Ciprianiite

 IMA-A 2001-021
Uranium
Thorium		 54.2.2.6
(Dana Classification Number)
(Images) 8/F.36-40
(Strunz ID)

Property Data Remarks
Named for: Curzio Cipriani, Professor of Mineralogy and Head of the Museum of Natural History, Universita di Firenze, Italy
Alternate
    Name(s):
  		•  
    Mineral Class:
    Silicates
      Inosilicates - complex chain structure.
    Cylindric chains and others
        Caysichite-(Y) - Tadzhikite-(Ce) series
    		 
    Chemical
        Formula:    		 Ca4[(Th,U)(REE)]2(Al,[ ])2[Si4B4O22](OH,F)2  
    Chemical
        Composition:
    Element Percentage
    Aluminum: (Al) 1.04%
    Beryllium: (Be)   0.55%
    Boron: (B)   3.32%
    Calcium: (Ca)   14.16%
    Fluorine: (F)   0.73%
    Hydrogen: (H)   0.04%
    Iron: (Fe)   1.72%
    Oxygen: (O)   28.75%
    Silicon: (Si)   8.63%
    Titanium: (Ti)   0.37%
    Thorium: (Th)   14.26%
    Uranium: (U)   10.97%
    REE2O3
        Lanthanum
        Cerium
        Praseodymium
        Neodymium
        Samarium
        Yttrium    		  
    (La)
    (Ce)
    (Pr)
    (Nd)
    (Sm)
    (Y)    		 | 
    |
    |
    |
    |
    |
    |    		 15.48%
    		by weight
    Molecular
        Weight:    		 1,302.21 daltons (amu)
    Specific
        Radioactivity:

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

    Specific Activity Dose Rate
    Becquerels Curies milliRems/hour microSieverts/hour
    2.6019 × 1004 7.03 × 10-07 0.37 3.72

    Estimated Average Annual Exposure: 360 mRem (3.6 milliSieverts)
    Crystalography:
    System: Monoclinic - Prismatic
    Axial Ratios: a: 4.0302
    b: 1
    c: 2.1761
    Cell Dimensions: a: 19.059 Å
    b: 4.729 Å
    c: 10.291 Å
    Z: 1
    b: 111.33°
    V: 863.99 Å3
    DenCalc: 2.50
    H-M Symbol: 2/m
    Space Group: P2/a
    X-Ray Diffraction:
      By Intensity ( I/Io )    		 (1): 2.846 Å
    (0.86): 3.089 Å
    (0.84): 2.634 Å
    (0.8): 2.653 Å
    (0.79): 2.648 Å
    (0.79): 3.454 Å
    (0.72): 4.729 Å
    		 
    Habit:
  • Anhedral Grains
  • Tabular
    		•   
    Cleavage:
    [001]  
    [010]  
    [100] Fair
    		 
    Fracture: Brittle - Conchoidal  
    Moh's
        Hardness:    		    
    Density:   grams/cm3
    Color: Brown  
    Streak: White  
    Luster: Vitreous  
    Diaphaneity: Transparent  
    Pleochroism:
    (x):  
    (y:)  
    (z:)  
    		 
    Ultra Violet
        Fluorescence:
    Long Wave:  
    Short Wave:  
    		 
    Magnetism: Non-magnetic  
    Occurance:
  • Alkali-syenitic ejecta enclosed in pyroclastic formations of the Roma Comagmatic Province
    		•   
    Associated
        Minerals:

    Afghanite, Danburite, Hellandite', Sodalite, Stillwellite-(Ce), Thorite, Vicanite-(Ce), Vonsenite, Zircon

    Minerals   -   Uranium & Thorium
    mineral links

    		These are minerals known to be found with Ciprianiite
    Localities:

    Extremely rare

    Ciprianiite Localities
    Notes:

    Radioactive a- and b-particles, g-rays.

    Crystals are probably metamic.

    Ciprianiite Images

    Specimen #1
    (001aa) (001ab) (001a) (001b)

     
    (001c) (001d) (001e)
    Monte Cavalluccio, Capagnano, Roma, Lazio, Italy


    Specimen Notes

    Occurance - The Ciprianiite occurs in a matrix of Calcite. The calcite appears to be primarily of the spar variety. The Calcite is of small crystals in a massive formation. Most of the Calcite is either clear or white in color.

    Though it is of low uranium content (~10%), and contains a greater quantity of thorium, it does follow the Theory of Hot Radicals for Uranyl minerals. This gives an indication of the minimum uranyl content for this theory to hold true.

    The crystals are scattered randomly through out the specimen. Some areas have a greater or lesser number of crystals than others, but the distrubution is relatively uniform throughout the specimen.

    Crystals - The observed crystals are all small (< 2 mm) and incomplete, but a nearly complete crystal can be seen in image 001a. They crystals often twinned. Some are skellatal structure. All of the observed crystals have a stepped texture that striates their surface.

    Fracture - The Ciprianiite shows a conchoidal fracture. This is seen on only a few of the crystals, as many of them are not fractured.

    Luster - The vitreous luster is seen on the crystals, though heavy surface texturing may often hide this. The luster may appear earthy due to this texturing.

    Diaphaneity - The crystals appear to be opaque, and not in the least transparent. No attempt was made at back-illuminating them.

    Color - The Ciprianiite's color is a very dark brown, almost black. This may be due to its higher thorium, and reduce uranium, content.

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