Schoepite
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Schoepite, empirical formula (UO2)4O(OH)6 • 6H2O) is a rare alteration product of uraninite in hydrothermal uranium deposits it also may form directly from ianthinite. The mineral presents as a transparent to translucent yellow, lemon yellow, brownish yellow, or amber orthorhombic tabular crystals. Although over 20 other crystal forms have been noted; rarely in microcrystalline aggregates. When exposed to air schoepite converts over a short time to the metaschoepite form (UO3 • nH2O, n < 2) within a few months of being exposed to ambient air. samples are strongly radioactive α-particles and β-particles, γ-rays.
It was first described from specimens from Shinkolobwe Mine in Zaïre in 1923, several additional localities are known.
Schoepite was named to honor Alfred Schoep (1881-1966), Professor of Mineralogy at the University of Ghent, Belgium, who contributed much to the mineralogy of uranium.
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