What is torbernite used for?
Torbernite is a copper phosphate mineral that contains uranium, making it somewhat radioactive. Although it can be used as a uranium ore, it’s more valued as a collectors mineral. It can be used as a good indicator of uranium deposits, however.
What are characteristics of torbernite?
As a radioactive mineral, torbernite has some limited significance as a uranium ore. Its vibrant green color and well-developed distinctive crystals (size: mm to a few cm) make it a sought-after collector’s mineral, as well.
Where is Autunite found?
Mineralpedia Details for Autunite It is a widespread mineral that can be found as excellent specimens in France, Portugal, Italy, Germany, England, the United States, Brazil, and Australia, among several other localities. Autunite is highly radioactive and will fluoresce a yellow-green under ultraviolet light.
How is Tobernite formed?
The structure of torbernite is composed of phosphate tetrahedrons linked to uranium-oxygen groups that form distorted octahedrons. The phosphates and uranium groups lie in sheets that are weakly held together by water molecules. The change to meta-torbernite will often produce a pseudomorph.
Is Torbernite safe?
Torbernite is a dangerous mineral composed of hydrated green copper, phosphate, and uranyl. The mineral releases radon naturally and can cause lung cancer if exposure is long enough.
Where is Torbernite found?
Torbernite is occasionally found as a coating on the walls of crevices in rocks. It occurs in Cornwall, England; at Scheeberg, Germany; at Joachimsthal, in the Czech Republic, and at many other places where other uranium minerals exist.
Where is torbernite found?
Is torbernite safe?
What type of rock is autunite?
| Autunite | |
|---|---|
| Category | Phosphate minerals |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2·10–12H2O |
| Strunz classification | 8.EB.05 |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
What is autunite made of?
autunite, phosphate mineral, hydrated calcium and uranium phosphate [Ca(UO2)2 (PO4)2·10–12H2O], that is an ore of uranium. It forms translucent to transparent, yellow to pale-green crystals, scaly masses, or crusts in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites, where it occurs as an alteration product of uraninite.
What does Chalcanthite look like?
The name Chalcanthite is from the Greek word chalkos and anthos, which means copper flower. It describes the curved and flowering formations of the stone. This stone comes in dark blue, light blue, green blue, and green colors. It can also be colorless to pale blue under transmitted light.
Are crystals radioactive?
Sometimes it can contain so many radioactive inclusions that its crystal structure is destroyed (metamict). In apatite and titanite, the natural radioactivity is usually less than the natural background radiation….Natural radioactive gemstones.
| Mineral | Color | Source of Radiation |
|---|---|---|
| Monazite | brownish yellow | Thorium (Th) |
How did the metatorbernite get its name?
Named in 1916 by Arthur Francis Hallimond in honor of Torbern Olof Bergman [March 20, 1735, Katrineberg, Sweden, – July 8, 1784, Medevi, Sweden] and for “meta” for its lower hydration level and its relationship to torbernite. Meta-autunite Group. A secondary mineral resulting from the weathering/dehydration of Torbernite.
How old does a torbernite have to be to be considered meta?
This loss of water from the mineral leads to an alteration of torbernite specimens into its pseudomorph, meta-torbernite. Some collector’s websites assert that any torbernite specimen more than a few years old should be considered fully transitioned to meta-torbernite.
How is torbernite related to other host minerals?
Torbernite frequently occurs in conjunction with other uranium minerals, as well as host rock minerals. These associated minerals include: The most obvious factor in identifying torbernite is its radioactivity.
How does loss of water affect a torbernite?
However, torbernite, like other hydrated minerals, can easily suffer from loss of water molecules. This loss of water from the mineral leads to an alteration of torbernite specimens into its pseudomorph, meta-torbernite.