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Formula: (NH4)2(UO2)(SO4)2.2H2O
Hydrated uranyl sulphate
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 3.046 calculated
Hardness: 2
Streak: White
Colour: Light green
Luminescence: Fluoresces green under short wave and long wave UV
Solubility: Slowly dissolves in water at room temperature
RADIOACTIVE
Environments
Plutonic igneous environments
Hydrothermal environments
Localities
At the type locality, the Gremuchka ore zone, Mine no. 1, Beshtau Mountain, Lermontov, Stavropol Krai, Russia,
beshtauite was found in the oxidation zone and named after the locality. It is associated with
rozenite, gypsum and
lermontovite, and older
marcasite, pyrite,
halloysite and opal.
Beshtauite occurs as well-shaped short-prismatic crystals up to 0.1 × 0.15 × 0.2 mm3, their
clusters and crusts up to 0.5 mm across growing on marcasite.
Beshtauite is transparent and light green with a vitreous lustre
(AM 99.8.1783-1787).
The deposit is a hydrothermal vein-type uranium deposit in
porphyritic granite
(HOM).
Beshtauite from the Gremuchka ore zone -
Image
At the Green Lizard Mine, Red Canyon Mining District, San Juan County, Utah, USA, beshtauite has been found
as a post-mining mineral on quartz
sandstone
(Mindat photo).
Beshtauite from the Green Lizard Mine -
Image
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