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Metatorbernite & Meta-autunite

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RSL532045

Metatorbernite & Meta-autunite

Ex-col. A. Pouget.
Radioactive

Description Tabs

Description
Locality: 
Margabal Mine, Entraygues-sur-Truyère, Aveyron, Occitanie, France
Class: 
Crystal Group/Cluster
Size Range: 
Miniature (4.5-7 cm)
Size: 
6.5 × 5.2 × 4.5 cm
Largest Crystal: 
0.50cm
Description

A very aesthetic specimen formed by a rich group of metatorbernite crystals. They present polysynthetic and echeloned growth of well-defined tetragonal crystals, with the characteristic green color. Under LW-UV we can observe the presence of a greenish-yellow intense fluorescence that indicates the presence of other species. SEM-EDS analysis have characterized this species as meta-autunite. We can say that the metatorbernite species is replacing the meta-autunite, as we can observe as a color gradation in some tabular crystals or in fresh fracture (we will send to the buyer detailed report). This specimen come from late 90's finds when were collected specimens exposed in École des Mines de Paris.

Both, meta-autunite and metatorbernite, are dehydrated phases of the autunite and torbernite. The loss of water molecules, those are present in the crystal structure of these species, is a common fact when the specimen is extracted from the mine.

Mineral Data
What's on the rock

Metatorbernite

Formula: 
Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2·8H2O
Strunz: 
8.EB.10
Hardness: 
2.5
Type Locality: 
Schneeberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany

Meta-autunite

Formula: 
Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2· 6-8H2O
Strunz: 
8.EB.10
Hardness: 
2.0 - 2.5
Type Locality: 
Daybreak Mine (Dahl lease; Huffman lease), Mount Kit Carson, Spokane Co., Washington, USA
Analysis
Analysis Report - only: Metatorbernite & Meta-autunite
Analysis Report - only: Metatorbernite & Meta-autunite