Phosphowalpurgite

 IMA-2001-062
Uranium  
(Dana Classification Number)
(No Images) 7/X.00-00
(Strunz ID)

Property Data Remarks
Named for: being the phosphate analog of Walpurgite.
Alternate
    Name(s):
  		•  
    Mineral Class:
    Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
      Uranylphosphates and uranylvanadates with
    [UO2]2+ - [PO4 | AsO4]3- and [UO2]2+ - [V2O8]6-
        Asselbornite - Walpurgite series
    		 
    Chemical
        Formula:    		 (UO2)Bi4(PO4)O4 · 2H2O  
    Chemical
        Composition:
    Arsenic: (As) 2.69%
    Bismuth: (Bi) 58.71%
    Calcium: (Ca) 0.23%
    Copper: (Cu) 0.23%
    Hydrogen: (H) 0.29%
    Iron: (Fe) 0.28%
    Lead: (Pb) 0.15%
    Oxygen: (O) 18.36%
    Phosphorus: (P) 3.34%
    Silicon: (Si) 0.08%
    Vanadium: (V) 0.07%
    Uranium: (U) 15.56%
    		by weight
    Molecular
        Weight:    		 1,391.69 daltons (amu)
    Specific
        Radioactivity:

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

    Specific Activity Dose Rate
    Becquerels Curies milliRems/hour microSieverts/hour
    3.2751 × 1004 8.85 × 10-07 0.37 36.71

    Estimated Average Annual Exposure: 360 mRem (3.6 milliSieverts)
    Crystalography:
    System: Triclinic - Pinacoidal
    Axial Ratios: a: 0.533
    b: 1
    c: 0.4127
    Cell Dimensions: a: 7.06 Å
    b: 13.238 Å
        (one source reports 10.24 Å)
    c: 5.464 Å
    Z: 1
    a: 101.22°
    b: 109.93°
    g: 87.93°
    V: 470.6 Å3
    DenCalc: 4.59
    H-M Symbol: -1
    Space Group: P-1
    X-Ray Diffraction:
      By Intensity ( I/Io )    		 (1): 10.06 Å
    (0.95): 3.08 Å
    (0.86): 3.12 Å
    (0.72): 3.25 Å
    (0.52): 3 Å
    (0.43): 3.35 Å
    (0.42): 2.726 Å
    		 
    Habit:
  • Tabular crystals to 1 mm, flattened along {010} plane
  • Encrustations
  • Euhedral crystals
    		•   
    Cleavage:
    [001]  
    [010] Perfect
    [100]  
    		 
    Fracture: Brittle - Conchoidal  
    Moh's
        Hardness:    		 4 - 5  
    Density: 4.59 grams/cm3
    Color: Brownish grey  
    Streak: light Brownish gray  
    Luster: Adamantine, Sub-Adamantine, Vitreous  
    Diaphaneity: Translucent  
    Pleochroism:
    (x):
    (y:)
    (z:)
    		 
    Ultra Violet
        Fluorescence:
    Long Wave:  
    Short Wave:  
    		 
    Magnetism: Non-magnetic  
    Occurance:
  • Occurs as small clusters in fissure and cavities in quartz gangue from the mine dump
  • Mineral is formed by the supergene alteration of uraninite and bismuth sulfides
    		•   
    Associated
        Minerals:

    'Apatite', Atelestite, Bismutite, Bismutoferrite, Eulytine, Hechtsbergite, Metatorbernite, Petitjeanite, Preisingerite, Pucherite, Quartz, Sillénite, Smrkovecite, Torbernite, Walpurgite

    Minerals   -   Close associates of Phosphowalpurgite
    Minerals   -   Uranium & Thorium
    mineral links

    		These are minerals known to be found with Phosphowalpurgite
    Locations:

    Extremely rare

    Phosphowalpurgite Locations
    Notes:

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

    Crystals are probably metamic.