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The mineralogy of Uranium

General Properties
Symbol:U
Atomic Number:92
Standard atomic weight (Ar):238.02891(3)
Electron configuration:[Rn] 5f3 6d1 7s2
Photos
<
A billet of highly enriched uranium
>
Atomic Properties
Electronegativity (Pauling scale):1.38
Atomic Radius:156 pm
Ionic Radius:102.5 pm (+3)
Van der Waals Radius:186 pm
1st Ionization energy:598 kJ/mol
Oxidation States:3,4,5,6
Physical Properties
Standard State:solid
Bonding Type:metallic
Melting Point:1408 K
Boiling Point:4200 K
Density:19.05 g/cm3
Metal/Non-Metal:actinoid
Main isotopes of Uranium
Isotope% in NatureHalf LifeDecay typeDecay product
232Usynthetic68.9ySpontaneous fission
α
233Utrace1.592×105ySpontaneous fission
α229Th
234U0.005%2.455×105ySpontaneous fission
α230Th
235U0.720%7.04×108ySpontaneous fission
α231Th
236Utrace2342×107ySpontaneous fission
α232Th
238U99.274%4.468×109yα234Th
Spontaneous fission
β-β-238Pu
Main ions of Uranium
NameIonExample minerals
uranium(III)U3+
uranium(IV)U4+Uraninite
uranium(V)U6+
uranylUO22+Autunite, Torbernite
Other Information
Year Discovered:1789
Discovered By:
09428580017362063164431.jpg
Martin Heinrich Klaproth
Year Isolated:1841
Isolated By:
06258560017272472601694.jpg
Eugène-Melchior Péligot
Named For:
06154820017362137587472.jpg
The planet Uranus
CPK color coding:#008FFF
External Links:WikipediaWebElementsLos Alamos National LaboratoryTheodore Gray's PeriodicTable.com
Simple Compounds and Mineral Names
Nitridesuranium nitrideUN+3
diuranium trinitrideU2N3+2,+3
diuranium trinitrideU3N2+2
Sulfidesuranium sulphideUS+2
diuranium trisulphideU2S3+3
Selenidesuranium diselenideUSe2+4
uranium triselenideUSe3+6
Telluridesuranium ditellurideUTe2+4
uranium tritellurideUTe3+6
Hydridesuranium trihydrideUH3+3
Hydroxidesuranyl hydroxideUO2(OH)2+6Paulscherrerite
Fluoridesuranium trifluorideUF3+3
uranium hexafluorideUF6+6
uranium tetrafluorideUF4+4
uranium pentafluorideUF5+5
tetrauranium octadecafluorideU4F18
tetrauranium heptadecafluorideU4F17
Chloridesuranium trichlorideUCl3+3
uranium hexachlorideUCl6+6
uranium tetrachlorideUCl4+4
uranium pentachlorideUCl5+5
Bromidesuranium tetrabromideUBr4+4
uranium pentabromideUBr5+5
Iodidesuranium triiodideUI3+3
uranium tetraiodideUI4+4
Oxidesuranium oxideUO+2
uranium dioxideUO2+4Uraninite
uranium trioxideUO3+6
triuranium octaoxideU3O8+5,+6
diuranium pentoxideU2O5+5
triuranium heptoxideU3O7+4,+5
tetrauranium nonaoxideU4O9+4,+5
uranyl peroxideUO2O2+6
uranium trioxide hydrateUO3 · 1-2H2O+6Metaschoepite
