Billietite

 IMA-GP
Uranium 5.7.1.3
(Dana Classification Number)
(Images) 4/H.03-40
(Strunz ID)

Property Data Remarks
Named for: Valère Billiet (1903-1944), Belgian crystallographer, University of Ghent
Alternate
    Name(s):
  • Billietit
  • Billietita
    		•   
    Mineral Class:
    Oxides
      Uranyl ([UO2]2+) hydroxides and hydrates
        Compreignacite - Billietite series
    		 
    Chemical
        Formula:    		 Ba(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 8H2O  
    Chemical
        Composition:
    Barium: (Ba) 6.88%
    Hydrogen: (H) 0.71%
    Oxygen: (O) 20.85%
    Uranium: (U) 71.57%
    		by weight
    Molecular
        Weight:    		 1,995.60 daltons (amu)
    Specific
        Radioactivity:

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

    Specific Activity Dose Rate
    Becquerels Curies milliRADs
    per hour    		 microSieverts
    1.28104 × 1005 3.46 × 10-06 1.67 16.68

    Estimated Average Annual Exposure: 3.6 RAD (3.6 centiSieverts)
    Crystalography:
    System: Orthorhombic - Pyramidal
    Axial Ratios: a: 0.4001
    b: 1
    c: 0.2368
    Cell Dimensions: a: 12.072 Å
    b: 30.167 Å
    c: 7.1455 Å
    Z: 4
    V: 2,602.22 Å3
    DenCalc: 5.09
    H-M Symbol: mm2
    Space Group: Pbn21
    X-Ray Diffraction:
      By Intensity ( I/Io )    		 (1): 7.56 Å
    (0.35): 3.183 Å
    (0.25): 3.78 Å
    		Billietite
    Crystal
    (as observed)
    Habit:
  		•  
    Cleavage:
    [001] Perfect
    [010]  
    [100]  
    		 
    Fracture:    
    Moh's
        Hardness:    		    
    Density: 5.27 - 5.29 grams/cm3
    Color: Yellow, Yellowish amber, Yellowish brown, Orange  
    Streak: Yellow  
    Luster: Adamantine  
    Diaphaneity: Transparent to Translucent  
    Pleochroism:
    (x):  
    (y:)  
    (z:)  
    		 
    Ultra Violet
        Fluorescence:
    Long Wave:  
    Short Wave:  
    		 
    Magnetism: Non-magnetic  
    Occurance:
  • An uncommon secondary product of uraninite
    		•   
    Associated
        Minerals:

    Anatase, Aragonite, Arsenolite, Arsenopyrite, Arsenuranospathite, Azurite, Barite, Barium-Pharmacosiderite, Becquerelite, Bismuth, Bismuthinite, Bornite, Brochantite, Calcite, Chalcocite, Chalcopyrite, Chrysocolla, Conichalcite, Copper, Cornwallite, Covellite, Curite, Dewindtite, Digenite, Dolomite, Erythrite, Fluorite, Galena, Goethite, Heinrichite, Hematite, Ianthinite, Kasolite, Langite, Lavendulan, Luzonite, Löllingite, Malachite, Meta-Autunite, Metaheinrichite, Metatorbernite, Metazeunerite, Mixite, Muscovite, Novácekite, Proustite, Pyrite, Pyrolusite, Quartz, Rutile, Safflorite, Schoepite, Silver, Sklodowskite, Skutterudite, Sphalerite, Studtite, Tennantite, Torbernite, Tyrolite, Uraninite, Uranophane, Uranospinite, Vandendriesscheite, Wolsendorfite, Zeunerite, Zippeite

    Mineral   -   > 75% of sites
    Mineral   -   > 50% of sites
    Mineral   -   > 30% of sites
    Minerals   -   Uranium & Thorium
    mineral links

    		These are minerals known to be found with Billietite
    Localities:

    Rare

    Billietite Localities
    Notes:

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

    Crystals are probably metamic.

    Billietite Images

    Specimen #1
    (001a) (001b) (001c) (001d)

     
    (001e) (001f)

    Musonoi Mine Extension, Kolwezi, Western area, Shaba Copper belt, Shaba (Katanga), Congo (Zaïre)


    Specimen Notes

    Habit - The Billietite occurs on silicate host rock. While it does contain hydroxide, the lack of oxygen rich anions permits this under the theory of silicate avoidance of uranium minerals containing oxygen rich anions and compact, highly reactive anions (halides and hydroxide).

     

    Crystals - The Billietite crystals occur in two forms. The most common are compact, with the length approximately the same as the width. The best image of this crystal form is seen in image 001c. This crystal form occurs in the majority of the crystal observed.

    The second, rare, form has the length of the crystal several times that of the crystal diameter. Several of these can be seen in images 001a, 001b and 001f (end on). Crystal lengths of approximately three times the crystal diameter are the norm for this form.

      -  

     

    Specimen Physical Properties
    Size   cm   cm   cm
    Weight: x grams    
    g-Radiation Level:   cmp   msieverts background: 20 cpm