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 % P2 O5
Hydrogen 1.00 % H 8.93 % H2 O
Oxygen 27.19 % O
______ ______
100.00 % 96.60 % = TOTAL OXIDE
Empirical Formula:
U(UO2 )3 (PO4 )2 (OH)6 •4(H2 O)
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:
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 - Pyramidal H-M Symbol (mm2) Space Group: P mn21
X Ray Diffraction:
By Intensity(I/Io ): 8.39(1), 5.96(0.8), 4.18(0.7),
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:
PEVanmeersscheite =1,788.43 barns/electronU=PEVanmeersscheite 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 Bequerols (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 21 mn 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 21 mn 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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Vanmeersscheite
U++++++(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)6•4(H2O)
Dana No: 42.07.14.01 Strunz No: 08.EC.20
Locality:
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