Chemistry:Xiangjiangite

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Xiangjiangite
General
CategoryPhosphate minerals
Formula
(repeating unit)
(Fe3+, Al)(UO2)4(PO4)2(SO4)2(OH)·22(H2O)
Strunz classification8.EB.05
Crystal systemTetragonal
Unknown space group
Unit cell1,142.31
Identification
Formula mass453.91 g/mol
ColorYellow
Crystal habitMicroscopic crystals; Platy
Mohs scale hardness1–2
|re|er}}Silky
StreakLight yellow
DiaphaneitySemitransparent
Specific gravity3.47
Optical propertiesBiaxial(−)
Refractive indexnα = 1.558
nβ = 1.576
nγ = 1.593
Birefringence0.035
PleochroismWeak
2V angle87
DispersionWeak
Other characteristicsRadioactive.svg Radioactive
References[1][2][3]

Xiangjiangite is a phosphate mineral discovered near and named for the Xiang Jiang River in China . It was approved by the IMA in 1978, and was named after its locality.[5]

Properties

Xiangjiangite is a pleochroic mineral, which is an optical phenomenon, meaning that depending on the axis it is viewed on, it appears as it changes colors. On both the X and Y axis, it can be seen in a yellow color, while on the Z axis it appears to be weak yellow color. This mineral is very strongly radioactive, and has a 3,845,084.01 radioactivity measured in GRapi.

It mainly consists of uranium (49.67%) and oxygen (39.23%), but otherwise contains sulphur (3.35%), phosphorus (3.23%), hydrogen (2.37%), iron (1.46%) and aluminum (0.70%).[5]

References