- Clarkeite
-
Clarkeite is a uranium oxide mineral of composition (Na,Ca,Pb)2(UO2)2(O,OH)3 or (Na,Ca,Pb)(UO2)O(OH)·0-1H2O.
The color of samples varies from dark brown to reddish orange. Clarkeite forms by oxidation and replacement of uraninite late during pegmatite crystallization. Although uraninite-bearing granite pegmatites are common, clarkeite is rare and occurs intimately intergrown with other uranium minerals.
It is known from only two localities; the Spruce Pine pegmatite district in western North Carolina, USA, and Rajputana, in the Ajmer district, India. Clarkeite is the only known naturally occurring high-temperature uranate. The general formula for ideal clarkeite is Na[(UO2)O(OH)](H2O)0-1.
It was named for Frank Wigglesworth Clarke (1847-1931), American mineral chemist, and former chief chemist of the United States Geological Survey.
See also
References
- Clarkeite: New chemical and structural data
- Clarkeite: Clarkeite mineral information and data
- WebMineral
This article about a specific oxide mineral is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
