Uranophane

 IMA-GP
Uranium 53.3.1.2
(Dana Classification Number)
(Images) 8/B.34-40
(Strunz ID)

Property Data Remarks
Named for: its Uranium content, and the Greek word phanos - "to appear"
Alternate
    Name(s):
  • Uranotile
    		•   
    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)2Si2O7 · 6H2O  
    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- Sphenoidal
    Axial Ratios: a:b:c = 2.251:1:0.9446
    Cell Dimensions: a = 15.87, b = 7.05, c = 6.66, Z = 3; beta = 97.25° V = 739.19 Den(Calc) = 3.95
    H-M Symbol: 2
    Space Group: P21
    X Ray Diffraction: By Intensity(I/Io): 7.88(1) 3.94(0.9) 2.99(0.8)
    		 
    Habit:
  • Fibrous or acicular tufts (typical).
  • Radial aggregates.
  • Crusts.
  • Earthy
  • Massive
  		•   
    Cleavage:
    [001]
    [010]
    [100] Perfect
    		 
    Fracture: Uneven  
    Moh's
        Hardness:    		 2 - 2.5 - 3  
    Density: 3.9 grams/cm3
    Color: Butter yellow to bright Lemon yellow (typical)
    Also Yellow brown, Yellow green, Yellow orange, Amber to Brown    		  
    Streak: Pale yellow to yellowish white  
    Luster: Vitreous to Silky  
    Diaphaneity: Translucent to Subtranslucent  
    Pleochroism:
    (x): None
    (y:) None
    (z:) None
    		 
    Ultra Violet
        Fluorescence:
    Long Wave: None or weakly greenish-yellow
    Short Wave: None or weakly greenish-yellow
    		 
    Magnetism: Non-magnetic  
    Occurance:
  • Alteration product of gummite
  		•   
    Associated
        Minerals:    		 Uraninite, Torbernite, Autunite, Zeunerite, Sklodowskite, Cuprosklodowskite and other uranium ore oxidation zone minerals.  
    Locations: One of the more common Uranium minerals

    Uranophane Locations
    Notes:

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

    Closely related to Sklodowskite and Cuprosklodowskite, but somewhat more common.

    Uranophane Images

    Specimen #1
       
    Faraday Mine, Bancroft, Ontario, Canada
    (all of the above)


    Specimen Notes

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Specimen #2
    (002a)
    (w. Uraninite [center] &
    Metatyuyamunite [lower right corner])
    Mashamba West Mine, Kolwezi, Shaba (Katanga), Congo (Zaïre)      


    Specimen Notes

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Specimen #3
    (003a) (003b) (Uraninite-003a) (Uraninite-003c)

     
    (Uraninite-003d)
    (w. Uraninite & Fluorite)
    Teofilo Otoni, Minas Gerais, Brazil


    Specimen Notes

     

     

     

     

     

     

    Specimen #4
      (001c) (001e)
    Shinkolobwe mine (Kasolo mine), Kolwezi, Shaba (Katanga), Congo (Zaïre)
    (w. Becquerelite - see the Becquerelite notes on this specimen)


    Specimen Notes

    See the Becquerelite Specimen Notes on this specimen.

    Specimen #5
    (005a) (005b) (005c) (005d)

     
    (005e) (005f)
    (005g) (005h) (005i)

     
     


    Specimen Notes

    Host Rock - The host rock appears to be loosely compacted volcanic ash. It contains a very large number of interconnected vugs throughout its mass, indicating it may have been originally formed from a pyroclastic flow. The upper left corner of image 001h shows how the host rock is composed of a fused compacted mass of solid grains and particles. This is also in agreement with the belief of the host rock's pyroclastic flow origins.

    There are several large masses of more solid rock embedded in the host. Images 001g, 001h and 001i are of these solid masses. Close examination of image oo1h shows it to have small deposits of uranophane growing within small pockets in its mass, there are few such voids. It appears to consist of massive silica possibly containing Hetrogenite rich grains. These solid grains appear to have been formed at high temperature, fusing them into void-free masses.