Abernathyite

IMA-GP
Uranium 40.2a.9.1
(Dana Classification Number)
(Images) 7/E.02-150
(Strunz ID)

Property Data Remarks
Named for: Jess Abernathy, of Moab, Utah, mine owner who found the first specimens.
Alternate
    Name(s):
 
Mineral Class:
Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
  Uranylphosphates and Uranylvanadates with
[UO2]2+ - [PO4 | AsO4]3- and
[UO2]2+ - [V2O8]6-
    Meta-Autunite group
 
Chemical
    Formula:
K(UO2)(AsO4) · 4H2O
Chemical
    Composition:
Arsenic: (As) 14.41%
Hydrogen: (H) 1.55%
Oxygen: (O) 30.76%
Potassium: (K) 7.52%
Uranium: (U) 45.77%
by weight
Molecular
    Weight:
520.11 daltons (amu)
Specific
    Radioactivity:

(All radiation is for a 1 gram, fully aged specimen)

Specific Activity Dose Rate
Becquerels Curies  milliRems 
hour
 microSieverts 
hour
81.922 × 103 2.21 × 10-06 1.14 114.42

Estimated Average Annual Exposure: 360 mRem (3.6 milliSieverts)

Crystalography:
System: Tetragonal - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Axial Ratios: a: 1.26638
c: 1
Cell Dimensions: a: 7.17 Å
c: 9.08 Å
Z: 2
V: 466.79 Å3
DenCalc: 3.70
H-M Symbol: 4/m 2/m 2/m
Space Group: P4/ncc
X-Ray Diffraction:
  By Intensity ( I/Io )
(1): 9.14 Å
(0.8): 3.34 Å
(0.8): 3.84 Å
 
Habit:
  • Tabular
  •  
    Cleavage:
    [001] Perfect
    [010]  
    [100]  
     
    Fracture: Brittle  
    Moh's
        Hardness:
    2 - 3  
    Density: 3.31 - 3.57 grams/cm3
    Color: Yellow  
    Streak: Yellow  
    Luster: Vitreous  
    Diaphaniety: Transparent  
    Dichroism:
    (e): Pale yellow
    (w:) Yellow
     
    Ultra Violet
        Fluorescence:
    Long Wave: Yellow green
    Short Wave: Yellow green
     
    Magnetism: Non-magnetic  
    Occurance:
  • Rare secondary mineral coating fractures in bleached asphaltic sandstone hosting a Colorado Plateau-type uranium deposit.
  •  
    Associated
        Minerals:

    Aluminite, Annabergite, Aragonite, Autunite, Azurite, Barite, Basaluminite, Bergslagite, Bixbyite, Bournonite, Brandtite, Braunite, Calcite, Cerussite, Chalcopyrite, Chernovite-(Y), Coffinite, Cryptomelane, Dolomite, Erythrite, Galena, Gypsum, Hausmannite, Heinrichite, Humboldtine, Kutnohorite, , Malachite, Marcasite, 'Meta-Aluminite', Meta-Autunite, 'Meta-Uranospinite', Metaheinrichite, Metakirchheimerite, Metalodevite, Metatorbernite, Metazeunerite, Novácekite, Powellite, Pyrite, Quartz, Rhodochrosite, Rutherfordine, Schoepite, Scorodite, Sklodowskite, Sphalerite, Tilasite, Todorokite, Torbernite, Trögerite, Umohoite, Uraninite, Uranopilite, Wulfenite, Xenotime-(Y), Zeunerite, Zippeite

    Mineral   -   > 50% of sites
    Mineral   -   > 25% of sites
    Mineral   -   > 15% of sites
    Minerals   -   Uranium & Thorium
    mineral links

    These are minerals known to be found with Abernathyite
    Localities:

    Rare

    Abernathyite Localities

    Notes:

    Strongly radioactive a- and b-particles, g-rays.

    Crystals are probably metamic.

     

    Abernathyite Images

    Specimen #1

    (001a) (001a-a) (001a-b) (001a-c)

     
    (001b) (001b-a) (001b-b) (001b-c)

     
    (001b-d) (001b-e) (001c-a) (001d-a)

     
    Riviéral, Lodève, Hérault, Languedoc-Roussillon, France


    Specimen Notes

    Imaging Notes - Image 001a-b is a combined image of two images, both at slightly different focal settings.

    Image 001c-a is a combined image of ten images, all at slightly different focal settings. The effective depth of focus of the image approaches 1 mm.

    Occurrence - The host rock shows a definite grain that allows easy fracturing into layers, and less easily across the layer. This is most obvious in the macroscopic view of the specimen. The images designated as 001a-x and 001b-x are of the major faces of the specimen, and those desinated 001c-x and 001d-x are of its minor faces.

     

    Specimen Physical Properties
    Weight: 11.63 grams    
    g-Radiation Level:   cmp   msieverts background: 20 cpm
           
     


    Special Notes

    Dana's New Mineralogy gives a formula of:

    K(UO2)(AsO4)2 · 3H2O

    This is incorrect, as it is not balanced between the anions (-6 total) and cations (+3 total).