Phosphuranylite

 IMA-GP
Uranium 42.4.8.1
(Dana Classification Number)
(Images) 7/E.07-30
(Strunz ID)

Property Data Remarks
Named for: Its Phosphorus and Uranium 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 group
    		 
    Chemical
        Formula:    		 KCa(H3O)3(UO2)7(PO4)4O4 · 8H2O  
    Chemical
        Composition:
    Calcium: (Ca) 1.53%
    Hydrogen: (H) 0.96%
    Oxygen: (O) 27.54%
    Phosphorus: (P) 4.74%
    Potassium: (K) 1.50%
    Uranium: (U) 63.73%
    		by weight
    Molecular
        Weight:    		 2,614.45 daltons (amu)
    Specific
        Radioactivity:

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

    Specific Activity Dose Rate
    Becquerels Curies milliRems/hour microSieverts/hour
    1.14078 × 1005 3.08 × 10-06 1.54 154.11

    Estimated Average Annual Exposure: 360 mRem (3.6 milliSieverts)
    Crystalography:
    System: Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal
    Axial Ratios: a: 1.1538
    b: 1
    c: 1.2593
    Cell Dimensions: a: 15.835 Å
    b: 13.724 Å
    c: 17.284 Å
    Z: 4
    V: 3,756.15 Å3
    DenCalc: 4.62
    H-M Symbol: 2/m 2/m 2/m
    Space Group: Cmcm
    X-Ray Diffraction:
      By Intensity ( I/Io )    		 (1): 7.91 Å
    (0.6): 3.15 Å
    (0.6): 3.96 Å
    		 
    Habit:
  • Microscopic platy crystals
  • Micaceous assmeblies or piles of crystals
  • Encrustations
  • Fossil and wood replacement masses
    		•   
    Cleavage:
    [001]  
    [010] Indistinct
    [100] Perfect
    		 
    Fracture: Earthy  
    Moh's
        Hardness:    		 2.5  
    Density: 4.1 grams/cm3
    Color: Deep golden to Straw yellow, Lemon yellow  
    Streak: Light yellow to Yellow  
    Luster: Vitreous - Pearly  
    Diaphaneity: Translucent  
    Pleochroism:
    (x):  
    (y:)  
    (z:)  
    		 
    Ultra Violet
        Fluorescence:    		 Non-Fluorescent  
    Magnetism: Non-magnetic  
    Occurance:
  • Pegmatites
  • Secondary uranium mineralizations
  • Fossils
    		•   
    Associated
        Minerals:

    Almandine, Arsenopyrite, Autunite, Barite, Becquerelite, Beryl, Biotite, Calcite, Cassiterite, Chalcopyrite, Coffinite, Dewindtite, Fluorapatite, Fluorite, Galena, Goethite, 'Gummite', Hematite, Kasolite, 'Limonite', Marcasite, Meta-Autunite, Metatorbernite, Microcline, Montmorillonite, Muscovite, Pitchblende, Pyrite, Quartz, Sabugalite, Saléeite, Schoepite, Schorl, Siderite, Sphalerite, Torbernite, Uraninite, Uranophane, Vivianite, Zippeite

    Mineral   -   > 51% of sites
    Mineral   -   > 33% of sites
    Mineral   -   > 17% of sites
    Minerals   -   Uranium & Thorium
    mineral links

    		These are minerals known to be found with Phosphuranylite
    Locations:

    Relative common uranium mineral

    Phosphuranylite Locations
    Notes:

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

    Difficult to distinguish from other non-fluorescent uranium minerals. Often found replacing wood, together with other uranium minerals. The Uranium +6 requires a reducing environment to go to uranium +4 and be precipitated out of solution. Rotting, buried wood provides such an environment. Alteration of primary uranium minerals, such as Uraninite, result in the production of phosphuranylite. In these cases, some black uraninite may be left as an interior core surrounded by Phosphuranylite and Autunite (distinguished by its fluorescence).

    Phosphuranylite Images

    Specimen #1
    (001a) (001b) (001d) (001e)
    Bergen, Falkenstein, Vogtland, Saxony, Germany

    Specimen Notes

    Occurrence -  

     

    Crystals -  

     

    Appearence -  

    Diaphaniety -

    Luster -

     

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