Vanuralite

 IMA-A
Uranium 42.11.13.1
(Dana Classification Number)
(Images) 7/E.11-10
(Strunz ID)
Unless sealed in glass, all specimens should be considered to have become Metavanuralite within a few months of being exposed to ambient air.

Property Data Remarks
Named for: Its Vanadium and Uranium content
Alternate
    Name(s):
  		•  
    Mineral Class: Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates
    - Uranylphosphates and uranylvanadates    - Tyuyamunite series    		  
    Chemical
        Formula:    		 Al(UO2)2(VO4)2(OH) · 11H2O  
    Chemical
        Composition:
    Aluminum: (Al) 2.67%
    Hydrogen: (H) 2.29%
    Oxygen: (O) 37.94%
    Uranium: (U) 47.04%
    Vanadium: (V) 10.07%
    		by weight
    Molecular
        Weight:    		 1,012.09 daltons (amu)
    Specific
        Radioactivity:

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

    Specific Activity Dose Rate
    Becquerels Curies milliRems/hour microSieverts/hour
    8.4196 × 1004 2.28 × 10-06 1.19 119.30

    Estimated Average Annual Exposure: 360 mRem (3.6 milliSieverts)
    Crystalography:
    System: Monoclinic - Prismatic
    Axial Ratios: a:b:c = 1.25:1:2.9052
    Cell Dimensions: a = 10.55, b = 8.44, c = 24.52, Z = 4; beta = 103o V = 2,127.35 Den(Calc) = 3.16
    H-M Symbol: 2/m
    Space Group: A2/a
    X Ray Diffraction: By Intensity(I/Io): 11.98(1) 5.98(0.9) 3.795(0.8)
    		Vanuralite
    Crystal
    (Proposed)
    Habit:
  • Microscopic, sugary appearing, crystals
  • Encrustations
  		•   
    Cleavage:
    [001] Perfect
    [010] .
    [100] .
    		 
    Fracture:    
    Moh's
        Hardness:    		 2  
    Density: 3.62 grams/cm3
    Color: Lemon yellow  
    Streak: Light yellow  
    Luster: Vitreous  
    Diaphaneity: Transparent  
    Pleochroism:
    (x):
    (y:)
    (z:)
    		 
    Ultra Violet
        Fluorescence:    		 None (Three Specimens Examined)
    Magnetism: Non-magnetic  
    Occurance:
  		•  
    Associated
        Minerals:    		 Bariandite, Barite, Carnotite, Chervetite, Coffinite, Curienite, Dewindtite, Duttonite, Francevillite, Karelianite, Kasolite, Lenoblite, Metavanuralite, Montroseite, Mounanaite, Nolanite, 'Pitchblende', Roscoelite, Schubnelite, Torbernite, Uraninite, Wulfenite  
    Locations:

    Extremely rare

    Vanuralite Locations
    Notes:

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

    Crystals are probably metamict.

    The two mines listed are the only known locations where this mineral has been found.

    Vanuralite Images

    (001)
    Mounana mine (Mouana), Franceville, Haut-Ogooué, Gabon
      (002a) (002b)  
     
    (w. Francevillite)
    (w. Francevillite)    		  
    Mounana mine (Mouana), Franceville, Haut-Ogooué, Gabon
    (003)

    (w. Francevillite & Uraninite)
    Mounana mine (Mouana), Franceville, Haut-Ogooué, Gabon