uranium trioxide dihydrateUO3 · 2H2O+6Paraschoepite
uranyl peroxide tetrahydrateUO2O2 · 4H2O+6Studtite
uranyl peroxide dihydrateUO2O2 · 2H2O+6Metastudtite
Carbonatesuranyl carbonateUO2(CO)3+6Rutherfordine
uranyl carbonate hydrateUO2(CO)3 · nH2O+6Joliotite
Nitratesuranyl nitrateUO(NO3)2+6
Sulfatesuranium sulfateU(SO4)2+4
uranyl sulfateUO2SO4+6
Uranium as a chromophore in minerals and gems
ChromophoreDescription
UO22+responsible for the brilliant yellow colour of uranium minerals such as autunite and carnotite.
U4+responsible for the blue colour in some zircon.
Mineral Diversity of Uranium
3. Halides1 valid mineral species
4. Oxides 84 valid mineral species
5. Carbonates 42 valid mineral species
7. Sulfates 68 valid mineral species
8. Phosphates, Arsenates, Vanadates84 valid mineral species
9. Silicates 21 valid mineral species
10. Organic Compounds2 valid mineral species
Total:302 valid species containing essential Uranium
Minerals with the greatest weight % of Uranium
UraniniteUO288.15 %
PaulscherreriteUO2(OH)278.29 %
Heisenbergite76.69 %
IanthiniteU4+(UO2)5O7·10H2O75.95 %
Metaschoepite(UO2)8O2(OH)12·10H2O73.91 %
ParaschoepiteUO3·2H2O73.91 %
BobfinchiteNa[(UO2)8O3(OH)11]·10H2O73.28 %
Clarkeite(Na,Ca,Pb)(UO2)O(OH)·0-1H2O73.01 %
Schoepite(UO2)8O2(OH)12·12H2O72.89 %
BecquereliteCa(UO2)6O4(OH)6·8H2O72.48 %
Geochemistry of Uranium
Goldschmidt classification:Lithophile
U4+ is enriched in Ca-Al-rich inclusions in meteorites relative to the composition of the solar system.
Elemental Abundance for Uranium
Crust (CRC Handbook)2.7 x 10-6mass fraction, kg/kg
Crust (Kaye & Laby)1.6 x 10-6mass fraction, kg/kg
Crust (Greenwood)2.3 x 10-6mass fraction, kg/kg
Crust (Ahrens/Taylor)9.10 x 10-7mass fraction, kg/kg
Crust (Ahrens/Wänke)1.200 x 10-6mass fraction, kg/kg
Crust (Ahrens/Weaver)1.300 x 10-6mass fraction, kg/kg
Upper Crust (Ahrens/Taylor)2.800 x 10-6mass fraction, kg/kg
Upper Crust (Ahrens/Shaw)2.500 x 10-6mass fraction, kg/kg
Sea Water (CRC Handbook)3.2 x 10-9mass per volume fraction, kg/L
Sea Water (Kaye & Laby)3.3 x 10-9mass per volume fraction, kg/L
Solar System (Kaye & Laby)1.8 x 10-8atom mole fraction relative to Si=1
Solar System (Ahrens)9.00 x 10-9 (8.4%)atom mole fraction relative to Si=1 (% uncertainty)
Element association of Uranium in the Mineral World
This table compares the known valid mineral species listed listed with Uranium and the other elements listed based on the official IMA formula. Note that unlike other sections on this page this includes non-essential elements.

The first data column contains the total number of minerals listed with Uranium and the element listed for that row.

The second data column lists this number as a percentage of all minerals listed with Uranium.

The final data column compares this percentage against the percentage of all minerals that contain the element listed in each row.

Click on a heading to sort.
ElementValid Minerals listed with element and Uranium% of U mineralsRelative to % in all minerals
Oxygen316 minerals with U and O100.00%23.60% higher
Hydrogen288 minerals with U and H91.14%63.62% higher
Calcium70 minerals with U and Ca22.15%10.90% lower
Sulfur64 minerals with U and S20.25%8.16% lower
Phosphorus53 minerals with U and P16.77%36.78% higher
Carbon45 minerals with U and C14.24%75.25% higher
Sodium41 minerals with U and Na12.97%30.52% lower
Lead41 minerals with U and Pb12.97%20.59% higher
Arsenic36 minerals with U and As11.39%11.85% lower
Potassium31 minerals with U and K9.81%1.42% lower
Iron29 minerals with U and Fe9.18%59.10% lower
Magnesium28 minerals with U and Mg8.86%33.76% lower
Silicon24 minerals with U and Si7.59%72.49% lower
Aluminium23 minerals with U and Al7.28%63.55% lower
Vanadium21 minerals with U and V6.65%38.51% higher
Titanium18 minerals with U and Ti5.70%18.19% lower
Copper18 minerals with U and Cu5.70%58.02% lower
Yttrium16 minerals with U and Y5.06%120.72% higher
Barium16 minerals with U and Ba5.06%9.59% higher
Nitrogen14 minerals with U and N4.43%73.57% higher
Fluorine13 minerals with U and F4.11%48.03% lower
Niobium12 minerals with U and Nb3.80%26.38% higher
Selenium10 minerals with U and Se3.16%18.00% higher
Molybdenum10 minerals with U and Mo3.16%101.94% higher
Manganese7 minerals with U and Mn2.22%80.96% lower
Cerium7 minerals with U and Ce2.22%27.83% lower
Bismuth7 minerals with U and Bi2.22%46.85% lower
Zinc6 minerals with U and Zn1.90%66.52% lower
Strontium6 minerals with U and Sr1.90%32.06% lower
Neodymium6 minerals with U and Nd1.90%117.65% higher
Tantalum6 minerals with U and Ta1.90%67.90% higher
Chromium5 minerals with U and Cr1.58%13.32% lower
Thorium5 minerals with U and Th1.58%151.14% higher
Cobalt4 minerals with U and Co1.27%3.10% higher
Nickel4 minerals with U and Ni1.27%62.87% lower
Tellurium4 minerals with U and Te1.27%63.89% lower
Lanthanum3 minerals with U and La0.95%30.04% lower
Tungsten2 minerals with U and W0.63%30.04% lower
Chlorine2 minerals with U and Cl0.63%91.45% lower
Samarium2 minerals with U and Sm0.63%552.95% higher
Zirconium1 mineral with U and Zr0.32%86.94% lower
Lithium1 mineral with U and Li0.32%84.07% lower
Beryllium1 mineral with U and Be0.32%85.27% lower
Boron1 mineral with U and B0.32%93.74% lower
Caesium1 mineral with U and Cs0.32%40.64% lower
Gadolinium1 mineral with U and Gd0.32%226.48% higher
Dysprosium1 mineral with U and Dy0.32%552.95% higher
Periodic Table
1H 2He
3Li 4Be 5B 6C 7N 8O 9F 10Ne
11Na 12Mg 13Al 14Si 15P 16S 17Cl 18Ar
19K 20Ca 21Sc 22Ti 23V 24Cr 25Mn 26Fe 27Co 28Ni 29Cu 30Zn 31Ga 32Ge 33As 34Se 35Br 36Kr
37Rb 38Sr 39Y 40Zr 41Nb 42Mo 43Tc 44Ru 45Rh 46Pd 47Ag 48Cd 49In 50Sn 51Sb 52Te 53I 54Xe
55Cs 56Ba 57La 72Hf 73Ta 74W 75Re 76Os 77Ir 78Pt 79Au 80Hg 81Tl 82Pb 83Bi 84Po 85At 86Rn
87Fr 88Ra 89Ac 104Rd 105Db 106Sg 107Bh 108Hs 109Mt 110Ds 111Rg 112Cn 113Nh 114Fl 115Mc 116Lv 117Ts 118Og
 
58Ce 59Pr 60Nd 61Pm 62Sm 63Eu 64Gd 65Tb 66Dy 67Ho 68Er 69Tm 70Yb 71Lu
90Th 91Pa 92U 93Np 94Pu 95Am 96Cm 97Bk 98Cf 99Es 100Fm 101Md 102No 103Lr
Default Categories CPK Electronegativity Atomic Radius Lowest Oxidation Highest Oxidation Crustal Abundance Goldschmidt Mineral Species Minerals with U Relative Frequency
Protactinium << Uranium >> Neptunium


