Uramphite

 IMA-GP
Uranium 40.2a.7.1
(Dana Classification Number)
(Images) 7/E.02-160
(Strunz ID)

Property Data Remarks
Named for: Its Uranium, Ammonia and Phosphate content
Alternate
    Name(s):
  		•  
    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:    		 (NH4)(UO2)(PO4) · 3H2O  
    Chemical
        Composition:
    Hydrogen: (H) 2.31%
    Nitrogen: (N) 3.20%
    Oxygen: (O) 32.94%
    Phosphorus: (P) 7.09%
    Uranium: (U) 54.46%
    		by weight
    Molecular
        Weight:    		 437.08 daltons (amu)
    Specific
        Radioactivity:

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

    Specific Activity Dose Rate
    Becquerels Curies milliRems/hour microSieverts/hour
    9.7481 × 1004 2.63 × 10-06 1.37 136.87

    Estimated Average Annual Exposure: 360 mRem (3.6 milliSieverts)
    Crystalography:
    System: Tetragonal - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
    Axial Ratios: a: 1
    c: 1.29101
    Cell Dimensions: a: 7.01 Å
    c: 9.05 Å (18.08 Å also listed)
    Z: 2
    V: 444.72 Å3
    DenCalc: 3.26
    H-M Symbol: 4/m 2/m 2/m
    Space Group: P4/nmm
    X-Ray Diffraction:
      By Intensity ( I/Io )    		 (1): 3.8 Å
    (1): 9.02 Å
    (0.9): 3.26 Å
    		 
    Habit:
  • Encrustions
  • Microscopic crystals ( < 0.2 millimeters )
  • Radial Clusters
    		•   
    Cleavage:
    [???] Distinct
    		 
    Fracture:    
    Moh's
        Hardness:    		 2 - 2.5  
    Density: 3.7 grams/cm3
    Color: Bottle-green, Light green  
    Streak: Greenish white  
    Luster: Vitreous  
    Diaphaneity: Transparent to Translucent  
    Pleochroism:
    (x):  
    (y:)  
    (z:)  
    		 
    Ultra Violet
        Fluorescence:
    Long Wave:  
    Short Wave:  

    Fluoresces Yellow-green

    		  
    Magnetism: Non-magnetic  
    Occurance:
  • Formed in vugs and cracks in the oxidation zone of uranium bearing low-rank coal deposit (20-50 meters deep) where uranium-bearing groundwater interacts with ammonium ions in the coal
    		•   
    Associated
        Minerals:

    Coal

    		 No other minerals are listed as being found with Uramphite
    Locations:

    Extremely rare

    Tura-Kavak, Issyk-Kul'skaya Oblast', Kyrgyzstan
    Notes:

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

    Crystals are probably metamic.

    Uramphite Images

    Specimen #1
    (001a) (001b)
    Tura-Kavak, Issyk-Kul'skaya Oblast', Kyrgyzstan

    Specimen Notes

    Occurrence - The Uramphite occurs as encrustations and microscopic radial clusters on a piece of either low grade coal or dark lignite. This is typical for the one locality listed for its occurrance.

     

    Crystals - The crystaline Uramphite occurs as radial clusters or rosettes. All crystals that occur are less than 10 micrometers in size, too small to be examined in any detail. They can just be detected by eye at 30X magnification.

    Appearence - The color of the Uramphite deposits, particularly the encrustations, is a pale grayish green, simmilar to its streak. This is likely due to the small size of the individual particles in the deposit being, in effect, a 'streak test.'

    Diaphaniety - The crystals appear to possibly be transparent, but their lack of size makes this determination difficult to determine conclusively.

    Luster - The encrustations are all a dull, earthy luster. The crystals are highly reflective, indicative of an adamantine luster.

    Color - The color of the specimen (pale grayish-green) is believed to be its true color, as the darker bottle-green color also reported may be due to discoloration by material dissolved from the lignite coal.

    Location - The location for the specimen (Tura-Kavak, Issyk-Kul'skaya Oblast', Kyrgyzstan) is the only one listed ( Minerals and their Locations, J.H. Bernard and J. Hyrsl ) has only Uramphite and coal listed for its mineral inventory.

    Specimen Physical Properties - The greatest dimention of the coal fragment is under 1 cm. The Uramphite is just detectable by eye. The quantity of radioactive material is so small that it does not register on a geiger counter.