meta-Ankoleite

(has no non-meta- form)		 IMA-A 1963-013
Uranium 40.2a.8.1
(Dana Classification Number)
(No Images) 7/E.02-140
(Strunz ID)

Property Data Remarks
Named for: Mungenyi pegmatite, Ankole District, Uganda, its type locality
Alternate
    Name(s):
  • Ankoleite
  • Potassium Autunite
    		•   
    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:    		 KUO2PO4 . 3H2O  
    Chemical
        Composition:
    Hydrogen: (H) 1.32%
    Oxygen: (O) 31.43%
    Phosphorus: (P) 6.76%
    Potassium: (K) 8.53%
    Uranium: (U) 51.96%
    		by weight
    Molecular
        Weight:    		 916.29 daltons (amu)
    Specific
        Radioactivity:

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

    Specific Activity Dose Rate
    Becquerels Curies milliRems/hour microSieverts/hour
    9.3258 × 1004 2.52 × 10-06 1.30 129.67

    Estimated Average Annual Exposure: 360 mRem (3.6 milliSieverts)
    Crystalography:
    System: Tetragonal - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
    Axial Ratios: a: 1
    c: 1.27141
    Cell Dimensions: a: 6.993 Å
    c: 8.891 Å
    Z: 1
    V: 434.79 Å3
    DenCalc: 3.50
    H-M Symbol: 4/m 2/m 2/m
    Space Group: P4/nmm
    X-Ray Diffraction:
      By Intensity ( I/Io )    		 (1): 8.92 Å
    (0.65): 3.73 Å
    (0.55): 3.25 Å
    		 
    Habit:
  • Platy square crystals
  • Micaceous
  • Crusts
  • Aggregates
  • Foliated
  • Earthy
    		•   
    Cleavage:
    [001]  
    [010]  
    [100]  
    		 
    The structure of meta-ankoleite is composed of flattened phosphate tetrahedrons linked to uranium-oxygen groups that form distorted octagons. The phosphate and uranium groups form sheets that are weakly held together by water molecules. This structure produces the tabular habit, the one perfect direction of cleavage, and the relative softness. It is an analogous structure to that of the phyllosilicates. The flattened tetrahedrons have a near four fold symmetry and the distorted octagons contribute to the tetragonal symmetry.
    Fracture: Uneven  
    Moh's
        Hardness:    		 2 - 2.5  
    Density: 3.4 grams/cm3
    Color: Yellow  
    Streak: Pale yellow  
    Luster: Vitreous to Dull  
    Diaphaneity: Transparent to Translucent  
    Pleochroism:
    (x):  
    (y:)  
    (z:)  
    		 
    Ultra Violet
        Fluorescence:
    Long Wave: Fluorescent
    Short Wave: Yellow-green or green
    		 
    Magnetism: Non-magnetic  
    Occurance:
  • Pegmatites
    		•   
    Associated
        Minerals:

    Adamite, Albite, Almandine, Anhydrite, Aragonite, Arsenic, Arsenopyrite, Azurite, Barite, Biotite, Bornite, Calcite, Celestine, Chalcopyrite, 'Chlorite Group', Chrysocolla, Copper, Corundum, Cuprite, Digenite, Dolomite, Epidote, Epsomite, Fluorapatite, Fluorite, Franklinite, Galena, Gold, Graphite, Grossular, Gypsum, Hematite, 'Hornblende', Illite, Kaolinite, Löllingite, Malachite, Marcasite, Metalodevite, Metazeunerite, Microcline, Molybdenite, Muscovite, Norbergite, Pharmacosiderite, Pyrite, Pyroaurite, Pyrrhotite, Quartz, Realgar, Rhodochrosite, Scheelite, Siderite, Silver, Smithsonite, Spessartine, Stibnite, Sulphur, Talc, Tennantite, Tetrahedrite, Uraninite, Uranophane, Uranospinite, Willemite Wollastonite, Wulfenite, Zincite, Zircon, Znucalite

    Mineral   -   All of the sites
    Mineral   -   > 67% of sites
    Minerals   -   Uranium & Thorium
    mineral links

    		These are minerals known to be found with meta-Ankoleite
    Locations:

    Very rare

    meta-Ankoleite Locations
    Notes:

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

    Meta-ankoleite was thought to be a dehydration product of the mineral, ankoleite, which is not a recognizd mineral. Meta-Ankoleite is without a corresponding non-meta mineral.