Category Carbonate minerals Color White to light yellow | Strunz classification 5.ED.45 | |
Formula
(repeating unit) CaZn11(UO2)(CO3)3(OH)20•4(H2O) Crystal system Triclinic
Unknown space group Unit cell a = 12.692 Å, b = 25.096 Å
c = 11.685 Å; α = 89.8
β = 91.78, γ = 90.37; Z = 4 | ||
What does znucalite mean
Znucalite or CaZn11(UO2)(CO3)3(OH)20•4(H2O) is a rare, radioactive, white to pale cream colored uranium-containing carbonate mineral, hydrated calcium zinc uranyl carbonate hydroxide. Znucalite crystallizes in the orthorhombic system, often forming aggregates or crusts, and is found as a rare secondary species in carbonate-hosted (meaning it is mined from carbonate containing formations such as limestone) polymetallic veins, and nearby oxidizing uranium veins; on dump material and coating mine walls, apparently of post-mine origin. It fluoresces yellow-green under UV light.
Contents
It was first described in 1989, after being discovered in Lill Mine, Černojamské deposit (Black pits deposit) in the Czech Republic. It was named in 1990 by Petr Ondruš, František Veselovský, and R. Rybka for its constituent elements.