Sklodowskite

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Sklodowskite

Sklodowskite on gypsum
General
Category Nesosilicate
Formula
(repeating unit)
Mg(UO2)2(HSiO4)2·5H2O
Strunz classification 09.AK.10
Identification
Color Light yellow to green-yellow
Crystal system Monoclinic
Cleavage Perfect
on {100}
Mohs scale hardness 2 - 3
Luster Adamantine, vitreous, silky
Streak Yellow
Diaphaneity Transparent, translucent
Density 3.54 g/cm3

Sklodowskite is a uranium mineral with the chemical formula: Mg(UO2)2(HSiO4)2·5H2O. It is a secondary mineral which contains magnesium and is a bright yellow colour, its crystal habit is acicular, but can form in other shapes. It has a Mohs hardness of about 2-3. It is named after the maiden name of Marie Curie, Sklodowska.[1] It is the magnesium analogue of the much more common uranium mineral Cuprosklodowskite, which contains copper instead.

It was discovered by Alfred Schoep (1881–1966) in 1924.

References

  1. "Sklodowskite". mindat.org. 
  • A. Schoep, La sklodowskite, nouveau mineral radioactif, C.R. Acad. Sci. Paris, 179, 143 (1924)


This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike; additional terms may apply for the media files.