May 7 2013
Curite is a lead uranium oxide mineral named after the physicists Pierre and Marie Curie known for their work on radioactivity.
Properties of Curite
The following are the key properties of Curite:
- Cell Data
- Space Group: Pnam
- a = 12.551(9)
- b = 13.003(20)
- c = 8.390(13)
- Z = 2
- Crystal Data
- Orthorhombic
- Point Group: 2/m 2/m 2/m
- Crystals long prismatic to acicular and striated || [001], with forms {100}, {110}, {111}; as porous aggregates of fine needles, fine-granular, as opaline crusts, and massive.
- X-ray Powder Pattern: 6.28 (10), 3.97 (9), 3.14 (8), 2.55 (6), 2.10 (5), 1.74 (5), 3.53 (4)
- Chemical Composition
| Elements |
Content 1 |
Content 2 |
Content 3 |
| UO3 |
74.22 |
76.49 |
74.63 |
| PbO |
21.32 |
21.08 |
21.84 |
| H2O |
3.51 |
2.43 |
3.53 |
| SiO2 |
- |
0.06 |
- |
| Fe2O3 |
0.17 |
- |
- |
| BaO |
- |
0.11 |
- |
| Total |
[99.22] |
100.17 |
100.00 |
- Optical Properties
- Optical Class: Biaxial (–)
- Pleochroism: X = pale yellow; Y = pale red-orange; Z = dark red-orange
- Orientation: X = b; Y = a; Z = c
- Dispersion: r > v, strong
- α = 2.05–2.06
- β= 2.07–2.11
- γ = 2.12–2.15
- 2V(meas.) = Large.
- Estimated Properties
| Electron density |
Bulk density (electron density)= 5.86 g/cm3
note: Specific gravity of Curite = 7.25 g/cm3 |
| Photoelectric |
PECurite = 2234.12 barns/electron
U= PECurite x ρElectron density= 13102.35 barns/cm3 |
| Fermion index |
Fermion index = 0.05
Boson index = 0.95 |
| Radioactivity |
Curite is radioactive |
How to Identify Curite
Curite can be identified in the field by its yellow, brownish yellow or reddish orange variations with an orange streak, adamantine luster and good cleavage. It has a transparent to translucent appearance. It fractures are brittle just like most of the non-metallic minerals and glasses. The mineral can be formed as massive needle-like crystals or crust-like aggregates. The density of curite is 7.19 g/cm3, and its relative hardness ranges from 4 to 5.
Global Distribution
Curite is distributed in the following places:
- Shinkolobwe, Katanga Province, Congo
- La Crouzille, Puy-de-Dome, France
- Menzenschwand, Black Forest, and Wolsendorf, Bavaria, Germany
- El Dorado mine, Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories
- Elliot Lake district and at Villeneuve, Quebec
- Nabarlek, Jabiru, and Koongarra deposits, Northern Territory, Australia
- Malakialina, Madagascar.
Occurrence of Curite and Useful Mineral Association
Curite occurs as a secondary mineral commonly found through alteration of uraninite. It is closely associated with sklodowskite, rutherfordine, torbernite, dewindtite, kasolite, soddyite, schoepite, vandendriesscheite and fourmarierite.
References