Category Vanadate mineral Strunz classification 4.HB.25 Crystal system Orthorhombic | Formula
(repeating unit) Ca(UO2)2V2O8·(5-8)H2O Dana classification 40.2a.26.1 | |
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Crystal class Dipyramidal (mmm)
H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m) | ||
Tyuyamunite (pronounced tuh-YOO-ya-moon-ite) is a very rare uranium mineral with formula Ca(UO2)2V2O8·(5-8)H2O. It is a member of the carnotite group. It is a bright, canary-yellow color because of its high uranium content. Also, because of tyuyamunite's high uranium content, it is radioactive. It was named by Konstantin Avtonomovich Nenadkevich, in 1912, after its type locality, Tyuya-Muyun, Fergana Valley, Kyrgyzstan.
Formation and transformation
Tyuyamunite is formed by the weathering of uraninite, a uranium-bearing mineral. Tyuyamunite, being a hydrous mineral, contains water. Yet when it is exposed to the atmosphere it loses its water. This process changes tyuyamunite into a different mineral known as metatyuyamunite Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2·3-5H2O
References
Tyuyamunite Wikipedia(Text) CC BY-SA