Widenmannite
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About Widenmannite
Formula:
Pb2(OH)2[(UO2)(CO3)2]
Originally assumed to be Pb2(UO2)(CO3)3.
Colour:
Yellow, very pale greenish yellow, colorless
Lustre:
Silky, Pearly
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
6.89 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named after Johann Friedrich Wilhelm Widenmann (1764-1798), German mining official ('Württembergischer Bergrat') who, in 1793, first reported on the occurrence of an uranium mica in the Black Forest.
This page provides mineralogical data about Widenmannite.
Classification of Widenmannite
Approved
Approval Year:
1974
5/F.07-10
5.ED.40
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
E : Uranyl Carbonates
D : UO2:CO3 = 1:3
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
E : Uranyl Carbonates
D : UO2:CO3 = 1:3
14.1.5.1
14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)
14 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL CARBONATES
1 : A(XO3)
11.11.19
11 : Carbonates
11 : Carbonates of Cr and U
11 : Carbonates
11 : Carbonates of Cr and U
Physical Properties of Widenmannite
Silky, Pearly
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Yellow, very pale greenish yellow, colorless
Streak:
Pale yellow
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Perfect
on {010}
on {010}
Density:
6.89 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Widenmannite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.803 nβ = 1.905 nγ = 1.945
2V:
Measured: 63° , Calculated: 60°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.142

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 extreme
Chemical Properties of Widenmannite
Formula:
Pb2(OH)2[(UO2)(CO3)2]
Originally assumed to be Pb2(UO2)(CO3)3.
Originally assumed to be Pb2(UO2)(CO3)3.
Crystallography of Widenmannite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 8.99 Å, b = 9.36 Å, c = 4.95 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.96 : 1 : 0.529
Unit Cell V:
416.52 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Lath-like crystals in tufts and mats
Type Occurrence of Widenmannite
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Oxidation zone hydrothermal As-Pb deposit
Synonyms of Widenmannite
Other Language Names for Widenmannite
German:Widenmannit
Spanish:Widenmannita
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
5.ED.05 | Bayleyite | Mg2(UO2)(CO3)3 · 18H2O | Mon. |
5.ED.10 | Swartzite | MgCa(UO2)(CO3)3 · 12H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
5.ED.15 | Albrechtschraufite | Ca4Mg(UO2)2(CO3)6F2 · 17-18H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
5.ED.20 | Liebigite | Ca2(UO2)(CO3)3 · 11H2O | Orth. mm2 |
5.ED.25 | Rabbittite | Ca3Mg3(UO2)2(CO3)6(OH)4 · 18H2O | Mon. |
5.ED.30 | Andersonite | Na2Ca(UO2)(CO3)3 · 6H2O | Trig. 3 : R3 |
5.ED.35 | Grimselite | K3Na(UO2)(CO3)3 · H2O | Hex. |
5.ED.45 | Znucalite | Zn12Ca(UO2)(CO3)3(OH)22 · 4H2O | Orth. |
5.ED.50 | Čejkaite | Na4(UO2)(CO3)3 | Tric. |
5.ED.50 | Agricolaite | K4(UO2)(CO3)3 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
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. |
11.11.15 | Kamotoite-(Y) | Y2(UO2)4(CO3)3O4 · 14H2O | Mon. 2/m |
11.11.16 | Shabaite-(Nd) | Ca(Nd,Sm,Y)2(UO2)(CO3)4(OH)2 · 6H2O | |
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. |
11.11.20 | Znucalite | Zn12Ca(UO2)(CO3)3(OH)22 · 4H2O | Orth. |
Fluorescence of Widenmannite
Non-fluorescent.
Other Information
Health Risks:
Radioactive
References for Widenmannite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
American Mineralogist (1962): 47: 415.
Walenta, K. (1976): Widenmannit und Joliotit, zwei neue Uranylkarbonatmineralien aus dem Schwarzwald. Schweiz. Mineral. Petrog. Mitt., 56, 167-185 (in German with English abs.).
Mineralogical Magazine (1995): 59: 745-749.
J. Plásil, J. Cejka, J. Sejkora, P. Skácha, V. Goliás, P. Jarka, F. Laufek, J. Jehlicka, I. Nemec, and L. Strnad (2010): Widenmannite, a rare uranyl lead carbonate: occurrence, formation and characterization. Mineral. Mag. 74, 97-110.
J. Plášil, L. Palatinus, J. Rohlíček, L. Houdková, M. Klementová, V. Goliáš, P. Škácha (2014): Crystal structure of lead uranyl carbonate mineral widenmannite: Precession electron-diffraction and synchrotron powder-diffraction study. Am. Mineral. 99, 276-282.
Internet Links for Widenmannite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4285.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
Localities for Widenmannite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Czech Republic | |
| J. Plásil, J. Cejka, J. Sejkora, P. Skácha, V. Goliás, P. Jarka, F. Laufek, J. Jehlicka, I. Nemec, and L. Strnad (2010): Widenmannite, a rare uranyl lead carbonate: occurrence, formation and characterization. Mineralogical Magazine 74, 97-110. |
Bull.N.M.Praha 2002, 10, pp. 43-77; Vajdak, Josef (2006) Mineral News: 22: 4. | |
| Lapis 2002(7/8), 63-65 |
Finland | |
| Halls, Ch. (2005): Report on the mineralogy of a sample from the Agricola Resources Energy Ridge project, Hautuajaervi, Lapin Laani, Finland. Final Reprot, Dept. of Mineralogy, NHM, London, 1-24. [cited in Plásil et al. (2010)] |
Germany (TL) | |
| Am. Min., 47, 415 (1962); Schw. MPM 56 (1976), 167; Walenta: "Die Mineralien des Schwarzwaldes", Weise (1992) |
Switzerland | |
| Meisser, N. (2012): La minéralogie de l'uranium dans le massif des Aiguilles Rouges. Matér. Géol. Suisse, Sér. géotech. 96, 183 p. |
UK | |
| [Journal of the Russell Society, 6(1), 17-26 (1995)] |
| BMS Database |
USA | |
| Rocks & Minerals 82:298-308 |
Jánská vein, Březové Hory deposit, Březové Hory ore region, Příbram, Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic