Curite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Curite
Formula:
Pb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2
formerly given as Pb3(UO2)8O8(OH)6.3H2O; the study of Ghazisaeed et al. (2019) shows that "curite contains only one H2O group, with [4]-coordinated oxygen"
Colour:
Deep to light red-orange, orange, scarlet, yellow
Lustre:
Adamantine
Hardness:
4 - 5
Specific Gravity:
6.98 - 7.4
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
After Pierre Curie (15 May 1859, Paris, France - 19 April 1906, Paris, France) physicist, famous for his research with his wife, Marie Sklodowska-Curie, on radioactivity. They, along with Henri Becquerel were awarded the 1903 Nobel Prize for Physics for their research. They also discovered the elements polonium and radium.
Pb is (or may be) slightly over-stoichiometric.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1197
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1197:2
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
1536d335-dc6a-4ef8-91be-1d033fb72685
IMA Classification of Curite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Pb3+x[(UO2)4O4+x(OH)3-x]2 · 2H2O
First published:
1921
Classification of Curite
4.GB.55
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
5.9.3.1
5 : OXIDES CONTAINING URANIUM OR THORIUM
9 : Miscellaneous
5 : OXIDES CONTAINING URANIUM OR THORIUM
9 : Miscellaneous
7.16.26
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
16 : Oxides of U
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
16 : Oxides of U
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMAâCNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Cui | IMAâCNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMAâCNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Curite
Pronunciation:
Play | Recorded by | Country |
---|---|---|
Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Curite
Adamantine
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Deep to light red-orange, orange, scarlet, yellow
Streak:
Orange
Hardness:
4 - 5 on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Imperfect/Fair
On {100}
On {100}
Density:
6.98 - 7.4 g/cm3 (Measured) 7.37 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Curite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 2.060 nβ = 2.110 nγ = 2.150
2V:
Measured: 70° , Calculated: 80°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.090
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 strong
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X = b = pale yellow
Y = a = light red-orange
Z = c = dark red-orange
Y = a = light red-orange
Z = c = dark red-orange
Comments:
Distinguished from other uranyl oxides by its higher refractive indices (Frondel 1958).
Chemistry of Curite
Mindat Formula:
Pb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2
formerly given as Pb3(UO2)8O8(OH)6.3H2O; the study of Ghazisaeed et al. (2019) shows that "curite contains only one H2O group, with [4]-coordinated oxygen"
formerly given as Pb3(UO2)8O8(OH)6.3H2O; the study of Ghazisaeed et al. (2019) shows that "curite contains only one H2O group, with [4]-coordinated oxygen"
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Curite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pnma
Setting:
Pnma
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.5510(10) Å, b = 8.3760(4) Å, c = 13.0107(9) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.498 : 1 : 1.553
Unit Cell V:
1367.78 Ă
Âł
Z:
2
Morphology:
Crystals prismatic [001] and striated [001]. Massive. In aggregates of fine needles or saccharoidal. Compact earthy.
Comment:
data from Ghazisaeed et al. (2019)
Crystal Structure
Load
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0005644 | Curite | Burns P C, Hill F C (2000) Implications of the synthesis and structure of the Sr analogue of curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 175-181 | 2000 | 0 | 293 | ||
0005656 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | 2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 | |
0005657 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | 2000 | Swaambo,Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 | |
0005658 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | 2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 | |
0005659 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | 2000 | Swaambo, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 | |
0005660 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | 2000 | Swaambo, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 | |
0005661 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | 2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 | |
0005662 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | 2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 | |
0005663 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | 2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 | |
0005664 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | 2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 | |
0005665 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | 2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 | |
0005666 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | 2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 | |
0005667 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | 2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 | |
0005668 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | 2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 | |
0005669 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | 2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 | |
0005670 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | 2000 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
6.28 Ă | (100) |
3.97 Ă | (90) |
3.14 Ă | (80) |
2.55 Ă | (60) |
2.10 Ă | (50) |
1.74 Ă | (50) |
3.53 Ă | (40) |
Comments:
Katanga district, DR Congo.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Near-surface Processes | |
27 : Radioactive decay; auto-oxidation | |
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals] |
Geological Setting:
Secondary mineral formed by the alteration of uraninite
Type Occurrence of Curite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Cryptocrystalline, massive, minute needles.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Natural History Museum, Paris, France.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Schoep, A. (1921) La curite, nouveau minĂ©ral radioactif. Comptes rendu de lâAcadĂ©mie des sciences de Paris: 173: 1186-1187.
Other Language Names for Curite
Varieties of Curite
Thorian Curite | Typical constituent of gummites, replacing Th-bearing varieties of uraninite (Bröggerites). Able contain 10 and more wt.% of ThO2. |
Common Associates
Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
42 photos of Curite associated with Uraninite | UO2 |
37 photos of Curite associated with Soddyite | (UO2)2SiO4 · 2H2O |
30 photos of Curite associated with Metatorbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 8H2O |
26 photos of Curite associated with Uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2O |
25 photos of Curite associated with Kasolite | Pb(UO2)(SiO4) · H2O |
20 photos of Curite associated with Torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2O |
15 photos of Curite associated with Schoepite | (UO2)8O2(OH)12 · 12H2O |
12 photos of Curite associated with Heterogenite | Co3+O(OH) |
10 photos of Curite associated with Rutherfordine | (UO2)CO3 |
10 photos of Curite associated with Becquerelite | Ca(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 8H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
4.GB.05 | Agrinierite | K2(Ca,Sr)[(UO2)3O3(OH)2]2 · 5H2O |
4.GB.05 | Compreignacite | K2(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 7H2O |
4.GB.05 | Rameauite | K2Ca(UO2)6O6(OH)4 · 6H2O |
4.GB.10 | Becquerelite | Ca(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 8H2O |
4.GB.10 | Billietite | Ba(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 4-8H2O |
4.GB.10 | Protasite | Ba(UO2)3O3(OH)2 · 3H2O |
4.GB.15 | Richetite | (Fe3+,Mg)Pb 8.6(UO2)36O36(OH)24 · 41H2O |
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 |
4.GB.30 | Wölsendorfite | Pb7(UO2)14O19(OH)4 · 12H2O |
4.GB.35 | Masuyite | Pb(UO2)3O3(OH)2 · 3H2O |
4.GB.40 | Metavandendriesscheite | PbU7O22 · nH2O n < 12 |
4.GB.40 | Vandendriesscheite | PbU7O22 · 12H2O |
4.GB.45 | Vandenbrandeite | Cu(UO2)(OH)4 |
4.GB.50 | Sayrite | Pb2(UO2)5O6(OH)2 · 4H2O |
4.GB.60 | Iriginite | (UO2)Mo2O7 · 3H2O |
4.GB.65 | Uranosphaerite | Bi(UO2)O2(OH) |
4.GB.70 | Holfertite | CaxU6+2-xTi(O8-xOH4x) · 3H2O |
4.GB.75 | Carlosbarbosaite | (UO2)2Nb2O6(OH)2 · 2H2O |
4.GB.80 | Gauthierite | KPb[(UO2)7O5(OH)7] · 8H2O |
4.GB.85 | Kroupaite | KPb0.5[(UO2)8O4(OH)10] · 10H2O |
4.GB.90 | Leesite | K(H2O)2[(UO2)4O2(OH)5] · 3H2O |
4.GB.95 | Shinkolobweite | Pb1.25[U5+(H2O)2(U6+O2)5O8(OH)2](H2O)5 |
4.GB.95 | Nollmotzite | Mg[U5+(U6+O2)2O4F3] · 4H2O |
Other Information
Thermal Behaviour:
In the closed tube becomes brown and gives off water.
Notes:
Soluble in cold acids.
Strongly radioactive.
Strongly 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.
Internet Links for Curite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1197.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Curite
Reference List:
(1958) Systematic mineralogy of uranium and thorium. Bulletin Vol. 1064. US Geological Survey doi:10.3133/b1064 pp.208-211
Mereiter, K. (1979) The crystal structure of curite, [Pb6.56(H2O,OH)4] [(UO2)8O8(OH)6]2. TMPM Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen, 26 (4) 279-292 doi:10.1007/bf01089842
Li, Y., Burns, P. C. (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite. The Canadian Mineralogist, 38 (3) 727-735 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.38.3.727
Burns, Peter C. (2005) U6+ minerals and inorganic compounds: insights into an expanded structural hierarchy of crystal structures. The Canadian Mineralogist, 43 (6) 1839-1894 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.43.6.1839
Kubatko, K.-A., Helean, K., Navrotsky, A., Burns, P. C. (2006) Thermodynamics of uranyl minerals: Enthalpies of formation of uranyl oxide hydrates. American Mineralogist, 91 (4) 658-666 doi:10.2138/am.2006.1856
Schindler, M., Mandaliev, P., Hawthorne, F. C., Putnis, A. (2006) Dissolution of uranyl-oxide-hydroxy-hydrate minerals. I. Curite. The Canadian Mineralogist, 44 (2) 415-431 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.44.2.415
Frost, Ray L., Äejka, JiĆĂ, Weier, Matt L. (2007) Raman spectroscopic study of the uranyl oxyhydroxide hydrates: becquerelite, billietite, curite, schoepite and vandendriesscheite. Journal of Raman Spectroscopy, 38 (4). 460-466 doi:10.1002/jrs.1669
Localities for Curite
Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
â - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Australia | |
| Gilligan et al. (1993) |
| Isobe et al. (1992) +1 other reference |
Frost et al. (2007) | |
Econ Geol (1987) +1 other reference | |
| Henry et al. (2005) |
| Brugger et al. (2011) |
Brazil | |
| Pires et al. (2014) |
Canada | |
| Tyson (1989) |
| Trail |
Reiner Mielke 2013 | |
| Sabina (1972) |
Czech Republic | |
| PauliĆĄ P. et al. (Kutna Hora, issue 1) |
| Mineralienwelt 1993 (1) |
Petr PauliĆĄ | |
DR Congo (TL) | |
| edit.africamuseum.be (n.d.) +2 other references |
Deliens +2 other references | |
| Deliens |
| |
| |
| |
Wilson (2018) | |
Egypt | |
| Shalaby et al. (2002) |
Finland | |
| Ilkka Mikkola collection |
France | |
| J. Chervet and G. Branche : ... |
| - (1998) |
| - (1998) |
| - (1998) |
| Patureau et al. (2011) |
| - (1998) |
| - (1998) |
Germany | |
| 54 (in German) +1 other reference |
| Walenta (1992) |
| Collection Elmar Lackner. Analytical ... |
| WeiĂ (1990) |
Dill et al. (2010) | |
| Aufschluss 69/ (7+8) +1 other reference |
| Wittern (2001) |
Lapis 30 (7/8) | |
| Gröbner et al. (2007) +1 other reference |
Hungary | |
| Koch: Minerals of Hungary |
| GEODA 2004 |
India | |
| Singh et al. (2015) |
Iran | |
| Iranmanesh et al. (2018) |
Italy | |
| Daniele Ravagnani - I giacimenti ... |
| Ravagnani (1974) |
Madagascar | |
| Behier (1960) |
Behier (1960) | |
Behier (1960) | |
Behier (1960) | |
Norway | |
| Henrich Neumann (1985) |
| Knut Edvard Larsen collection # MM-5380 |
| Larsen. A.O. & Ă sheim (2008) |
Russia | |
| Pavel.M. Kartashov (n.d.) |
| Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data 2012 |
Chernyshev et al. (2019) | |
South Africa | |
| Fuchs (2015) |
| Cairncross et al. (1995) |
Spain | |
| www.foro-minerales.com (n.d.) |
www.foro-minerales.com (n.d.) | |
| www.foro-minerales.com (n.d.) |
Tajikistan | |
| ĐĐ”ŃĐ”ĐČĐ° et al. (1956) |
USA | |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Eckel et al. (1997) |
| Winchell (1914) |
| Personal collection and XRD analysis by ... |
| Seaman (1976) |
| New Mexico Bureau of Mines and Mineral ... |
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Shinkolobwe Mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo