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Formula: Co(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2.6H2O
Nesosilicate (insular SiO4 groups), sklodowskite group,
uranyl and cobalt-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 3.674 calculated
Hardness: 3 to 3½
Colour: Pale yellow
Common impurities: Ni
Strongly RADIOACTIVE
Environments
Sedimentary environments
Hydrothermal environments
Localities
At the type locality, the Shinkolobwe mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove District, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo, oursinite
occurs in the uranium deposit on
uraninite-bearing samples of
brecciated
dolomite; it is commonly associated with
soddyite, kasolite,
schoepite and curite.
The oursinite occurs as radial aggregates of pale yellow acicular crystals, maximum dimensions 1 x 0.02 x
0.02 mm3
(AM 69.565-569).
Further associates include sklodowskite,
torbernite, lepersonnite and
bijvoetite
(HOM, AM 38.153-162).
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