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Formula: NaCa3(UO2)(SO4)(CO3)3F.10H2.O
Compound carbonate
Crystal System: Triclinic
Specific gravity: 2.544 to 2.550 measured, 2.547 calculated
Hardness: 2½
Colour: Greenish yellow
Solubility: Soluble in water and in dilute acids
Luminescence: Bright yellow-green fluorescence under UV
RADIOACTIVE
Environments
Pegmatites
Sedimentary environments
Schröckingerite is an uncommon alteration product of uraninite in
the oxidised zone of uranium deposits; it may be of post-mine origin. Distinct crystals are rare; the common habit
is crusts and globular aggregates of minute scaly grains. Associated minerals include
gypsum, andersonite,
bayleyite, swartzite,
albrechtschraufite,
liebigite, uraninite and
dolomite
(HOM, Lauf2).
Localities
At the type locality, the Svornost Mine, Jáchymov, Karlovy Vary District, Karlovy Vary Region, Czech Republic,
schröckingerite occurs as an alteration product of uraninite
(Dana).
It occurs in a partly indurated arkose, as well as in
gypsum
(AM 33.152-157).
Schröckingerite from Svornost - Image
At the Hillside Mine, Bozarth Mesa, Bagdad, Eureka Mining District, Yavapai County, Arizona, USA, sulphides present
in the vein include pyrite,
arsenopyrite, galena,
sphalerite, chalcopyrite,
tetrahedrite and argentite;
minerals of the oxidation zone include silver,
chlorargyrite, cerussite,
anglesite, smithsonite and
hemimorphite. The country rock is
mica schist, intruded by
granite.
Uranium minerals were found in only one place, as a coating about 1/8 inch thick on
gypsum, in the oxidised zone. The uranium carbonate minerals are clearly of
secondary origin, and were deposited on the walls of the mine,
but subsequent mining operations have completely obliterated the occurrence of these
secondary minerals.
Adhering to the micaceous schist
are scattered green rosettes of schröckingerite, with sulphur-yellow
bayleyite. Overlying this schist
is a layer of snow-white granular gypsum containing small clusters of vivid
green swartzite. Coating gypsum is a
mass of yellow bayleyite, most of it now altered to a pale-yellow powder.
The rare andersonite is easily overlooked
(AM 36.1-22).
At the Section 22 deposit, Ambrosia Lake subdistrict, McKinley county, New Mexico, USA, the presence of
schröckingerite has been noted as an encrustation on sandstone
from a mine wall. In the sample, the predominant mineral was gypsum with lesser
amounts of andersonite and schröckingerite. Certain other samples
from the mine walls were found to consist only of gypsum and
andersonite
(AM 51.929-930).
Schröckingerite from Ambrosia Lake -
Image
At the Kinkel Quarry, Bedford, Westchester county, New York, USA, schröckingerite occurs in a
pegmatite
(AM 20.62-63).
At the Shinarump No 3 Mine, Seven Mile Mining District, Grand county, Utah, USA, schröckingerite occurs
associated with gypsum in seams in
shale (AM 39.901-907). Abundant
gypsum is also present
(AM 44.1020-1025).
Near Wamsutter, Sweetwater county, Wyoming, USA, small concretions of schröckingerite are disseminated in
considerable abundance in gypsum. The
gypsum occurs mostly as small crystals with a little sand and the
schröckingerite. It is a surface
deposit in a semi-arid region. The country rocks in that part of Wyoming are sedimentary
(AM 22.561-563 as dakeite).
Schröckingerite from Wamsutter -
Image
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