Becquerelite	IMA-GP
Uranium	5.7.1.2 (Dana Classification Number)
(Images)	4/H.03-20 (Strunz ID)

Antoine Henri Becquerel December 15, 1852 - August 25, 1908

Property	Data	Remarks
Named for:	Antoine Henri Becquerel(1852-1908), French physicist, discovered radioactivity in 1896. Awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1903 for his discovery of spontaneous radioactivity in Uranium salts. The award was shared with Pierre and Marie Curie, for their study of the Becquerel radiation.
Alternate     Name(s):	Beckerelite
Mineral Class:	Oxides   Uranyl ([UO2]2+) hydroxides and hydrates     Compreignacite - Billietite series
Chemical     Formula:	Ca(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 8H2O
Chemical     Composition:	Calcium: (Ca) 2.03% Hydrogen: (H) 1.13% Oxygen: (O) 24.36% Uranium: (U) 72.48%	by weight
Molecular     Weight:	1,970.41	daltons (amu)
Specific     Radioactivity:	(All radiation is for a 1 gram, fully aged specimen) Specific Activity Dose Rate Becquerels Curies milliRADs per hour microSieverts 1.29741 × 1005 3.51 × 10-06 1.72 17.19 Estimated Average Annual Exposure: 3.6 RAD (3.6 centiSieverts)
Crystalography:	System: Orthorhombic - Pyramidal Axial Ratios: a: 1.1179 b: 1 c: 1.2056 Cell Dimensions: a: 13.8378 Å b: 12.3781 Å c: 14.9238 Å Z: 4 V: 2,556.23 Å3 DenCalc: 5.12 H-M Symbol: mm2 Space Group: Pn21a X-Ray Diffraction:   By Intensity ( I/Io ) (1): 7.44 Å (0.35): 3.2 Å (0.3): 3.73 Å	Becquerelite Crystals
Habit:	Occurs as well-formed fine sized crystals
Cleavage:	[001] Perfect [110] Perfect
Fracture:
Moh's     Hardness:	2 - 3
Density:	5.14	grams/cm3
Color:	Cannary yellow, Orange yellow, Brownish yellow
Streak:	Yellow
Luster:	Resinous - Adamantine
Diaphaneity:	Transparent to translucent
Pleochroism:	(x): Colorless (y:) Yellow (z:) Deep yellow
Ultra Violet     Fluorescence:	Long Wave: Fluorescent (very weak - Green) Short Wave: Fluorescent (very weak - Green)	(One Specimen Examined for color and strength)
Magnetism:	Non-magnetic
Occurance:	Sedimentary uranium deposits.
Associated     Minerals:	Autunite, Barite, Bornite, Calcite, Cerussite, Chalcocite, Chalcopyrite, Coffinite, Copper, Covellite, Cuprosklodowskite, Curite, Dolomite, Fluorite, Fourmarierite, Galena, Hematite, Ianthinite, Kasolite, Malachite, Marcasite, Meta-Autunite, Metatorbernite, Molybdenite, Parsonsite, Phosphuranylite, Pyrite, Quartz, Safflorite, Schoepite, Sphalerite, Torbernite, Uraninite, Uranophane, Uranophane-beta, Uranopilite, Vandendriesscheite, Zeunerite, Zippeite Mineral   -   > 64% of sites Mineral   -   > 50% of sites Mineral   -   > 32% of sites Minerals   -   Uranium & Thorium mineral links	These are minerals known to be found with Becquerelite
Localities:	Somewhat rare Becquerelite Localities
Notes:	Strongly radioactive a- and b-particles, g-rays.

Becquerelite Images

Specimen
(001)	(001a)	(001b)	(001c)
	(001d)
Shinkolobwe mine (Kasolo mine), Kolwezi, Shaba (Katanga), Congo (Zaïre)
Specimen Notes Occurrance - The Bequerelite occurs in a wide crevice in the host rock. The covering rock (removed) has inhibited much of the crystal growth. The Becquerelite occurs on a substrate of Uranophane microcrystals which in turn are on a lower substrate of Cuprosklodowskite on a silicate host rock. In much of the crevice, the Cuprosklodowskite crystals protrude through the Uranophane. This is in agreement with the hot radicles theory of Uranyl minerals avoiding a silicate matrix. The Uranophane occurs as microcrystals and small flat blades. The specimen also contains considerable quantities of Uraninite. Crystals - Images -001a, -001b and -001c show the terminations of the Becquerelite (compare to this crystal model of Bequerelite). The -001e image is of broken crystals showing them in cross section. Luster - The Becquerelite crystals are all of adamantine luster. Diaphaneity - The crystals are uniformly sub-transparent, showing a slight cloudyness. Specimen Physical Properties Weight: 189.60 grams     g-Radiation Level: 12083 cmp (30 minute average) (2.5 cm distance) 120.8 msieverts background: 20 cpm (30 minute average) Size: 7.24 cm 5.21 cm 4.06 cm