Jun 11 2014
Calciouranoite was named after the elements in its composition - CALCIum and URANium.
Properties of Calciouranoite
The following are the key properties of calciouranoite:
- Crystal Data
- Point group: n.d
- Prismatic to acicular crystals, radial fibrous in spherulites
- X-ray powder pattern: 4.00, 3.406, 3.050, 2.68, 2.00
- Chemical Composition
| Elements |
Content 1 |
Content 2 |
Content 3 |
| UO3 |
68.02 |
71.78 |
63.23 |
| CaO |
5.86 |
6.77 |
14.90 |
| CO2 |
- |
- |
8.82 |
| H2O+ |
7.05 |
8.00 |
|
| H2O |
- |
- |
7.29 |
| K2O |
5.81 |
0.06 |
1.77 |
| H2O- |
5.31 |
3.03 |
- |
| SiO2 |
0.32 |
4.00 |
0.64 |
| BaO |
2.68 |
- |
- |
| PbO |
2.37 |
1.18 |
1.35 |
| SrO |
- |
- |
1.76 |
| Fe2O3 |
0.71 |
- |
0.10 |
| Al2O3 |
0.34 |
0.69 |
0.20 |
| As2O5 |
0.63 |
- |
- |
| Na2O |
0.60 |
- |
0.16 |
| Total |
99.70 |
[95.51] |
100.22 |
- Optical Properties
- Optical class: Biaxial (-)
- Pleochroism: Strong; X = Y = deep lemon-yellow; Z = pale yellow to almost colorless
- Absorption: X = Y > Z
- α = 1.76; β = 1.84; γ = 1.87
- 2V(meas.) = n.d
- Estimated Properties
| Electron density |
Bulk density (electron density) = 4.00 g/cm3
note: Specific gravity of calciouranoite = 4.62 g/cm3 |
| Photoelectric |
PECalciouranoite = 0.01 barns/electron
U = PECalciouranoite x ρ electron density = 0.99 barns/cm3 |
| Fermion index |
Fermion index = 1,651.81
Boson index = 6,610.77 |
Radioactivity
|
Calciouranoite is radioactive
|
How to Identify Calciouranoite
Calciouranoite can be identified in the field by its color variations, such as brown, orange, orange-brown, and red-orange. Its translucent form has {hk0} distinct and {hk0} distinct cleavage. This mineral has a greasy luster.
The density of calciouranoite is 4.62 g/cm3, with a hardness of 4 – approximate to fluorite.
Global Distribution
Calciouranoite is distributed in the following places:
- Russia - From the Oktyabr’skoye U–Mo deposit, 12km south-east of Krasnokamensk, eastern Transbaikal
- China - Guangdong Province, Shaoguan Prefecture, Wengyuan Co. Xiazhuang Uranium ore field (Xiwang Uranium ore field)
- Tajikistan - Viloyati Sogd (Viloyati Sughd; Viloyati Khodzhent; Viloyati Leninabad), Khodzhent (Leninabad), Kyzyltyube-Sai, Oktyabr'skoye U Deposit
Occurrence of Acanthite and Useful Mineral Association
Calciouranoite occurs in stringers in felsite, deep in the oxidation zone of a U–Mo deposit, in water-saturated ore-bearing faults.
It is often associated with minerals such as calcite, uranophane, bauranoite, metacalciouranoite, and protasite.
References