Vanmeersscheite Mineral Data

General Vanmeersscheite Information

Chemical Formula:

U++++++(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)6•4(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 1,412.16 gm

Uranium 67.42 % U 57.36 % UO₂ / 20.25 % UO₃

Phosphorus 4.39 % P 10.05 % P₂O₅

Hydrogen 1.00 % H 8.93 % H₂O

Oxygen 27.19 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 96.60 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

U(UO₂)₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₆•4(H₂O)

Environment:

In the oxidized zone of uranium-bearing mineral deposits.

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 1982

Locality:

Shinkolobwe, Congo. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for Adrien Vandendriessche (1914-1940), Belgian mineralogist and geologist, University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.

Name Pronunciation:

Vanmeersscheite + Pronunciation

Vanmeersscheite Image

Images:

Click Here for Larger Vanmeersscheite Image

Vanmeersscheite Metavanmeersscheite

Comments: Yellow coatings of vanmeersscheite on sandstone. Unless sealed in glass, all specimens should be considered to have become metavanmeersscheite.
Location: Cameron, Coconino Co., Arizona, USA. Scale: Sample Size 4 cm Glass Vial.
© Diederik Visser

Vanmeersscheite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =1.0178:1:0.419

Cell Dimensions:

a = 17.06, b = 16.76, c = 7.023, Z = 4; V = 2,008.06 Den(Calc)= 4.67

Crystal System:

Orthorhombic - PyramidalH-M Symbol (mm2) Space Group: P mn2₁

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 8.39(1), 5.96(0.8), 4.18(0.7),

Crystal Structure:

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Piret P , Deliens M , Bulletin de Mineralogie , 105 (1982) p.125-128, La vanmeerscheite U(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)6*4(H2O) et la, meta-vanmeerscheite U(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)6*2(H2O), nouveaux mineraux, Locality: Kobokobo pegmatite, Kivu, Zaire

Physical Properties of Vanmeersscheite

Cleavage:

{010} Good, {100} Indistinct

Color:

Canary yellow.

Density:

4.67

Habit:

Pseudo Hexagonal - Crystals show a hexagonal outline.

Hardness:

2-3 - Gypsum-Calcite

Streak:

light yellow

Optical Properties of Vanmeersscheite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.173 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.173 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.1525,KPDmeas= 0.1525,KC= 0.13
Ncalc = 1.61

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.704, b=1.715, g=1.718, bire=0.0140, 2V(Calc)=54, 2V(Meas)=56.

Pleochroism (x):

nearly colorless.

Pleochroism (y):

yellow orange or golden yellow.

Pleochroism (z):

yellow orange or golden yellow.

Calculated Properties of Vanmeersscheite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.99 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Vanmeersscheite =4.67 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.0049864482
Boson Index = 0.9950135518

Photoelectric:

PE_{Vanmeersscheite}=1,788.43 barns/electron
U=PE_{Vanmeersscheite} x r_electron=7,144.52 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 4,916,121.54 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Concentration of Vanmeersscheite per GRapi unit = 203.41 (PPB)

Vanmeersscheite 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) 6.19 ± 1.55 grams of pure Vanmeersscheite .
Estimated Maximum U.S. Postal Shipping Size (10 mRem/hr limit, Unshielded 100 cm box) 618.71 ±154.68 grams of pure Vanmeersscheite .

**Estimated Radioactivity from Vanmeersscheite** - 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 / 7.42 cm	120,686,541	3.26E-03	4,916,121.54	1,616.26
100 gm / 3.45 cm	12,068,654	3.26E-04	491,612.15	161.63
10 gm / 1.60 cm	1,206,865	3.26E-05	49,161.22	16.16
1 gm / 7.42 mm	120,687	3.26E-06	4,916.12	1.62
0.1 gm / 3.45 mm	12,069	3.26E-07	491.61	0.16
0.01 gm / 1.60 mm	1,207	3.26E-08	49.16	0.02
0.001 gm / 0.74 mm	121	3.26E-09	4.92	0.00

Weight of pure Vanmeersscheite in grams (gm) and Calculated Diameter of a Sphere with a Density of 4.67 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

Vanmeersscheite Classification

Dana Class:

42.07.14.01 (42)Hydrated Phosphates, etc., Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen

(42.07)where (AB)5 (XO4)3 Zq · x(H2O)

(42.07.14)Vanmeersscheite Group

42.07.14.01 Vanmeersscheite U(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)6•4(H2O) P mn2₁ mm2

42.07.14.02 Metavanmeersscheite U(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)6•2(H2O) F dd2 mm2

42.07.14.03 Arsenovanmeersscheite U(OH)4[(UO2)3(AsO4)2(OH)2]•4H2O P 2₁mn 2 2 2

Strunz Class:

08.EC.20 08 - PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES

08.E - Uranyl Phosphates and Arsenates

08.EC -UO2:RO4 = 3:2

08.EC.20 Metavanmeersscheite U(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)6•2(H2O) F dd2 mm2

08.EC.20 Vanmeersscheite U(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)6•4(H2O) P mn2₁ mm2

08.EC.20 Arsenovanmeersscheite U(OH)4[(UO2)3(AsO4)2(OH)2]•4H2O P 2₁mn 2 2 2

Other Vanmeersscheite 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 Vanmeersscheite :
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

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

Vanmeersscheite

U++++++(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)6•4(H2O)
Dana No: 42.07.14.01 Strunz No: 08.EC.20
Locality:

Notes: