Gauthierite

Gauthierite is a very rare mineral with the idealised chemical sum formula KPb[(UO2)7O5(OH)7]·8H2O.[1] It is a radioactive, hydrated orange-coloured lead potassium uranyl oxide hydroxide. It was found by analysing old mineral specimens, and is only known from one locality, the Shinkolobwe Mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The mineral was named in honour of Gilbert Gauthier,[4] a Belgian collector of uranium minerals, who provided a sample to one of the co-authors of the study that first identified it in 2017.[1]

Gauthierite
Gauthierite crystals from Shinkolobwe Mine; approximate field of view 3 mm (0.12 in)
General
CategoryOxide mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
  • idealised: KPb[(UO2)7O5(OH)7]·8H2O[1][2]
  • empirical: K0.67 Pb0.78 U7 O34 H23.77[1]
IMA symbolGut[3]
Strunz classification4.GB
Crystal systemMonoclinic
Crystal class2/m[1]
Space groupP21/c[1]
Identification
Colororange[1]
Crystal habitTabular crystals
CleavagePerfect [010]
FractureUneven
Mohs scale hardness3–4
LusterGlassy[1]
StreakLight orange
DiaphaneityTransparent (single crystals), translucent (masses)
Densitycalculated: 5.437[1]
Optical propertiesBiaxial (-)
Refractive indexnα = 1.780(5) nβ = 1.815(5) nγ = 1.825(5)[1]
Pleochroismx: very pale yellow, y = z = orange-yellow
Other characteristicsRadioactive

Etymology and history
Gauthierite crystals on matrix (field of view app. 3 mm)

Gauthierite is a very rare mineral and was first described in 2017. It was discovered on an old mineralogical sample from Shinkolobwe Mine, Democratic Republic of the Congo.[1] A co-author of the original study was given the sample by Gilbert Joseph Gauthier (24. December 1924 – 23. June 2006), a Belgian mineral collector who focused on uranium minerals, after whom the mineral was named.[1]

Classification

According to the International Mineralogical Association (IMA), which last updated its list in 2009,[2] the Nickel-Strunz system lists gauthierite in the section of "oxides and hydroxides" amongst the "uranyl hydroxides".[1] There it forms the group 4.GB, together with leesite K(H2O)2[(UO2)4O2(OH)5]·3H2O, shinkolobweite Pb1.25[U5+(H2O)2(U6+O2)5O8(OH)2](H2O)5 and kroupaite KPb0.5[(UO2)8O4(OH)10]·10H2O.[1]

Chemistry

An analysis by electron microprobe using nine samples of the type material gave an averaged composition of 1.29 w.-% K2O, 7.17 w.-% PbO, 82.10 w.-% UO3 and 8.78 w.-% H2O. Based on 34 oxygen atoms this gives the empirical sum formula K0.67Pb0.78U7O34H23.77, which is idealised as KPb[(UO2)7O5(OH)7]∙8H2O.[1]

Gauthierite single crystal (app. 0.1 mm)

Gauthierite crystallises monoclinically in space group P21/c with the lattice parameters a =  29.844(2) Å; b =  14.5368(8) Å and c =  14.0406(7) Å and β =  103.708(6)° with eight formula units per unit cell. [1] The crystal structure is related to that of vandendriesscheite. Together with fourmarierite these three minerals form a group of early stage alteration products which are formed in the oxidation-hydration weathering of uraninite. This is particularly prominent in the amount of water between the uranyl layers.[1]

Because of its uranium content of about 67.2% the material is strongly radioactive.[5]

Occurrence and localities

Gauthierite has so far been only identified on old mineralogical samples from its type locality Shinkolobwe Mine in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The mineral is associated on the type specimen with soddyite, sklodowskite and a member of the metazeunerite-metatorbernite series. The matrix of the type material is quartz with disseminated altered uraninite. The mineral may form by weathering of uraninite in the presence of radiogenic lead, while potassium may be leached from other gangue materials.[1]

See also

References
  1. Olds, Travis A.; Plášil, Jakub; Kampf, Anthony R.; Škoda, Radek; Burns, Peter C.; Čejka, Jiří; Bourgoin, Vincent; Boulliard, Jean-Claude (2017). "Gauthierite, KPb[(UO2)7O5(OH)7]·8H2O, a new uranyl-oxide hydroxy-hydrate mineral from Shinkolobwe with a novel uranyl-anion sheet-topology". European Journal of Mineralogy. 29 (1): 129–141. Bibcode:2017EJMin..29..129O. doi:10.1127/ejm/2017/0029-2586. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-07-13.
  2. M. Back, W. D. Birch, M. Blondieau et al.: The New IMA List of Minerals – A Work in Progress – Updated: March 2021 PDF 3.5 MB Archived 2023-08-28 at the Wayback Machine)
  3. L. Warr: IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols In: Mineralogical Magazine 2021, 85, 291–320 (cambridge.org PDF 320 kB Archived 2023-08-28 at the Wayback Machine)
  4. King, Vandall T. (2006). "Obituary: Gilbert Gauthier". The Mineralogical Record. 37 (5): 354–355. Archived from the original on 2023-08-28. Retrieved 2023-08-28.
  5. Lu, Kimbal T.; Zhang, Yingjie; Wei, Tao; Ablott, Timothy A.; Plášil, Jakub; Karatchevtseva, Inna; Zheng, Rongkun (2023). "Investigation of uranium oxide hydrates with barium(II) ions: structural diversity, uranium valences and implications". New Journal of Chemistry. 47 (28): 13286–13296. doi:10.1039/D3NJ01334K. S2CID 259745427.
  • Media related to Gauthierite at Wikimedia Commons
  • Gauthierite in the Handbook of Mineralogy, Mineralogical Society of America
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