Zellerite

 IMA-A 1965-031
Uranium 15.3.1.1
(Dana Classification Number)
(No Images) 5/F.02-60
(Strunz ID)
Unless sealed in glass, all specimens should be considered to have become Metazellerite within a few months of being exposed to ambient air.

Property Data Remarks
Named for: Howard D. Zeller (1922-), U. S. Geological Survey, first found Zellerite
Alternate
    Name(s):
  		•  
    Mineral Class:
    Nitrates, Carbonates and Borates
      Uranylcarbonates ([UO2]+2 - [CO3]-2)
        Grimselite - Liebigite series
    		 
    Chemical
        Formula:    		 Ca(UO2)(CO3)2 · 5H2O  
    Chemical
        Composition:
    Carbon: (C) 4.62%
    Calcium: (Ca) 7.70%
    Hydrogen: (H) 1.94%
    Oxygen: (O) 39.98%
    Uranium: (U) 45.76%
    		by weight
    Molecular
        Weight:    		 520.20 daltons (amu)
    Specific
        Radioactivity:

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

    Specific Activity Dose Rate
    Becquerels Curies milliRems/hour microSieverts/hour
    8.1905 × 1004 2.21 × 10-06 1.17 117.33

    Estimated Average Annual Exposure: 360 mRem (3.6 milliSieverts)
    Crystalography:
    System: Orthorhombic
    Axial Ratios: a:b:c = 0.5827:1:0.2562
    Cell Dimensions: a = 11.22, b = 19.252, c = 4.933, Z = 4; V = 1,065.56 Den(Calc) = 3.24
    H-M Symbol:
    Space Group: Pbnm, Pbn21
    X Ray Diffraction: By Intensity(I/Io): 9.66(1) 4.85(0.5) 5.59(0.35)
    		 
    Habit:
  • Acicular
  		•   
    Cleavage: None to [???] Good  
    Fracture:    
    Moh's
        Hardness:    		 2  
    Density: 3.25 grams/cm3
    Color: Lemon yellow to yellow  
    Streak: White  
    Luster: Earthy  
    Diaphaneity: Translucent  
    Pleochroism:
    (x): Colorless
    (y:) Colorless
    (z:) Light yellow
    		 
    Ultra Violet
        Fluorescence:    		 Weakly Fluorescent
    Long Wave:
    Short Wave:
    		 
    Magnetism: Non-magnetic  
    Occurance:
  • Sediment-hosted uranium deposits
  		•   
    Associated
        Minerals:

    Aragonite, Autunite, Barite, Calcite, Cerussite, Chalcopyrite, Copper, Dolomite, Galena, Gypsum, Jarosite, Johannite, Liebigite, Malachite, Marcasite, Masuyite, Metatorbernite, Metazellerite, Novácekite, Pyrite, Quartz, Rabejacite, Schopeite, Schröckingerite, Sodium-Zippeite, Sphalerite, Tetrahedrite, Uraninite, Uranophane-beta, Uranopilite, Wurtzite, Zeunerite, Zippeite

    Mineral   -   > 85% of sites
    Mineral   -   > 50% of sites
    Minerals   -   Uranium & Thorium
    mineral links

    		These are minerals known to be found with Zellerite
    Locations:

    Very rare

    Zellerite Locations
    Notes:

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

    Crystals are probably metamic.

    Subject to conversion to the meta- form by the loss of water.