Françoisite-(Nd)

 IMA-A 1987-041
Uranium 42.4.14.1
(Dana Classification Number)
(No Images) 7/E.07-70
(Strunz ID)

Property Data Remarks
Named for: Armand Francois (1922-), former Director of Geology for Gecamine, and its Neodymium content
Alternate
    Name(s):
  		•  
    Mineral Class:
    Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
      Uranylphosphates and uranylvanadates with
    [UO2]+2 - [PO4 | AsO4]-3 and
    [UO2]+2 - [V2O8]-6
        Phosphuranylite series
    		 
    Chemical
        Formula:    		 (Nd,Y,Sm,Ce)(UO2)3(PO4)20(OH) · 6H2O  
    Chemical
        Composition:
    Cerium: (Ce) 0.45%
    Hydrogen: (H) 1.10%
    Neodymium: (Nd) 2.32%
    Oxygen: (O) 28.69%
    Phosphorus: (P) 4.73%
    Samarium: (Sm) 0.73%
    Uranium: (U) 61.26%
    Yttrium: (Y) 0.72%
    		by weight
    Molecular
        Weight:    		 1,243.40 daltons (amu)
    Specific
        Radioactivity:

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

    Specific Activity Dose Rate
    Becquerels Curies milliRems/hour microSieverts/hour
    1.09732 × 1005 2.97 × 10-06 1.48 14.83

    Estimated Average Annual Exposure: 360 mRem (3.6 milliSieverts)
    Crystalography:
    System: Monoclinic - Prismatic
    Axial Ratios: a: 0.5958
    b: 1
    c: 0.8758
    Cell Dimensions: a: 9.298 Å
    b: 15.605 Å
    c: 13.668 Å
    Z: 4
    b: 112.77°
    V: 1,828.61 Å3
    DenCalc: 4.52
    H-M Symbol: 2/m
    Space Group: P21/c
    X-Ray Diffraction:
      By Intensity ( I/Io )    		 (1): 7.79 Å
    (0.5): 3.88 Å
    (0.5): 5.76 Å
    		 
    Habit:
  • Platy, elongated
  • Aggregates
    		•   
    Cleavage:
    [001]  
    [010] Good
    [100]  
    		 
    Fracture:    
    Moh's
        Hardness:    		 3  
    Density: 4.06 grams/cm3
    Color: Yellow  
    Streak: Yellow, Yellow white, White  
    Luster: Vitreous  
    Diaphaneity: Translucent  
    Pleochroism:
    (x):  
    (y:)  
    (z:)  
    		 
    Ultra Violet
        Fluorescence:
    Long Wave:  
    Short Wave:  
    		 
    Magnetism: Non-magnetic  
    Occurance:
  • Alteration product of uraninite in a sedimentary Cu-Co deposit
    		•   
    Associated
        Minerals:

    Astrocyanite-(Ce), Carrollite, Coffinite, Curite, Kamotoite-(Y), Malachite, Masuyite, Planchéite, Schoepite, Schuilingite-(Nd), Shabaite-(Nd), Uraninite, Uranophane, Zeunerite

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

    		These are minerals known to be found with Françoisite-(Nd)
    Localities:

    Rare

    Francoisite-(Nd) Localities
    Notes:

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

    Crystals are probably metamic.