Ulrichite Mineral Data

Ulrichite Mineral Data +

[Content and History] [Recent Issues] [Back Issues] [Subscriptions] [Contacts]
See Also: [Diamond Crystals] [Excalibur Minerals] [Hudson Institute] [Minerals on CDROM]
Mineral News was founded some twenty years ago and has developed a following of
avid mineral collectors seeking timely information about new finds and other items
of interest to the collector community. Articles are solicited from collector and scientific authors.

General Ulrichite Information

Chemical Formula:

CaCu(UO2)(PO4)2·4(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 635.66 gm

Calcium 6.30 % Ca 8.82 % CaO

Uranium 37.45 % U 42.48 % UO₂

Copper 10.00 % Cu 12.51 % CuO

Phosphorus 9.75 % P 22.33 % P₂O₅

Hydrogen 1.27 % H 11.34 % H₂O

Oxygen 35.24 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 97.48 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

CaCu(UO₂)(PO₄)₂·4(H₂O)

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 1988

Locality:

Lake Boga, Victoria, Australia. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for G.H.F. Ulrich.

Synonym:

ICSD 54139

PDF 46-1302

Ulrichite Image

Images:

Ulrichite

Comments: Green ulrichite microcrystal tuft on quartz.
Location: Lake Boga, Victoria, Australia. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Images:

Ulrichite

Comments: Green, acicular crystals of ulrichite on matrix. Co-type specimen (?) collected by the discoverer, Anthony Fraser.
Location: Lake Boga granite quarry, Lake Boga, Victoria, Australia. Scale: Picture size 2 mm.
© Paul M. Schumacher

Ulrichite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =1.8273:1:1.8592

Cell Dimensions:

a = 12.784, b = 6.996, c = 13.007, Z = 4; beta = 91.92° V = 1,162.65 Den(Calc)= 3.63

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - PrismaticH-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: C 2/m

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 6.389(1), 3.193(0.45), 2.879(0.2),

Crystal Structure:

Mouse
drag1 - LMB Manipulate Structure
drag2 - RMB Resize/Rotate
Keyboard
S - Stereo Pair on/off
H - Help Screen
I - Data Info
A - Atoms On/Off
P - Polyhedra On/Off
B - Bonds On/Off
Help on Above

Kolitsch U , Giester G , Mineralogical Magazine , 65 (2001) p.717-724, Revision of the crystal structure of ulrichite, CaCu2+(UO2)(PO4)2*4(H2O), Locality: Lake Boga, near Swan Hill, Victoria, Australia

Physical Properties of Ulrichite

Cleavage:

[???] Perfect

Color:

Green, Lime green.

Diaphaniety:

Transparent to Translucent

Habit:

Acicular - Occurs as needle-like crystals.

Habit:

Radial - Crystals radiate from a center without producing stellar forms (e.g. stibnite)

Hardness:

3.5 - Copper Penny

Luster:

Vitreous (Glassy)

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Ulrichite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI calc= -0.07 (Fair) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.173,KC= 0.1617

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.622, g=1.634, bire=0.0120

Calculated Properties of Ulrichite

Electron Density:

r_electron=3.32 gm/cc
note: r_Ulrichite=3.63 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00295
Boson Index = 0.99705

Photoelectric:

PE_Ulrichite= 933.86 barns/electron
U=PE_Ulrichite x r_electron=3,103.77 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 2,922,418.65 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Ulrichite 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) 10.41 ± 2.60 grams of pure Ulrichite .
Estimated Maximum U.S. Postal Shipping Size (10 mRem/hr limit, Unshielded 100 cm box) 1040.8 ±260.20 grams of pure Ulrichite .

**Estimated Radioactivity from Ulrichite** - very strong
Specimen Size Weight/Volume (Sphere) *	Calculated Activity Bequerols (Bq)	Calculated Activity Curies (Ci)	Estimated Activity GR(api)	Estimated Exposure (mRem**)/hr If Held in Hand For One Hour
1000 gm / 8.07 cm	67,028,698	1.81E-03	2,922,418.65	960.80
100 gm / 3.75 cm	6,702,870	1.81E-04	292,241.86	96.08
10 gm / 1.74 cm	670,287	1.81E-05	29,224.19	9.61
1 gm / 8.07 mm	67,029	1.81E-06	2,922.42	0.96
0.1 gm / 3.75 mm	6,703	1.81E-07	292.24	0.10
0.01 gm / 1.74 mm	670	1.81E-08	29.22	0.01
0.001 gm / 0.81 mm	67	1.81E-09	2.92	0.00

