Schoepite

 IMA-GP
Uranium 5.2.1.3
(Dana Classification Number)
(Images) 4/H.01-40
(Strunz ID)
Unless sealed in glass, all specimens should be considered to have become Metaschoepite within a few months of being exposed to ambient air.

Property Data Remarks
Named for: Alfred Schoep (1881-1966), Professor of Mineralogy at the University of Ghent, Belgium, who has contributed much to the mineralogy of uranium.
Alternate
    Name(s):
  • Epi-Ianthite
  • Schepite-I
    		•   
    Mineral Class:
    Oxides
      Uranyl ([UO2]+2) hydroxides and hydrates
        Ianthinite - Paraschoepite series
    		 
    Chemical
        Formula:    		 (UO2)8O2(OH)12 · 12H2O  
    Chemical
        Composition:
    Hydrogen: (H) 1.39%
    Oxygen: (O) 25.72%
    Uranium: (U) 72.89%
    		by weight
    Molecular
        Weight:    		 2,612.49 daltons (amu)
    Specific
        Radioactivity:

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

    Specific Activity Dose Rate
    Becquerels Curies milliRems/hour microSieverts/hour
    1.30472 × 1005 3.53 × 10-06 1.73 173.26

    Estimated Average Annual Exposure: 360 mRem (3.6 milliSieverts)
    Crystalography:
    System: Orthorhombic - Pyramidal
    Axial Ratios: a: 0.8534
    b: 1
    c: 0.8773
    Cell Dimensions: a: 14.33 Å
    b: 16.79 Å
    c: 14.73 Å
    Z: 4
    V: 3,544.05 Å3
    DenCalc: 4.90
    H-M Symbol: mm2
    Space Group: P21ca
    X-Ray Diffraction:
      By Intensity ( I/Io )    		 (1): 7.28 Å
    (0.7): 5.08 Å
    (0.25): 3.44 Å
    		Schoepite
    Crystal
    Habit:
  		•  
    Cleavage:
    [001] Perfect
    [010] Indistinct
    [100]  
    		 
    Fracture: Brittle  
    Moh's
        Hardness:    		 2.5  
    Density: 4.8 grams/cm3
    Color: Sulphur-yellow, Brown-yellow  
    Streak: Light yellow  
    Luster: Adamantine  
    Diaphaneity: Transparent to Translucent  
    Pleochroism:
    (x): Colorless to nearl colorless
    (y:) Colorless to bright or lemmon Yellow
    (z:) Colorless to bright or lemmon yellow
    		 
    Ultra Violet
        Fluorescence:
    Long Wave: Pale green
    Short Wave: Pale green
    		 
    Magnetism: Non-magnetic  
    Occurance:
  • Found as an alteration product of uraninite
  • Alters spontanously to Kasolite, Malachite, Marcasite, Metaschoepite and Paraschoepite
    		•   
    Associated
        Minerals:

    Arsenopyrite, Autunite, Barite, Becquerelite, Calcite, Chalcopyrite, Dolomite, Galena, Gypsum, Hematite, Ianthinite, Kasolite, Malachite, Marcasite, Meta-Autunite, Metatorbernite, Metazeunerite, Novácekite, Phosphuranylite, Pyrite, Quartz, Sphalerite, Torbernite, Uraninite, Uranophane, Uranophane-beta, Uranopilite, Zeunerite, Zippeite

    Mineral   -   > 66% of sites
    Mineral   -   > 50% of sites
    Mineral   -   > 31% of sites
    Minerals   -   Uranium & Thorium
    mineral links

    		These are minerals known to be found with Schoepite
    Locations:

    Relatively rare

    Schoepite Locations
    Notes:

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

    Schoepite Images

    Specimen #1
    (001a) (001b) (001c)
    Musonoi mine, Kolwezi, Shaba (Katanga), Congo (Zaïre)

    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