Rutherfordine

rutherfordine

uraninite

zippeite

sklodowskite

Images

Formula: (UO2)(CO3)
Anhydrous carbonate, uranyl mineral
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 5.7 measured, 5.682 calculated
Streak: White
Colour: Pale brownish-yellow, yellow to orange, yellowish green
Solubility: Soluble in acids
RADIOACTIVE
Environments

Pegmatites
Sedimentary environments
Hydrothermal environments

Rutherfordine is a secondary mineral formed as a weathering product of uraninite. Associated minerals include uraninite, becquelerite, masuyite, schoepite, kasolite, curite, boltwoodite, vandendriesscheite, billietite, metatorbernite, fourmarierite, studtite and sklodowskite (HOM).
Rutherfordine often forms visually distinctive pale yellowish to cream-coloured bundles of acicular crystals (Lauf2).

Localities

At the type locality, Lukwengule, Uluguru Mts, Morogoro Region, Tanzania, rutherfordine occurs as powdery masses composed of minute matted fibres, pseudomorphic after uraninite (Mindat, Dana).

At the Shinkolobwe mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove District, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo, rutherfordine occurs as radiating clusters on uraninite with masuyite (Dana).

Rutherfordine from Shinkolobwe - Image

At the Dunton Gem Quarry, Newry, Oxford County, Maine, USA, rutherfordine occurs as an alteration product of uraninite (AM 41.127-133).

At the Apex Mine, Reese River Mining District, Lander county, Nevada, USA, rutherfordine occurs radial sprays up to 1 mm in size with uranopilite and zippeite, frequently overgrown with uranopilite (R&M 87.3.275).

Rutherfordine from the Apex mine - Image

At Beryl Mountain Quarry, South Acworth, Sullivan county, New Hampshire, USA, rutherfordine occurs abundantly as dense to earthy pseudomorphs after uraninite in pegmatites, associated with schoepite, vandendriesscheite and uranophane (AM 41.127-133).

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