Uranophane-beta

 IMA-GP
Uranium 53.3.1.9
(Dana Classification Number)
(No Images) 8/B.34-50
(Strunz ID)

Property Data Remarks
Named for: its Uranium content, and the Greek word phanos - "to appear" - and its different crystal structure from Uranophane  
Alternate
    Name(s):
  • Beta-uranophane
  • Beta-Uranotile
  • Uranophane-b
  • b-Uranophane
  • b-Uranotile
  • Uranotile-b
    		•   
    Mineral Class:
    Silicates
      Nesosilicates
    "Insel" silicates with anions unfamiliar to tetraheders.
    Uranyl-"Insel" silicates with [UO2]2+ - [SiO4]4-
        Sklodowskite - Uranophane - Kasolite series
    		 
    Chemical
        Formula:    		 Ca(UO2)2SiO3(OH)2 · 5H2O  
    Chemical
        Composition:
    Calcium: (Ca) 6.84%
    Hydrogen: (H) 2.06%
    Oxygen: (O) 40.93%
    Silicon: (Si) 9.58%
    Uranium: (U) 40.59%
    		by weight
    Molecular
        Weight:    		 586.36 daltons (amu)
    Specific
        Radioactivity:

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

    Specific Activity Dose Rate
    Becquerels Curies milliRems/hour microSieverts/hour
    7.2663 × 1004 1.96 × 10-06 1.06 105.54

    Estimated Average Annual Exposure: 360 mRem (3.6 milliSieverts)
    Crystalography:
    System: Monoclinic - Prismatic
    Axial Ratios: a:b:c = 0.4294:1:0.9043
    Cell Dimensions: a = 6.632, b = 15.443, c = 13.966, Z = 6; beta = 91.38° V = 1,429.95 Den(Calc) = 4.09
    H-M Symbol: 2/m
    Space Group: P21/a
    X Ray Diffraction: By Intensity(I/Io): 7.83(1) 3.9(0.9) 3.51(0.6)
    		 
    Habit:
  		•  
    Cleavage:
    [001]
    [010]
    [100]
    		 
    Fracture: Conchoidal  
    Moh's
        Hardness:    		 2.5 - 3  
    Density: 3.9 - 3.95 grams/cm3
    Color: Yellowish-green, Yellow, Brownish-yellow  
    Streak: Pale yellow  
    Luster: Vitreous, Silky, Waxy  
    Diaphaneity: Transparent to Translucent  
    Pleochroism:
    (x):
    (y:)
    (z:)
    		 
    Ultra Violet
        Fluorescence:
    Long Wave:
    Short Wave: None, or weak yellow
    		 
    Magnetism: Non-magnetic  
    Occurance:
  		•  
    Associated
        Minerals:

    Autunite, Azurite, Barite, Becquerelite, Calcite, Chalcocite, Chalcopyrite, Chrysocolla, Coffinite, Covellite, Fluorite, Galena, Goethite, Gypsum, Hematite, Kasolite, Malachite, Marcasite, Meta-Autunite, Metatorbernite, Molybdenite, Phosphuranylite, Pyrite, Quartz, Schoepite, Sphalerite, Torbernite, Uraninite, Uranophane, Uranopilite, Zippeite

    Mineral   -   > 50% of sites
    Mineral   -   > 33% of sites
    Mineral   -   > 20% of sites
    Minerals   -   Uranium & Thorium
    mineral links

    		These are minerals known to be found with Uranophane-beta
    Locations:

    Somewhat rare

    Uranophane-beta Locations
    Notes:

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

    Crystals are probably metamict.