Curite (original) (raw)
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
About CuriteHide
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Formula:
Pb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2
formerly given as Pb3(UO2)8O8(OH)6.3H2O; the study of Ghazisaeed et al. (2019) shows that "curite contains only one H2O group, with [4]-coordinated oxygen"
Colour:
Deep to light red-orange, orange, scarlet, yellow
Specific Gravity:
6.98 - 7.4
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
After Pierre Curie (15 May 1859, Paris, France - 19 April 1906, Paris, France) physicist, famous for his research with his wife, Marie Sklodowska-Curie, on radioactivity. They, along with Henri Becquerel were awarded the 1903 Nobel Prize for Physics for their research. They also discovered the elements polonium and radium.
Pb is (or may be) slightly over-stoichiometric.
Unique IdentifiersHide
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Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1197:2
1536d335-dc6a-4ef8-91be-1d033fb72685
IMA Classification of CuriteHide
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Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Pb3+x[(UO2)4O4+x(OH)3-x]2 · 2H2O
Type description reference:
Classification of CuriteHide
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4.GB.55
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
G : Uranyl Hydroxides
B : With additional cations (K, Ca, Ba, Pb, etc.); with mainly UO2(O,OH)5 pentagonal polyhedra
5.9.3.1
5 : OXIDES CONTAINING URANIUM OR THORIUM
9 : Miscellaneous
7.16.26
7 : Oxides and Hydroxides
16 : Oxides of U
Mineral SymbolsHide
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As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Cui | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of CuriteHide
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Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Sorry, your browser doesn't support HTML5 audio. | Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of CuriteHide
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Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Deep to light red-orange, orange, scarlet, yellow
Cleavage:
Imperfect/Fair
On {100}
Density:
6.98 - 7.4 g/cm3 (Measured) 7.37 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of CuriteHide
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RI values:
_n_α = 2.060 _n_β = 2.110 _n_γ = 2.150
2V:
Measured: 70° , Calculated: 80°
δ = 0.090
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Comments:
X = b = pale yellow
Y = a = light red-orange
Z = c = dark red-orange
Comments:
Distinguished from other uranyl oxides by its higher refractive indices (Frondel 1958).
Chemistry of CuriteHide
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Mindat Formula:
Pb3(H2O)2[(UO2)4O4(OH)3]2
formerly given as Pb3(UO2)8O8(OH)6.3H2O; the study of Ghazisaeed et al. (2019) shows that "curite contains only one H2O group, with [4]-coordinated oxygen"
Crystallography of CuriteHide
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Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
m m m _(_2/_m_2/_m_2/m ) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 12.5510(10) Å, b = 8.3760(4) Å, c = 13.0107(9) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.498 : 1 : 1.553
Morphology:
Crystals prismatic [001] and striated [001]. Massive. In aggregates of fine needles or saccharoidal. Compact earthy.
Comment:
data from Ghazisaeed et al. (2019)
Crystal StructureHide
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| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0005644 | Curite | Burns P C, Hill F C (2000) Implications of the synthesis and structure of the Sr analogue of curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 175-181 |  |
2000 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0005656 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | |
2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 |
| 0005657 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | |
2000 | Swaambo,Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 |
| 0005658 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | |
2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 |
| 0005659 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | |
2000 | Swaambo, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 |
| 0005660 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | |
2000 | Swaambo, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 |
| 0005661 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | |
2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 |
| 0005662 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | |
2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 |
| 0005663 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | |
2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 |
| 0005664 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | |
2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 |
| 0005665 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | |
2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 |
| 0005666 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | |
2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 |
| 0005667 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | |
2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 |
| 0005668 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | |
2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 |
| 0005669 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | |
2000 | Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of Congo | 0 | 293 |
| 0005670 | Curite | Li Y, Burns P C (2000) Investigations of crystal-chemical variability in lead uranyl oxide hydrates. I. Curite The Canadian Mineralogist 38 727-735 | |
2000 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide
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Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 6.28 Å | (100) |
| 3.97 Å | (90) |
| 3.14 Å | (80) |
| 2.55 Å | (60) |
| 2.10 Å | (50) |
| 1.74 Å | (50) |
| 3.53 Å | (40) |
Comments:
Katanga district, DR Congo.
Geological EnvironmentHide
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Geological Setting:
Secondary mineral formed by the alteration of uraninite
Type Occurrence of CuriteHide
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General Appearance of Type Material:
Cryptocrystalline, massive, minute needles.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Natural History Museum, Paris, France.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Schoep, A. (1921) La curite, nouveau minéral radioactif. Comptes rendu de l’Académie des sciences de Paris: 173: 1186-1187.
Other Language Names for CuriteHide
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Varieties of CuriteHide
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| Thorian Curite | Typical constituent of gummites, replacing Th-bearing varieties of uraninite (Bröggerites). Able contain 10 and more wt.% of ThO2. |
|---|
Common AssociatesHide
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Associated Minerals Based on Photo Data:
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide
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Other InformationHide
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Thermal Behaviour:
In the closed tube becomes brown and gives off water.
Notes:
Soluble in cold acids.
Strongly radioactive.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for CuriteHide
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References for CuriteHide
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Localities for CuriteHide
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This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the 
symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
Locality ListHide
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- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. 
- Good crystals or important locality for species. 
- World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.