Rameauite

(repeating unit)K2Ca(UO2)6(OH)16·H2O or K2CaU6+6O20·9H2OIMA symbolRme[1]Strunz classification4.GB.05Crystal systemMonoclinicCrystal classPrismatic (2/m)
(same H-M symbol)Space groupC2/cUnit cella= 13.97 Å, b= 14.26 Å
c= 14.22 Å, β = 121.02°: Z = 4IdentificationFormula mass2,028.57 g/molColorOrangeCrystal habitPrismatic and/or can consist of a hexagonal outlineTwinningOn {100}CleavageGood cleavageDiaphaneitySemitransparentDensity5.6Optical propertiesBiaxial NegativeRefractive indexa= n.d. β= 1.95 γ= 1.972V angle32° (meas.)Other characteristics RadioactiveReferences[2][3][4]

Rameauite is a hydrated complex uranyl oxide mineral with formula K2Ca(UO2)6(OH)16·H2O[5] or K2CaU6+6O20·9H2O.[4]

Crystallography

Rameauite has four observed forms which are {010}, {100}, {001} and {110}. The angles between these faces are {100}^{001} = 58°40' and {010}^{110} = 49° 50'. The crystals are always twinned on {100} and they are flattened parallel to {010}, and elongated parallel to {001}. The mineral rameauite is an example of a monoclinic mineral and appears pseudo-hexagonal. I has unit cell dimensions of: a= 13.97, b= 14.26, c= 14.22 with β = 121.02°.[4][6]

Occurrence

It was first described in 1972 for an occurrence in the Margnac Mine, Compreignac, Haute-Vienne, Limousin, France and named after Jacques Rameau (1926–1960), French prospector at the "Commissariat à l'Energie Atomique", who discovered the deposit where the mineral occurs.[4][5] In addition to the type locality in France it has been reported from the Orphan Mine on the south rim of the Grand Canyon in Arizona and on Rhyolite Ridge, Esmeralda County, Nevada.[5]

References

  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ "Rameauite Mineral Data".
  3. ^ "ATHENA - Pierre Perroud".
  4. ^ a b c d Handbook of Mineralogy
  5. ^ a b c Mindat.org
  6. ^ Cesbron, F., W.L. Brown, P. Bariand, and J. Geffroy (1972) Rameauite and agrinierite, two new hydrated complex uranyl oxides from Margnac, France. Mineralogical Magazine, 38, 781–789.