral: 13: 5-18.; Bariand, P., Bachet, B., Brassy, C., Medenbach, O., Deliens, M., Vautier, R., & Piret, P. (1993) A New Uranium Mineral from the Talmessi Mine, Iran, and Rabejac, France. Mineralogical Record: 24: 463-467 |
UK | |
| Golley, P. & Williams, R. (1995): Cornish Mineral Reference Manual. Endsleigh Publications (Truro), 104 pp. |
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Musonoi Mine, Kolwezi, Kolwezi mining district, Lualaba, DR Congo