Zellerite
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About Zellerite
Formula:
Ca(UO2)(CO3)2 · 5H2O
Colour:
Light lemon-yellow
Lustre:
Dull
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
3.25
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named after Howard Davis Zeller (24 December 1922, Warren, Ohio, USA - 14 April 2009, Denver, Colorado, USA), geologist with the United States Geological Survey who discovered the mineral.
Dimorph of:
This page provides mineralogical data about Zellerite.
Classification of Zellerite
Approved
Approval Year:
1965
First Published:
1966
5/F.02-60
5.EC.10
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
E : Uranyl Carbonates
C : UO2:CO3 < 1:1 - 1:2
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
E : Uranyl Carbonates
C : UO2:CO3 < 1:1 - 1:2
15.3.1.1
15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
3 : AmBn(XO3)p·xH2O, with (m+n):p = 1:1
15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
3 : AmBn(XO3)p·xH2O, with (m+n):p = 1:1
11.11.7
11 : Carbonates
11 : Carbonates of Cr and U
11 : Carbonates
11 : Carbonates of Cr and U
Pronounciation of Zellerite
Pronounciation:
Play | Recorded by | Country |
---|---|---|
Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Zellerite
Dull
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Light lemon-yellow
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Density:
3.25 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.242 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Zellerite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.536 nβ = 1.559 nγ = 1.697
2V:
Measured: 30° to 45°, Calculated: 48°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.161

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:
Low
Dispersion:
r > v
Comments:
X=Y= colorless; Z = pale yellow
Chemical Properties of Zellerite
Formula:
Ca(UO2)(CO3)2 · 5H2O
Crystallography of Zellerite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.22 Å, b = 19.25 Å, c = 4.93 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.583 : 1 : 0.256
Unit Cell V:
1,064.81 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Type Occurrence of Zellerite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 112827.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Zellerite
Other Language Names for Zellerite
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
5.EC.05 | Fontanite | Ca(UO2)3(CO3)4 · 3H2O | Orth. |
5.EC.10 | Metazellerite | Ca(UO2)(CO3)2 · 3H2O | Orth. |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
15.3.1.2 | Metazellerite | Ca(UO2)(CO3)2 · 3H2O | Orth. |
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. |
11.11.8 | 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. |
11.11.19 | Widenmannite | Pb2(OH)2[(UO2)(CO3)2] | Orth. |
11.11.20 | Znucalite | Zn12Ca(UO2)(CO3)3(OH)22 · 4H2O | Orth. |
Fluorescence of Zellerite
Fluoresces patchy green under SW and LW UV
Other Information
Notes:
Radioactive
Special Storage/
Display Requirements:
Display Requirements:
Radioactive
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 Zellerite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral Resources, Memoir (1963): 15: 21.
Coleman, R.G., D.R. Ross, Meyrowitz, R. (1966) Zellerite and metazellerite, new uranyl carbonates. American Mineralogist: 51: 1567–1578.
Fleischer, M. (1964) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 49: 439-448.
Frost, R.L., Dickfos, M.J., Cejka, J. (2008) Raman spectroscopic study of the uranyl carbonate mineral zellerite. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy: 39: 582-586.
Internet Links for Zellerite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4391.html
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External Links:
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Localities for Zellerite
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) |
| Lapis 2002(7/8), 52 |
Specimen from Jakub Plasil. In the collection of Brent Thorne | |
| Pauliš P., Kopecký S., Černý P. 2007: Uranové minerály České Republiky a jejich naleziště. 2. část. (Kutna Hora, issue 2 |
France | |
| [Le Cahier des Micromonteurs, 1998, 2, p.13-26] |
Le Règne Minéral, Hors Série IV (1998) | |
Norway | |
| Collected by (Sigurd Stordal) & analyzed by (Pavel Kartashov) |
Romania | |
| Hîrtopanu P., Udubaşa G., Scott P., Hârtopanu I. (2004) Uranium sulphide mineralisation in the Bistriţa Mts., East Carpathians, Romania. Romanian Journal of Mineral Deposits 81:108-111 |
Russia | |
| Collected by Pavel Martynov & Tim Pashko in may 2012. EDS by Anatoly Kasatkin, XRD by Jakub Plasil. |
Slovakia | |
| Števko M., Sejkora J., Plášil J. (2012): Supergénna uránová mineralizácia na ložisku Banská Štiavnica (Slovenská republika). Bull. mineral.-petrolog. Odd. Nár. Muz. (Praha), 20, 1, 110-120 (in Slovak with English abstract). |
USA | |
| Northrop, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd Rev. Ed., 1996 |
Minerals of New Mexico 3rd ed. | |
| NMBMMR Memoir 15 Geology and Technology of the Grants Uranium Region |
| Handbook of Mineralogy, 2005. |
| Jim Hall, from Dr Howard Zeller's personal collection |
| Am Min 51:1567-1578 |
Jáchymov, Jáchymov District, Krušné Hory Mts, Karlovy Vary Region, Czech Republic