Weight of pure Ulrichite in grams (gm) and Calculated Diameter of a Sphere with a Density of 3.63 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

Ulrichite Classification

Dana Class:

40.2a.33.1 (40)Hydrated Phosphates, etc

(40.2a)where A++ (B++)2 (XO4) · x(H2O), containing (UO2)++

(40.2a.33)Dana Group

40.2a.33.1 Ulrichite CaCu(UO2)(PO4)2·4(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

Strunz Class:

VII/E.02-190 VII - Phosphates, Arsenates and Vanadates

VII/E - Uranylphosphates and uranylvanadates with [UO2]2+ - [PO4 | AsO4]3- and [UO2]2+ - [V2O8]6-

VII/E.02 - Meta-autunite group

VII/E.02-10 Metanovacekite Mg(UO2)2(AsO4)2·4-8(H2O) P 4/n 4/m

VII/E.02-20 Bassetite Fe(UO2)2(PO4)2·8(H2O) P 2₁/m 2/m

VII/E.02-30 Metakahlerite Fe(UO2)2(AsO4)2·8(H2O) P 4/mmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

VII/E.02-40 Lehnerite Mn[UO2/PO4]2·8(H2O) P 2₁/n 2/m

VII/E.02-50 Metakirchheimerite Co(UO2)2(AsO4)2·8(H2O) P 4/mmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

VII/E.02-60 Metatorbernite Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2·8(H2O) P 4/n 4/m

VII/E.02-70 Metazeunerite Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2·8(H2O) P 4/n 4/m

VII/E.02-80 Metalodevite Zn(UO2)2(AsO4)2·10(H2O) P 4₁/m 4/m

VII/E.02-90 Meta-autunite Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2·2-6(H2O) P 4/nmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

VII/E.02-95 Sodium meta-autunite! Na2(UO2)2(PO4)2·6-8(H2O) P 4/nmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

VII/E.02-100 Meta-uranospinite Ca(UO2)2(AsO4)2·8(H2O) P 4/nmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

VII/E.02-110 Meta-uranocircite Ba(UO2)2(PO4)2·6-8(H2O) P 2₁ 2

VII/E.02-120 Metaheinrichite Ba(UO2)2(AsO4)2·8(H2O) P 4₁/? 4/m

VII/E.02-130 Sodium-uranospinite (Na2,Ca)(UO2)2(AsO4)2·5(H2O) P 4/nmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

VII/E.02-140 Meta-ankoleite K2(UO2)2(PO4)2·6(H2O) P 4/nmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

VII/E.02-150 Abernathyite K(UO2)(AsO4)·4(H2O) P 4/ncc 4/m 2/m 2/m

VII/E.02-160 Uramphite (NH4)(UO2)(PO4)·3(H2O) P 4/nmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

VII/E.02-170 Chernikovite (H3O)2(UO2)2(PO4)2·6(H2O) P 4/nmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

VII/E.02-180 Pseudo-autunite* (H3O)4Ca2(UO2)2(PO4)4·5(H2O)(?) Unk Ortho

VII/E.02-190 Ulrichite CaCu(UO2)(PO4)2·4(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

Other Ulrichite Information

References:

PHYS. PROP.(Am.Min.,Vol.75,p243,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Am.Min.,Vol.75,p243,1990)

Search for Ulrichite using:

[ALTAVISTA] [AOL] [About.com] [All-The-Web] [HotBot] [Ixquick] [LookSmart] [MAMMA] [MSN.COM] [Netscape] [Teoma] [Wikipedia] [YAHOO]

Visit our Advertisers for Ulrichite :
AA Mineral Specimens
B and L Minerals
Crystal Vaults
Dan Weinrich Fine Minerals
Dan Weinrich Auctions
e-Rocks Auctions
Excalibur Minerals
Exceptional Minerals
Fabre Minerals
Greenside Minerals
John Betts Fine Minerals
Masons Minerals
Mineral News
Mineral of the Month Club
MineralsWeb Fine Minerals
Rockshop.cz Kalat Fine Minerals
T G Fine Minerals
Wrights Rock Shop

Translate Ulrichite Mineral Data :

Ask about Ulrichite here :
Ask-A-Mineralogist from the Mineralogical Society of America
Mindat.org's Discussion Groups
Original Rockhounds Discussion Group
Rockhounds Discussion Group on Yahoo Groups
Mineral Discussion Forum from Fabre Minerals - also available in Español

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

Ulrichite

CaCu(UO2)(PO4)2·4(H2O)
Dana No: 40.2a.33.1 Strunz No: VII/E.02-190
Locality:

Notes: