Abernathyite Mineral Data

General Abernathyite Information

Chemical Formula:

K(UO2)(AsO4)•4(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 520.11 gm

Potassium 7.52 % K 9.06 % K₂O

Uranium 45.77 % U 51.92 % UO₂

Arsenic 14.41 % As 22.10 % As₂O₅

Hydrogen 1.55 % H 13.86 % H₂O

Oxygen 30.76 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 96.92 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

K(UO₂)(AsO₄)•4(H₂O)

Environment:

Rare secondary mineral coating fractures in bleached asphaltic sandstone hosting a Colorado Plateau-type uranium deposit.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1956

Locality:

Fuemrol No. 2 mine, Temple Mountain, Emery County, USA. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for Jess Abernathy, Moab, Utah, mine owner who found the first specimens.

Name Pronunciation:

Abernathyite + Pronunciation

Synonym:

ICSD 15481

PDF 16-386

Abernathyite Image

Images:

Abernathyite

Comments: Clear, yellow, crystalline abernathyite crystal group.
Location: Temple Mountain, Every County, Utah, USA. Scale: Size Not Given.
© Lou Perloff / Photo Atlas of Minerals

Abernathyite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:1.26638

Cell Dimensions:

a = 7.17, c = 9.08, Z = 2; V = 466.79 Den(Calc)= 3.70

Crystal System:

Tetragonal - Ditetragonal DipyramidalH-M Symbol (4/m 2/m 2/m) Space Group: P 4/ncc

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 9.14(1), 3.34(0.8), 3.84(0.8),

Crystal Structure:

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Ross M , Evans H T , American Mineralogist , 49 (1964) p.1578-1602, Studies of the torbernite minerals (I): The crystal structure of abernathyite, and the structurally related compounds NH4(UO2AsO4).3H2O and K(H3O)(UO2AsO4)2.6H2O

View Additional jPOWD Structure files for Abernathyite
[1] [2]

Physical Properties of Abernathyite

Cleavage:

{001} Perfect

Color:

Yellow.

Density:

3.31 - 3.57, Average = 3.44

Diaphaneity:

Transparent

Fracture:

Brittle - Generally displayed by glasses and most non-metallic minerals.

Habit:

Tabular - Form dimensions are thin in one direction.

Hardness:

2-3 - Gypsum-Calcite

Luminescence:

Fluorescent, Short UV=yellow green, Long UV=yellow green.

Luster:

Vitreous (Glassy)

Streak:

yellow

Optical Properties of Abernathyite

Dichroism (e):

pale yellow.

Dichroism (w):

yellow.

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.112 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.034 (Excellent) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.1577,KPDmeas= 0.1696,KC= 0.1526
Ncalc = 1.51 - 1.56

Optical Data:

Uniaxial (-), e=1.57, w=1.597, bire=0.0270.

Calculated Properties of Abernathyite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.30 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Abernathyite =3.70 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.003454114
Boson Index = 0.996545886

Photoelectric:

PE_Abernathyite=1,175.18 barns/electron
U=PE_Abernathyite x r_electron=3,879.12 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 3,480,240.22 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Concentration of Abernathyite per GRapi unit = 287.34 (PPB)

Abernathyite is Radioactive as defined in 49 CFR 173.403. Greater than 70 Bq / gram.

Estimated Maximum U.S. Postal Shipping Size (10 mRem/hr limit, Unshielded 10 cm box) 8.74 ± 2.18 grams of pure Abernathyite .
Estimated Maximum U.S. Postal Shipping Size (10 mRem/hr limit, Unshielded 100 cm box) 873.98 ±218.50 grams of pure Abernathyite .

**Estimated Radioactivity from Abernathyite** - very strong
Specimen Size Weight/Volume (Sphere) *	Calculated Activity Becquerels (Bq)	Calculated Activity Curies (Ci)	Estimated Activity GR(api)	Estimated Exposure (mRem**)/hr If Held in Hand For One Hour
1000 gm / 8.02 cm	81,922,400	2.21E-03	3,480,240.22	1,144.19
100 gm / 3.72 cm	8,192,240	2.21E-04	348,024.02	114.42
10 gm / 1.73 cm	819,224	2.21E-05	34,802.40	11.44
1 gm / 8.02 mm	81,922	2.21E-06	3,480.24	1.14
0.1 gm / 3.72 mm	8,192	2.21E-07	348.02	0.11
0.01 gm / 1.73 mm	819	2.21E-08	34.80	0.01
0.001 gm / 0.80 mm	82	2.21E-09	3.48	0.00

Weight of pure Abernathyite in grams (gm) and Calculated Diameter of a Sphere with a Density of 3.70 gm/cc.*
Goverment Estimate of Average Annual Exposure ( 360 mRem) **
Note: 10 microsieverts/hr = 1 mRem/hr **
Max Permissable Adult Dose 50,000 mRem/yr (hands), 15,000 mRem/yr (eyes)
Lethal Dose LD(50) Exposure 400,000 to 500,000 mRem

Abernathyite Classification

Dana Class:

40.02a.09.01 (40)Hydrated Phosphates, etc

(40.02a)where A++ (B++)2 (XO4) · x(H2O), containing (UO2)++

(40.02a.09)Dana Group

40.02a.09.01 Abernathyite K(UO2)(AsO4)•4(H2O) P 4/ncc 4/m 2/m 2/m

Strunz Class:

08.EB.15 08 - PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES

08.E - Uranyl Phosphates and Arsenates

08.EB -UO2:RO4 = 1:1

08.EB.15 Abernathyite K(UO2)(AsO4)•4(H2O) P 4/ncc 4/m 2/m 2/m

08.EB.15 Chernikovite (H3O)2(UO2)2(PO4)2•6(H2O) P 4/nmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

08.EB.15 Meta-ankoleite K2(UO2)2(PO4)2•6(H2O) P 4/nmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

08.EB.15 Natrouranospinite (Na2,Ca)(UO2)2(AsO4)2•5(H2O) P 4/nmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

08.EB.15 Uramphite (NH4)(UO2)(PO4)•3(H2O) P 4/nmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

08.EB.15 Trogerite H2(UO2)2(AsO4)2•8(H2O) P 4/mmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

08.EB.15 Uramarsite! (NH4,H3O)2(UO2)2(AsO4,PO4)2•6H2O P 4/mmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

Other Abernathyite Information

References:

NAME( AntBidBlaNic4) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Abernathyite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - EUROmin Project
4 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
5 - GeoScienceWorld
6 - Google Images
7 - Google Scholar
8 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
10 - MinDAT
11 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
12 - Online Mineral Museum
13 - QUT Mineral Atlas
14 - Ruff.Info
15 - Uranium Minerals
16 - WWW-MINCRYST

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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Abernathyite Specimen Label here :

Abernathyite

K(UO2)(AsO4)•4(H2O)
Dana No: 40.02a.09.01 Strunz No: 08.EB.15
Locality:

Notes: