Images
Formula: K(UO2)(AsO4).3H2O
Hydrated normal arsenate,
meta-autunite group,
uranyl mineral
Crystal System: Tetragonal
Specific gravity: 3.32 measured, 3.572 calculated
Hardness: 2½ to 3
Streak: Pale yellow
Colour: Yellow
Luminescence: Yellow-green fluorescence under long wave and short wave UV
Common impurities: P
Strongly RADIOACTIVE
Environments
Sedimentary environments
Hydrothermal environments
Abernathyite is a rare secondary
uranium mineral occurring in the oxidation zone of
uranium deposits. Common associates include
heinrichite, scorodite and
zeunerite
(Mindat).
Localities
At the Burro Mine, Slick Rock Mining District, San Miguel County, Colorado, USA,
uroxite and metauroxite are
associated with abernathyite, gypsum,
tyuyamunite, uranopilite and
one other unidentified uranyl oxalate
(MM 84.1.131–141).
At the type locality, the Fuemrol No. 2 Mine, Temple Mountain Mining District, Emery county, Utah, USA, mining is in
vanadiferous and uraniferous
asphaltite in the
conglomerate. The
sandstone is light to clark grey and contains nodular masses ranging in
diameter from 1 to 5 inches. The nodules are composed of sand grains cemented by
asphaltite and pyrite. The
outer
layers of some nodules contain native arsenic,
sphalerite and metazeunerite.
The grey to greenish grey fine-grained sandstone is composed of poorly sorted
subangular grains. Quartz grains make up 65 to 70 % of the
sandstone; other major constituents are
asphaltite and pyrite. Minor
constituents are chert,
plagioclase,
zircon and muscovite. The cementing
material (15 to 20%) is microcrystalline brownish grey clay aggregate.
Abernathyite occurs as a crystalline coating lining a fracture in the
sandstone and is associated with yellow-brown earthy
scorodite. No other minerals were found associated with the
abernathite,
but other specimens from the mine contain native arsenic,
orpiment and realgar.
Jarosite, pitticite,
metazeunerite and two other
uranyl
arsenates of uncertain composition have also been found
(AM 41.82-90).
Abernathyite from Temple Mountain -
Image
Back to Minerals