Ulrichite Mineral Data

General Ulrichite Information

Chemical Formula:

CaCu(UO2)(PO4)2•4(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 635.66 gm

Calcium 6.30 % Ca 8.82 % CaO

Uranium 37.45 % U 42.48 % UO₂

Copper 10.00 % Cu 12.51 % CuO

Phosphorus 9.75 % P 22.33 % P₂O₅

Hydrogen 1.27 % H 11.34 % H₂O

Oxygen 35.24 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 97.48 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

CaCu(UO₂)(PO₄)₂•4(H₂O)

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 1988

Locality:

Lake Boga, Victoria, Australia. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for G.H.F. Ulrich.

Name Pronunciation:

Ulrichite + Pronunciation

Synonym:

ICSD 54139

PDF 46-1302

Ulrichite Image

Images:

Ulrichite

Comments: Green ulrichite microcrystal tuft on quartz.
Location: Lake Boga, Victoria, Australia. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Images:

Ulrichite

Comments: Green, acicular crystals of ulrichite on matrix. Co-type specimen (?) collected by the discoverer, Anthony Fraser.
Location: Lake Boga granite quarry, Lake Boga, Victoria, Australia. Scale: Picture size 2 mm.
© Paul M. Schumacher

Ulrichite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =1.8273:1:1.8592

Cell Dimensions:

a = 12.784, b = 6.996, c = 13.007, Z = 4; beta = 91.92° V = 1,162.65 Den(Calc)= 3.63

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - PrismaticH-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: C 2/m

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 6.389(1), 3.193(0.45), 2.879(0.2),

Crystal Structure:

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Kolitsch U , Giester G , Mineralogical Magazine , 65 (2001) p.717-724, Revision of the crystal structure of ulrichite, CaCu2+(UO2)(PO4)2*4(H2O), Locality: Lake Boga, near Swan Hill, Victoria, Australia

Physical Properties of Ulrichite

Cleavage:

{???} Perfect

Color:

Green, Lime green.

Diaphaneity:

Transparent to Translucent

Habit:

Acicular - Occurs as needle-like crystals.

Habit:

Radial - Crystals radiate from a center without producing stellar forms (e.g. stibnite)

Hardness:

3.5 - Copper Penny

Luster:

Vitreous (Glassy)

Streak:

white

Optical Properties of Ulrichite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI calc= -0.07 (Fair) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.173,KC= 0.1617
Ncalc = 1.59

Optical Data:

Biaxial (-), a=1.622, g=1.634, bire=0.0120

Calculated Properties of Ulrichite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.32 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Ulrichite =3.63 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.002952289
Boson Index = 0.997047711

Photoelectric:

PE_Ulrichite= 933.86 barns/electron
U=PE_Ulrichite x r_electron=3,103.77 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 2,922,420.69 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Concentration of Ulrichite per GRapi unit = 342.18 (PPB)

Ulrichite 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) 10.41 ± 2.60 grams of pure Ulrichite .
Estimated Maximum U.S. Postal Shipping Size (10 mRem/hr limit, Unshielded 100 cm box) 1040.8 ±260.20 grams of pure Ulrichite .

**Estimated Radioactivity from Ulrichite** - very strong
Specimen Size Weight/Volume (Sphere) *	Calculated Activity Becquerels (Bq)	Calculated Activity Curies (Ci)	Estimated Activity GR(api)	Estimated Exposure (mRem**)/hr If Held in Hand For One Hour
1000 gm / 8.07 cm	67,028,713	1.81E-03	2,922,420.69	960.80
100 gm / 3.75 cm	6,702,871	1.81E-04	292,242.07	96.08
10 gm / 1.74 cm	670,287	1.81E-05	29,224.21	9.61
1 gm / 8.07 mm	67,029	1.81E-06	2,922.42	0.96
0.1 gm / 3.75 mm	6,703	1.81E-07	292.24	0.10
0.01 gm / 1.74 mm	670	1.81E-08	29.22	0.01
0.001 gm / 0.81 mm	67	1.81E-09	2.92	0.00

Weight of pure Ulrichite in grams (gm) and Calculated Diameter of a Sphere with a Density of 3.63 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

Ulrichite Classification

Dana Class:

40.02a.33.01 (40)Hydrated Phosphates, etc

(40.02a)where A++ (B++)2 (XO4) · x(H2O), containing (UO2)++

(40.02a.33)Dana Group

40.02a.33.01 Ulrichite CaCu(UO2)(PO4)2•4(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

Strunz Class:

08.EA.15 08 - PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES

08.E - Uranyl Phosphates and Arsenates

08.EA -UO2:RO4 = 1:2

08.EA.15 Ulrichite CaCu(UO2)(PO4)2•4(H2O) C 2/m 2/m

Other Ulrichite Information

References:

PHYS. PROP.(Am.Min.,Vol.75,p243,1990) OPTIC PROP.(Am.Min.,Vol.75,p243,1990)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Ulrichite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - EUROmin Project
4 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
5 - GeoScienceWorld
6 - Google Images
7 - Google Scholar
8 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
10 - MinDAT
11 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
12 - Online Mineral Museum
13 - QUT Mineral Atlas
14 - Ruff.Info
15 - Uranium Minerals

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

Ulrichite

CaCu(UO2)(PO4)2•4(H2O)
Dana No: 40.02a.33.01 Strunz No: 08.EA.15
Locality:

Notes: