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Saleeite

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Saleeite
General
CategoryPhosphate minerals
Formula
(repeating unit)
Mg(UO2)2(PO4)2·10(H2O)
Strunz classification08.EB.05
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Space groupMonoclinic 2/m
Unit cella = 6.951(3) Å, b = 19.947(8) Å, c = 9.896(4) Å, β = 135.17(2)°; Z = 2
Identification
ColorLemon-yellow, straw-yellow, greenish yellow
Crystal habitCrystals are square plates, composite, flattened on {001}, with {001}, {100}, {120}, {012} (pseudotetragonal indices), to 2.5 cm; commonly in subparallel lamellar aggregates.
CleavageOn {001}, perfect; on {010}, {110}, indistinct
LusterAdamantine to waxy
DiaphaneityTransparent to opaque
Specific gravity3.27
Optical propertiesBiaxial (−) typically nearly uniaxial
Refractive indexnα = 1.554 – 1.559 nβ = 1.570 – 1.582 nγ = 1.571 – 1.585
Birefringenceδ = 0.027
PleochroismX = colorless; Z = pale greenish yellow
2V angle2V(meas.) = 0–61°
Ultraviolet fluorescenceFluoresces bright lemon-yellow under LW UV, pale yellow under SW UV
Other characteristics Radioactive
References[1][2][3][4]

Saleeite is a secondary uranium mineral occurring in the oxidized zones of uranium deposits, or as disseminations in carnotite-bearing sandstones. Its chemical formula is Mg(UO2)2(PO4)2·10(H2O).

It was discovered in 1932 at Shinkolobwe, Katanga Province, Democratic Republic of the Congo, and is named for Belgian mineralogist Achille Salée (1883–1932), Professor at Université catholique de Louvain, Belgium. It was later determined that the Katanga mineral was meta-saleeite Mg(UO2)2(PO4)2·8(H2O) and the type locality was assigned to the Weißer Hirsch Mine, Neustädtel, Schneeberg District, Ore Mountains, Saxony, Germany.[5][2]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ [1] Handbook of Mineralogy
  2. ^ a b [2] Mindat.org
  3. ^ [3] Saleeite Mineral Data
  4. ^ [4] Uranium Minerals
  5. ^ Mrose, Mary E. (1950) American Mineralogist: 35: 525 [5]