Vandenbrandeite

 IMA-GP
Uranium 5.3.2.1
(Dana Classification Number)
(Images) 4/H.04-10
(Strunz ID)

Property Data Remarks
Named for: Pierre van den Brande, Belgian geologist, discoverer of the Kalongwe, Congo (Zaïre), deposit
Alternate
    Name(s):
  • Uranolepidite
    		•   
    Mineral Class: Oxides & Hydroxides  
    Chemical
        Formula:    		 Cu(UO2)(OH)4  
    Chemical
        Composition:
    Copper: (Cu) 15.82%
    Hydrogen: (H) 1.00%
    Oxygen: (O) 23.90%
    Uranium: (U) 59.27%
    		by weight
    Molecular
        Weight:    		 401.60 daltons (amu)
    Specific
        Radioactivity:

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

    Specific Activity Dose Rate
    Becquerels Curies milliRems/hour microSieverts/hour
    1.06093 × 1005 2.87 × 10-06 1.43 143.10

    Estimated Average Annual Exposure: 360 mRem (3.6 milliSieverts)
    Crystalography:
    System: Triclinic - Pinacoidal
    Axial Ratios: a:b:c = 1.4448:1:1.1213
    Cell Dimensions: a = 7.86, b = 5.44, c = 6.1, Z = 2; alpha = 91.87°, beta = 102°, gamma = 89.92° V = 254.99 Den(Calc) = 5.23
    H-M Symbol: -1
    Space Group: P-1
    X Ray Diffraction: By Intensity(I/Io): 4.44(1) 5.26(0.9) 2.97(0.8)
    		Vandenbrandeite
    Crystal
    Habit:
  • Clusters of parallel crystals
  		•   
    Cleavage:
    [001]
    [010]
    [110] Perfect
    		 
    Fracture:    
    Moh's
        Hardness:    		 4  
    Density: 5.08 grams/cm3
    Color: Dark green, Black  
    Streak:    
    Luster: Vitreous  
    Diaphaneity: Transparent to Translucent  
    Pleochroism:
    (x):
    (y:)
    (z:)
    		 
    Ultra Violet
        Fluorescence:    		 None  
    Magnetism: Non-magnetic  
    Occurance:
  		•  
    Associated
        Minerals:

    Aragonite, Azurite, Barite, Becquerelite, Billietite, Bornite, Brochantite, Calcite, Carrollite, Chalcocite, Chalcopyrite, Chrysocolla, Cobaltoan Calcite, Copper, Covellite, Cuprite, Cuprosklodowskite, Curite, Dewindtite, Digenite, Francevillite, Goethite, Guilleminite, Ianthinite, Kasolite, Liebigite, Malachite, Masuyite, Metatorbernite, Metazeunerite, Mixite, Phosphuranylite, Pyrite, Rutherfordine, Saléeite, Schoepite, Sengierite, Sklodowskite, Soddyite, Studtite, Torbernite, Tyuyamunite, Umohoite, Urancalcarite, Uraninite, Uranophane, Uranophane-beta, Uranopilite, Vandendriesscheite, Wulfenite, Zeunerite, Zippeite

    Mineral   -   > 60% of sites
    Mineral   -   > 50% of sites
    Mineral   -   > 25% of sites
    Minerals   -   Uranium & Thorium
    mineral links

    		These are minerals known to be found with Vandenbrandeite
    Locations:

    Very rare

    Vandenbrandeite Locations
    Notes:

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

    Crystals are probably metamict

    Vandenbrandeite Images

    (001a) (001b) (001c) (001d)
      (001e)  
       
    Musonoi mine, Kolwezi, Shaba (Katanga), Congo (Zaïre)