Uranpyrochlore

 IMA-A 1977-SUB
Uranium 8.2.1.7
(Dana Classification Number)
(Images) 4/C.17-90
(Strunz ID)

Property Data Remarks
Named for: Its Uranium content and its belonging to the pyrochlore mineral group
Alternate
    Name(s):
  • Koppite
  • Ellsworthite
  • Hatchettolite
    		•   
    Mineral Class: Oxides & Hydroxides -
    - Pyrochlore group, Pyrochlore series with Nb > Ti    		  
    Chemical
        Formula:    		 (U,Ca,Ce)2(Nb,Ta)2O6(OH,F)  
    Chemical
        Composition:
    Calcium: (Ca) 5.18%
    Cerium: (Ce) 20.71%
    Fluorine: (F) 0.35%
    Hydrogen: (H) 0.17%
    Niobium: (Nb) 18.88%
    Oxygen: (O) 20.40%
    Tantalum: (Ta) 16.72%
    Uranium: (U) 17.59%
    		by weight
    Molecular
        Weight:    		 541.23 daltons (amu)
    Specific
        Radioactivity:

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

    Specific Activity Dose Rate
    Becquerels Curies milliRems/hour microSieverts/hour
    3.1953 × 1004 8.64 × 10-07 0.44 43.59

    Estimated Average Annual Exposure: 360 mRem (3.6 milliSieverts)
    Crystalography:
    System: Isometric - Hexoctahedral
    Axial Ratios: a = 10.44, Z = 8; V = 1,137.89 Den(Calc) = 6.32
    Cell Dimensions:
    H-M Symbol: 4/m -3 2/m
    Space Group: Fd3m
    X Ray Diffraction: By Intensity(I/Io): 3.01(1) 1.84(0.8) 1.575(0.6) 7.3(0.4) 2.61(0.3) 1.202(0.2) 1.168(0.2)
    		Uranpyrochlore
    Crystal
    [Observed]
    Habit:
  • Octahedral Crystals
  • Massive
    		•   
    Cleavage: None  
    Fracture: Brittle - conchoidal  
    Moh's
        Hardness:    		 4 - 5  
    Density: 4.5 - 4.8 grams/cm3
    Color: Red, Red-brown, Yellow-brown, Black  
    Streak: Brownish yellow  
    Luster: Adamantine - Resinous  
    Diaphaneity: Translucent to Opaque  
    Pleochroism:
    (x):
    (y:)
    (z:)
    		 
    Ultra Violet
        Fluorescence:    		 Non-fluorescent  
    Magnetism: Non-magnetic  
    Occurance:
  • Cemented calcareous tuffs associated with carbonates
  		•   
    Associated
        Minerals:

    Aegirine, Albite, 'Allanite', Allanite-(Ce), Anatase, 'Apatite', Augite, Baddeleyite, 'Barite', Beryl, Betafite, Biotite, Calcite, Chalcopyrite, 'Chlorite Group', Covellite, Diopside, Dolomite, Epidote, Fluorapatite, Fluorite, Forsterite, Galena, Goethite, Gypsum, Hematite, 'Hornblende', Ilmenite, Magnetite, Malachite, Microcline, Molybdenite, Monazite, Muscovite, Nepheline, 'Olivine', Perovskite, Phlogopite, Pyrite, Pyrochlore, Pyrrhotite, Quartz, Rhodochrosite, Spessartine, Sphalerite, Titanite, Tremolite, Wollastonite, Zircon, Zircon var: Cyrtolite

    Mineral   -   > 65% of sites
    Mineral   -   > 47% of sites
    Mineral   -   > 24% of sites
    Minerals   -   Uranium & Thorium
    mineral links

    		These are minerals known to be found with Uranpyrochlore
    Locations:

    Rare

    Uranpyrochlore Locations
    Notes:

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

    Uranpyrochlore Images

      (001a)  
     
    		 
      Kaiserstuhl, Baden-Württemberg, Germany
    (composite image of loose crystals)