Most widespread minerals containing Uranium
This list of minerals containing Uranium is built from the mindat.org locality database. This is based on the number of localities entered for mineral species and is therefore slanted towards minerals interesting to collectors with less coverage of common rock-forming-minerals so it does not give an undistorted distribution of Uranium mineral species. It is more useful when comparing rare species rather than common species.
NameFormulaCrystal SystemMindat Localities
UraniniteUO2Isometric3436
AutuniteCa(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2OOrthorhombic1457
CarnotiteK2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2OMonoclinic1323
TorberniteCu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2OTetragonal1199
UranophaneCa(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2OMonoclinic1038
CoffiniteU(SiO4) · nH2OTetragonal768
TyuyamuniteCa(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 5-8H2OOrthorhombic730
MetatorberniteCu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 8H2OTetragonal529
Meta-autuniteCa(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 6H2OTetragonal461
BranneriteUTi2O6Monoclinic336
Photos
04091170017271927288880.jpg
Uraninite

Bytíz, Příbram, Příbram District, Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic
00192440017271921205093.jpg
Autunite

Assunção Mine, Aldeia Nova, Ferreira de Aves, Sátão, Viseu, Portugal
02801430017271921936589.jpg
Carnotite

Mashamba West Mine, Sicomines copper-cobalt project, Mutshatsha, Lualaba, DR Congo
02493210017271927218970.jpg
Torbernite

Hagendorf South Pegmatite, Hagendorf, Waidhaus, Neustadt an der Waldnaab District, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany
06190420017362137592580.jpg
Uraninite

Bytíz, Příbram, Příbram District, Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic
00192440017271921205093.jpg
Autunite

Assunção Mine, Aldeia Nova, Ferreira de Aves, Sátão, Viseu, Portugal
02801430017271921936589.jpg
Carnotite

Mashamba West Mine, Sicomines copper-cobalt project, Mutshatsha, Lualaba, DR Congo
02493210017271927218970.jpg
Torbernite

Hagendorf South Pegmatite, Hagendorf, Waidhaus, Neustadt an der Waldnaab District, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany
09621140017271927358426.jpg
Uraninite

Bytíz, Příbram, Příbram District, Central Bohemian Region, Czech Republic
00192440017271921205093.jpg
Autunite

Assunção Mine, Aldeia Nova, Ferreira de Aves, Sátão, Viseu, Portugal
02801430017271921936589.jpg
Carnotite

Mashamba West Mine, Sicomines copper-cobalt project, Mutshatsha, Lualaba, DR Congo
07006660017271951402756.jpg
Torbernite

Hagendorf South Pegmatite, Hagendorf, Waidhaus, Neustadt an der Waldnaab District, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany

Localities with greatest number of different Uranium mineral species
1Jáchymov, Karlovy Vary District, Karlovy Vary Region, Czech Republic65 U minerals
2Krunkelbach Valley Uranium deposit, Menzenschwand, St Blasien, Waldshut, Freiburg Region, Baden-Württemberg, Germany64 U minerals
3Shinkolobwe Mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo59 U minerals
4Rabejac Est, Le Puech, Lodève, Hérault, Occitanie, France50 U minerals
5La Creusaz U prospect, La Creusaz, Les Marécottes, Salvan, Saint-Maurice, Valais, Switzerland49 U minerals
6Eureka mine, Castell-estaó, La Torre de Cabdella, La Vall Fosca, Pallars Jussà, Lleida, Catalonia, Spain43 U minerals
7Markey Mine, Red Canyon Mining District, San Juan County, Utah, USA40 U minerals
8Blue Lizard Mine, Red Canyon Mining District, San Juan County, Utah, USA39 U minerals


Important ores of Uranium
NameFormulaCrystal System
UraniniteUO2Isometric
Photos
04565340017271953392385.jpg
Uraninite

Swamp No. 1 Quarry, Topsham, Sagadahoc County, Maine, USA
08586520017271927318224.jpg
Uraninite

Shinkolobwe Mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo
09314780017271953391152.jpg
Uraninite, etc.

