Uranocircite Mineral Data

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General Uranocircite Information

Chemical Formula:

Ba(UO2)2(PO4)2•12(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 1,083.51 gm

Barium 12.67 % Ba 14.15 % BaO

Uranium 43.94 % U 49.84 % UO₂

Phosphorus 5.72 % P 13.10 % P₂O₅

Hydrogen 2.23 % H 19.95 % H₂O

Oxygen 35.44 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 97.05 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Ba(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂•12(H₂O)

Environment:

Secondary mineral in quartz veins with other secondary uranium minerals. Dehydrates rapidly to meta-uranocircite.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1877

Locality:

Bergen, near Falkenstein in Voigtland, Saxony, Germany. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for the composition and from the Greek for "falcon" because it was discovered in Falkenstein, Germany.

Name Pronunciation:

Uranocircite + Pronunciation

Uranocircite Image

Images:

Click Here for Larger Uranocircite Image

Uranocircite Metauranocircite

Comments: Brilliant, fluorescent yellow green crystals of uranocircite altered to meta-uranocircite.
Location: Bergen, Vogtland, Saxony, Germany. Scale: 2.3 x 2.2 cm.
© John Veevaert

Images:

Uranocircite Phosphuranylite

Comments: Yellow, waxy phosphuranylite with green uranocircite in matrix.
Location: Bergen, Falkenstein, Vogtland, Saxony, Germany. Scale: Picture size 0.5 cm.
© Paul M. Schumacher

Images:

Uranocircite Metauranocircite

Comments: Crystal fragment of uranocircite fracturing due to dehydration to meta-uranocircite. The most common are 100 and 010 fractures, with 110 close behind. But notice the 210 and 410 fractures (breaks) as well.
Location: . Scale: Crystal size 2x3.5 cm.
© Paul M. Schumacher

Images:

Uranocircite

Comments: Yellowish green square, foliated uranocircite crystal.
Location: Bergen, Falkenstein, Vogtland, Saxony, Germany. Scale: Crystal size 1.3 cm.
© Tom Loomis / Dakota Matrix

Uranocircite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:2.91868

Cell Dimensions:

a = 7.01, c = 20.46, Z = 2; V = 1,005.41 Den(Calc)= 3.58

Crystal System:

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

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 2.04(1), 5.1(1), 10.1(0.6),

Physical Properties of Uranocircite

Cleavage:

{001} Perfect, {100} Distinct

Color:

Yellow, Yellow green.

Density:

3.46

Diaphaneity:

Transparent

Fracture:

Flexible - Flexible fragments.

Habit:

Foliated - Two dimensional platy forms.

Habit:

Tabular - Form dimensions are thin in one direction.

Hardness:

2-2.5 - Gypsum-Finger Nail

Luminescence:

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

Luster:

Pearly

Streak:

light yellow

Optical Properties of Uranocircite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.052 (Good) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.017 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.1625,KPDmeas= 0.1681,KC= 0.1598
Ncalc = 1.55 - 1.57

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.574, b=1.583, g=1.588, bire=0.0140, 2V(Calc)=72, 2V(Meas)=70.

Pleochroism (x):

colorless.

Pleochroism (y):

pale canary yellow.

Pleochroism (z):

pale canary yellow.

Calculated Properties of Uranocircite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.21 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Uranocircite =3.58 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.02
Boson Index = 0.98

Photoelectric:

PE_Uranocircite=1,168.17 barns/electron
U=PE_Uranocircite x r_electron=3,751.66 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 3,359,657.88 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Concentration of Uranocircite per GRapi unit = 297.65 (PPB)

Uranocircite 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) 9.05 ± 2.26 grams of pure Uranocircite .
Estimated Maximum U.S. Postal Shipping Size (10 mRem/hr limit, Unshielded 100 cm box) 905.35 ±226.34 grams of pure Uranocircite .

**Estimated Radioactivity from Uranocircite** - 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 / 8.11 cm	78,646,681	2.13E-03	3,359,657.88	1,104.55
100 gm / 3.76 cm	7,864,668	2.13E-04	335,965.79	110.45
10 gm / 1.75 cm	786,467	2.13E-05	33,596.58	11.05
1 gm / 8.11 mm	78,647	2.13E-06	3,359.66	1.10
0.1 gm / 3.76 mm	7,865	2.13E-07	335.97	0.11
0.01 gm / 1.75 mm	786	2.13E-08	33.60	0.01
0.001 gm / 0.81 mm	79	2.13E-09	3.36	0.00

Weight of pure Uranocircite in grams (gm) and Calculated Diameter of a Sphere with a Density of 3.58 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

Uranocircite Classification

Dana Class:

40.02a.03.01 (40)Hydrated Phosphates, etc

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

(40.02a.03)Dana Group

40.02a.03.01 Uranocircite Ba(UO2)2(PO4)2•12(H2O) P 4/nnc 4/m 2/m 2/m

40.02a.03.02 Metauranocircite Ba(UO2)2(PO4)2•6-8(H2O) P 2₁ 2

Strunz Class:

08.EB.05 08 - PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES

08.E - Uranyl Phosphates and Arsenates

08.EB -UO2:RO4 = 1:1

08.EB.05 Autunite Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2•10-12(H2O) I 4/mmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

08.EB.05 Heinrichite Ba(UO2)2(AsO4)2•10-12(H2O) P 2/c 2/m

08.EB.05 Kahlerite Fe(UO2)2(AsO4)2•10-12(H2O) P 4₁/n 4/m

08.EB.05 Uranocircite Ba(UO2)2(PO4)2•12(H2O) P 4/nnc 4/m 2/m 2/m

08.EB.05 Novacekite Mg(UO2)2(AsO4)2•12(H2O) P 4₁/n 4/m

08.EB.05 Saleeite Mg(UO2)2(PO4)2•10(H2O) I 4/mmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

08.EB.05 Xiangjiangite (Fe,Al)(UO2)4(PO4)2(SO4)2(OH)•22(H2O) C 2/c or Cc Mono

08.EB.05 Torbernite Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2•8-12(H2O) I 4/mmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

08.EB.05 Uranospinite Ca(UO2)2(AsO4)2•10(H2O) P nma 2/m 2/m 2/m

08.EB.05 Zeunerite Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2•10-16(H2O) P 4/nnc 4/m 2/m 2/m

08.EB.05 Metarauchite! Ni(UO2)2(AsO4)2•8H2O P1 1

Other Uranocircite Information

References:

NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Dana8)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Uranocircite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Amethyst Galleries' Mineral Gallery
3 - Athena
4 - EUROmin Project
5 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
6 - GeoScienceWorld
7 - Google Images
8 - Google Scholar
9 - MinDAT
10 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
11 - Online Mineral Museum
12 - QUT Mineral Atlas
13 - Ruff.Info
14 - Uranium Minerals

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

Uranocircite

Ba(UO2)2(PO4)2•12(H2O)
Dana No: 40.02a.03.01 Strunz No: 08.EB.05
Locality:

Notes: