McKelveyite

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

McKelveyite, Ba3NaCa0.75U0.25Y(CO3)6·3(H2O) is a yellow, lemmon yellow, black, greenish gray, white, or gray vitreous mineal of the donnayite-(Y) - Weloganite series. It is a hydrous sodium barium rare-earth uranium carbonate and was named after Vincent E. McKelvey, (1916-1985), director of the United States Geological Survey. Mildly radioactive producing alpha particles and beta particles, as well as gamma rays due to its uranium content. Examples have been found in many locations however it is common to the Green River Formation, Sweetwater County, Wyoming, USA.

[edit] See also