Sar-e-Sang, Kuran wa Munjan District, Badakhshan, Afghanistan
00923930017272036979724.jpg
Uraninite, etc.

Ruggles Mine, Grafton, Grafton County, New Hampshire, USA
04565340017271953392385.jpg
Uraninite

Swamp No. 1 Quarry, Topsham, Sagadahoc County, Maine, USA
08586520017271927318224.jpg
Uraninite

Shinkolobwe Mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo
09314780017271953391152.jpg
Uraninite, etc.

Sar-e-Sang, Kuran wa Munjan District, Badakhshan, Afghanistan
00923930017272036979724.jpg
Uraninite, etc.

Ruggles Mine, Grafton, Grafton County, New Hampshire, USA
06597440017271953408135.jpg
Uraninite

Swamp No. 1 Quarry, Topsham, Sagadahoc County, Maine, USA
08586520017271927318224.jpg
Uraninite

Shinkolobwe Mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo
09054970017271953406542.jpg
Uraninite, etc.

Sar-e-Sang, Kuran wa Munjan District, Badakhshan, Afghanistan
00923930017272036979724.jpg
Uraninite, etc.

Ruggles Mine, Grafton, Grafton County, New Hampshire, USA


Minor ores of Uranium
NameFormulaCrystal System
Davidite-(Ce)Ce(Y,U)Fe2(Ti,Fe,Cr,V)18(O,OH,F)38Trigonal
CarnotiteK2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2OMonoclinic
TyuyamuniteCa(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 5-8H2OOrthorhombic
TorberniteCu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 12H2OTetragonal
MetatorberniteCu(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 8H2OTetragonal
AutuniteCa(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10-12H2OOrthorhombic
Meta-autuniteCa(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 6H2OTetragonal
UranophaneCa(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 5H2OMonoclinic
SchröckingeriteNaCa3(UO2)(CO3)3(SO4)F · 10H2OTriclinic
Photos
07192740017271922429216.jpg
Davidite-(Ce)

Frikstad 03 Feldspar Quarry, Frikstad, Iveland, Agder, Norway
02731390017271921898595.jpg
Carnotite

Monument Valley Mining District, USA
05923230017271927244204.jpg
Tyuyamunite

Marie Mine, Pryor Mountains, Carbon County, Montana, USA
01758030017271927135546.jpg
Torbernite

Höhenstein Shaft, Uranium deposit, Poppenreuth bei Tirschenreuth, Mähring, Tirschenreuth District, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany
08394950017362137605250.jpg
Davidite-(Ce)

Frikstad 03 Feldspar Quarry, Frikstad, Iveland, Agder, Norway
02731390017271921898595.jpg
Carnotite

Monument Valley Mining District, USA
05923230017271927244204.jpg
Tyuyamunite

Marie Mine, Pryor Mountains, Carbon County, Montana, USA
01758030017271927135546.jpg
Torbernite

Höhenstein Shaft, Uranium deposit, Poppenreuth bei Tirschenreuth, Mähring, Tirschenreuth District, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany
07029760017271922498839.jpg
Davidite-(Ce)

Frikstad 03 Feldspar Quarry, Frikstad, Iveland, Agder, Norway
02731390017271921898595.jpg
Carnotite

Monument Valley Mining District, USA
08331680017271927461438.jpg
Tyuyamunite

Marie Mine, Pryor Mountains, Carbon County, Montana, USA
01758030017271927135546.jpg
Torbernite

Höhenstein Shaft, Uranium deposit, Poppenreuth bei Tirschenreuth, Mähring, Tirschenreuth District, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany
 
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