Cuprosklodowskite

Cuprosklodowskite
Cuprosklodowskite, Musonoi mine, Kolwezi, Lualaba District, Democratic Republic of the Congo {3.6 x 2.7 x 2.2 cm}
General
Category Uranium mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)		 Cu(UO2)2(HSiO4)2·6(H2O)
Strunz classification 9.AK.10
Crystal system Triclinic
Crystal class Pinacoidal (1)
(same H-M symbol)
Space group P1
Unit cell a = 7.052(5) Å,
b = 9.267(8) Å,
c = 6.655(5) Å;
α = 109.23°, β = 89.84°,
γ = 110.01°; Z = 1
Identification
Color Yellowish to grass-green
Crystal habit In radiating groups of acicular flattened or bladed needles or fibrous crusts
Cleavage On {100}
Fracture Uneven
Mohs scale hardness 4
Luster Dull to silky in aggregates
Streak Greenish yellow
Diaphaneity Transparent to translucent
Specific gravity 3.85
Optical properties Biaxial (-)
Refractive index nα = 1.654 - 1.655 nβ = 1.664 - 1.667 nγ = 1.664 - 1.667
Birefringence δ = 0.010 - 0.012
Pleochroism X = nearly colorless; Y = Z = yellowish green
Other characteristics Radioactive
References [1][2][3]

Cuprosklodowskite is a secondary uranium mineral formed by alteration of earlier uranium minerals. Its empirical formula is Cu(UO2)2(HSiO4)2·6(H2O).[2] Cuprosklodowskite is a nesosilicate mineral, It is grass green to dark green in color, and its crystal habit is typically acicular, flat bladed crystals. It is a strongly radioactive mineral.

Cuprosklodowskite was discovered in 1933 at the Kalongwe deposit in (then) Katanga province, Belgian Congo, the type locality. It was named in the mistaken belief that the mineral was the copper analogue of sklodowskite, which in turn was named for Marie Curie (née Maria Sklodowska) (1867–1934).

It occurs in association with becquerelite, brochantite, uranophane, kasolite, vandenbrandeite, liebigite and compreignacite.[1]

References

  1. 1 2 Handbook of Mineralogy
  2. 1 2 Mindat.org
  3. ↑ Webmineral data
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