Autunite Mineral Data

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General Autunite Information

Chemical Formula:

Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2•10-12(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 986.26 gm

Calcium 4.06 % Ca 5.69 % CaO

Uranium 48.27 % U 54.76 % UO₂

Phosphorus 6.28 % P 14.39 % P₂O₅

Hydrogen 2.45 % H 21.92 % H₂O

Oxygen 38.93 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 96.76 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Ca(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂•12(H₂O)

Environment:

Secondary mineral associated with uraninite.

IMA Status:

Valid Species (Pre-IMA) 1852

Locality:

L'Ouche de Jau, St. Symphorien, and other places near Autun, Saone-et-Loire, France. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for the locality.

Name Pronunciation:

Autunite

Synonym:

Lime Uranite

Autunite Image

Images:

Autunite

Comments: Fluorescent, tabular to platy, yellow green autunite crystals on matrix.
Location: Margnac, Haute Vienne, France. Scale: 1 cm.
© John Veevaert

Images:

Autunite Meta-autunite

Comments: Corner of a meta-autunite crystal showing the dehydration of autunite (dark green) to meta-autunite (lighter yellowish green)..
Location: Daybreak Mine, Spokane County, Washington, U.S.A.. Scale: See Image.
© Paul M. Schumacher

Autunite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:2.95848

Cell Dimensions:

a = 7.009, c = 20.736, Z = 2; V = 1,018.68 Den(Calc)= 3.22

Crystal System:

Tetragonal - Ditetragonal DipyramidalH-M Symbol (4/m 2/m 2/m) Space Group: I 4/mmm

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 10.3(1), 4.96(0.8), 3.59(0.7),

Forms:

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Forms: ( 1 1 2) ( 1 1 0) ( 0 0 1)

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Crystal Structure:

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Locock A J , Burns P C , American Mineralogist , 88 (2003) p.240-244, The crystal structure of synthetic autunite, Ca[(UO2)(PO4)]2(H2O)11

Physical Properties of Autunite

Cleavage:

{001} Perfect, {100} Poor, {010} Poor

Color:

Yellow, Pale yellow, Lemon yellow, Greenish yellow, Pale green.

Density:

3.1 - 3.2, Average = 3.15

Diaphaneity:

Transparent to translucent

Fracture:

Uneven - Flat surfaces (not cleavage) fractured in an uneven pattern.

Habit:

Foliated - Two dimensional platy forms.

Habit:

Micaceous - Platy texture with "flexible" plates.

Habit:

Tabular - Form dimensions are thin in one direction.

Hardness:

2-2.5 - Gypsum-Finger Nail

Luminescence:

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

Luster:

Vitreous - Pearly

Streak:

pale yellow

Optical Properties of Autunite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.077 (Fair) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
CI calc= -0.053 (Good) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.1765,KPDmeas= 0.1804,KC= 0.1676
Ncalc = 1.52 - 1.54

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.553, b=1.575, g=1.577, bire=0.0240

Calculated Properties of Autunite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=2.94 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Autunite =3.22 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.0037207887
Boson Index = 0.9962792113

Photoelectric:

PE_Autunite=1,201.01 barns/electron
U=PE_Autunite x r_electron=3,529.03 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 3,754,512.44 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Concentration of Autunite per GRapi unit = 266.35 (PPB)

Autunite 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) 8.10 ± 2.03 grams of pure Autunite .
Estimated Maximum U.S. Postal Shipping Size (10 mRem/hr limit, Unshielded 100 cm box) 810.14 ±202.53 grams of pure Autunite .

**Estimated Radioactivity from Autunite** - 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 / 8.40 cm	86,401,548	2.34E-03	3,754,512.44	1,234.36
100 gm / 3.90 cm	8,640,155	2.34E-04	375,451.24	123.44
10 gm / 1.81 cm	864,015	2.34E-05	37,545.12	12.34
1 gm / 8.40 mm	86,402	2.34E-06	3,754.51	1.23
0.1 gm / 3.90 mm	8,640	2.34E-07	375.45	0.12
0.01 gm / 1.81 mm	864	2.34E-08	37.55	0.01
0.001 gm / 0.84 mm	86	2.34E-09	3.75	0.00

Weight of pure Autunite in grams (gm) and Calculated Diameter of a Sphere with a Density of 3.22 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

Autunite Classification

Dana Class:

40.02a.01.01 (40)Hydrated Phosphates, etc

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

(40.02a.01)Autunite Group

40.02a.01.01 Autunite Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2•10-12(H2O) I 4/mmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

40.02a.01.02 Meta-autunite Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2•2-6(H2O) P 4/nmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

40.02a.01.03 Pseudo-autunite* (H3O)4Ca2(UO2)2(PO4)4•5(H2O)(?) Unk Ortho

40.02a.01.04 Sodium meta-autunite! Na2(UO2)2(PO4)2•6-8(H2O) P 4/nmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

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 Autunite Information

References:

NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(Dana8) OPTIC PROP.(Ford32)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Autunite :
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 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
10 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
11 - MinDAT
12 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
13 - Online Mineral Museum
14 - Philatelic Mineralogy
15 - QUT Mineral Atlas
16 - Ruff.Info
17 - Uranium Minerals

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Ask about Autunite here :
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Rockhounds Discussion Group on Yahoo Groups
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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Autunite Specimen Label here :

Autunite

Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2•10-12(H2O)
Dana No: 40.02a.01.01 Strunz No: 08.EB.05
Locality:

Notes: