Swamboite Mineral Data

Swamboite Mineral Data +

[Newest Minerals] [Minerals for Sale] [Tsumeb Mine] [Mineral Auctions] [Mineral Gallery]
The Mineral Gallery's Exceptional Specimens and Mineral Hall of Fame
Visa and Mastercard are Welcome

General Swamboite Information

Chemical Formula:

U++++++H6(UO2)6(SiO4)6·30(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 2,957.20 gm

Uranium 56.34 % U 54.79 % UO₂ / 9.67 % UO₃

Silicon 5.70 % Si 12.19 % SiO₂

Hydrogen 2.25 % H 20.10 % H₂O

Oxygen 35.71 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 96.75 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

UH₆(UO₂)₆(SiO₄)₆·30(H₂O)

Environment:

Alteration product of other uranium minerals.

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 1981

Locality:

Swambo, Shaba, Zaire. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for the locality.

Swamboite Image

Images:

Swamboite

Comments: Yellow crystals of Swamboite to 0.5 mm across.
Location: Swambo, Katanga, Dem. Rep. of the Congo. Scale: Picture size 1.5 cm.
© John Veevaert

Swamboite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =0.84:1:0.958

Cell Dimensions:

a = 17.64, b = 21, c = 20.12, Z = 6; beta = 103.4° V = 7,250.34 Den(Calc)= 4.06

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - PrismaticH-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: P 2₁/a

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 8.67(1), 4.32(0.8), 4.76(0.8),

Physical Properties of Swamboite

Cleavage:

[201] Good

Color:

Light yellow.

Density:

Diaphaniety:

Transparent to Translucent

Habit:

Acicular - Occurs as needle-like crystals.

Hardness:

2.5 - Finger Nail

Luster:

Vitreous (Glassy)

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Swamboite

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.64, b=1.661, g=1.663, bire=0.0230, 2V(Calc)=32, 2V(Meas)=30.

Pleochroism (x):

colorless.

Pleochroism (y):

pale yellow.

Pleochroism (z):

pale yellow.

Calculated Properties of Swamboite

Electron Density:

r_electron=3.63 gm/cc
note: r_Swamboite=4.06 gm/cc.

Fermion Index

Fermion Index = 0.00689
Boson Index = 0.99311

Photoelectric:

PE_Swamboite=1,430.04 barns/electron
U=PE_Swamboite x r_electron=5,191.06 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 4,293,994.49 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Swamboite is Radioactive as defined in 49 CFR 173.403. Greater than 70 Bq / gram.

Estimated Maximum U.S. Postal Shipping Size (10 mRem/hr limit, Unshielded 10 cm box) 7.08 ± 1.77 grams of pure Swamboite .
Estimated Maximum U.S. Postal Shipping Size (10 mRem/hr limit, Unshielded 100 cm box) 708.35 ±177.09 grams of pure Swamboite .

**Estimated Radioactivity from Swamboite** - very strong
Specimen Size Weight/Volume (Sphere) *	Calculated Activity Bequerols (Bq)	Calculated Activity Curies (Ci)	Estimated Activity GR(api)	Estimated Exposure (mRem**)/hr If Held in Hand For One Hour
1000 gm / 7.78 cm	100,855,617	2.73E-03	4,293,994.49	1,411.72
100 gm / 3.61 cm	10,085,562	2.73E-04	429,399.45	141.17
10 gm / 1.68 cm	1,008,556	2.73E-05	42,939.94	14.12
1 gm / 7.78 mm	100,856	2.73E-06	4,293.99	1.41
0.1 gm / 3.61 mm	10,086	2.73E-07	429.40	0.14
0.01 gm / 1.68 mm	1,009	2.73E-08	42.94	0.01
0.001 gm / 0.78 mm	101	2.73E-09	4.29	0.00

Weight of pure Swamboite in grams (gm) and Calculated Diameter of a Sphere with a Density of 4.06 gm/cc.*
Goverment Estimate of Average Annual Exposure ( 360 mRem) **
Note: 10 microsieverts/hr = 1 mRem/hr **
Max Permissable Adult Dose 50,000 mRem/yr (hands), 15,000 mRem/yr (eyes)
Lethal Dose LD(50) Exposure 400,000 to 500,000 mRem

Swamboite Classification

Dana Class:

53.3.1.8 (53)Nesosilicate Insular SiO4 Groups and Other Anions of Complex Cations

(53.3)with (UO2)

(53.3.1)Uranophane group

53.3.1.1 Kasolite Pb(UO2)SiO4·(H2O) P 2₁/a 2/m

53.3.1.2 Uranophane Ca(UO2)2SiO3(OH)2·5(H2O) P 2₁ 2

53.3.1.3 Sklodowskite (H3O)2Mg(UO2)2(SiO4)2·4(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

53.3.1.4 Cuprosklodowskite Cu[(UO2)(SiO2OH)]2·6(H2O) P1 1

53.3.1.5 Boltwoodite HK(UO2)(SiO4)·1.5(H2O) P 2₁ 2

53.3.1.6 Sodium-boltwoodite (H3O)(Na,K)(UO2)SiO4·(H2O) P 2₁2₁2₁ 2 2 2

53.3.1.7 Oursinite (Co,Mg)(H3O)2[(UO2)SiO4]2·3(H2O) Aba2,Abam Ortho

53.3.1.8 Swamboite UH6(UO2)6(SiO4)6·30(H2O) P 2₁/a 2/m

53.3.1.9 Uranophane-beta Ca[(UO2)SiO3(OH)]2·(H2O) P 2₁/a 2/m

Strunz Class:

VIII/B.36-20 VIII - Silicates

VIII/B - Nesosub-silicates. "Insel" silicates with anions unfamiliar to tetraheders. Uranyl-"Insel" silicates with [UO2]2+ - [SiO4]4-

VIII/B.36 - Soddyite - Swamboite series

VIII/B.36-10 Soddyite (UO2)2SiO4·2(H2O) F ddd 2/m 2/m 2/m

VIII/B.36-20 Swamboite UH6(UO2)6(SiO4)6·30(H2O) P 2₁/a 2/m

VIII/B.36-163 Kintoreite PbFe3(PO4)2(OH,H2O)6 R 3m 3 2/m

VIII/B.36-165 Segnitite PbFe3H(AsO4)2(OH)6 R 3m 3 2/m

Other Swamboite Information

References:

NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Dana8)

Search for Swamboite using:

[ALTAVISTA] [AOL] [About.com] [All-The-Web] [HotBot] [Ixquick] [LookSmart] [MAMMA] [MSN.COM] [Netscape] [Teoma] [Wikipedia] [YAHOO]

Visit our Advertisers for Swamboite :
AA Mineral Specimens
B and L Minerals
Dan Weinrich Fine Minerals
Dan Weinrich Auctions
e-Rocks Auctions
Excalibur Minerals
Exceptional Minerals
Fabre Minerals
Greenside Minerals
John Betts Fine Minerals
Masons Minerals
Minernet.it
Mineral News
Mineral of the Month Club
MineralsWeb Fine Minerals
Rockshop.cz Kalat Fine Minerals
T G Fine Minerals
Wrights Rock Shop

Translate Swamboite Mineral Data :

Ask about Swamboite here :
Ask-A-Mineralogist from the Mineralogical Society of America
Mindat.org's Discussion Groups
Original Rockhounds Discussion Group
Rockhounds Discussion Group on Yahoo Groups
Mineral Discussion Forum from Fabre Minerals - also available in Español

Print or Cut-and-Paste your Swamboite Specimen Label here :

Swamboite

U++++++H6(UO2)6(SiO4)6·30(H2O)
Dana No: 53.3.1.8 Strunz No: VIII/B.36-20
Locality:

Notes: