Uranium Minerals
See also: UraniniteThe primary uranium ore mineral is uraninite (UO2) or pitchblende (UO3, U2O5), commonly collectively referred to as U3O8 (the most stable form). A range of other uranium minerals can be found in various deposits. These include carnotite, the davidite-brannerite-absite type uranium titanates, and the euxenite-fergusonite-samarskite group.
A large variety of secondary uranium minerals are known, many of which are brilliantly coloured and fluorescent. The most common are gummite, autunite (with calcium), saleeite (magnesium) and torbernite (with copper); and hydrated uranium silicates such as coffinite, uranophane (with calcium) and sklodowskite (magnesium).
| Uranium Minerals | |
|---|---|
| Primary uranium minerals | |
| Name | Chemical Formula |
| uraninite | UO2 |
| pitchblende | U3O8, rare U3O7 |
| coffinite | U(SiO4)1–x(OH)4x |
| brannerite | UTi2O6 |
| davidite | (REE)(Y,U)(Ti,Fe3+)20O38 |
| thucholite | Uranium-bearing pyrobitumen |
| Secondary uranium minerals | |
| Name | Chemical Formula |
| autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 x 8-12 H2O |
| carnotite | K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 x 1–3 H2O |
| gummite | gum like amorphous mixture of various uranium minerals |
| seleeite | Mg(UO2)2(PO4)2 x 10 H2O |
| torbernite | Cu(UO2)2(PO4)2 x 12 H2O |
| tyuyamunite | Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2 x 5-8 H2O |
| uranocircite | Ba(UO2)2(PO4)2 x 8-10 H2O |
| uranophane | Ca(UO2)2(HSiO4)2 x 5 H2O |
| zeunerite | Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2 x 8-10 H2O |
Read more about this topic: Uranium Ore