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Formula: Ba(UO2)6O4(OH)6.8H2O
Hydroxide of barium, uranyl mineral
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 5.28 to 5.36 measured, 5.3 calculated
Streak: Yellow
Colour: Yellow to golden-yellow, amber-yellow, orange-yellow
Common impurities: Ca,Si
Strongly RADIOACTIVE
Environments
Sedimentary environments
Hydrothermal environments
Billietite is an uncommon alteration product of uraninite.
Associated minerals include uranophane,
fourmarierite,
metatorbernite,
rutherfordine,
becquerelite,
studtite and soddyite
(HOM).
Billietite forms deep yellow, pseudo-hexagonal tabular crystals to 5 mm that often show twinning
(Lauf2).
Localities
At the type locality, the Shinkolobwe Mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove District, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo,
billietite is
an alteration product of uraninite (Mindat), associated with
fourmarierite,
uranophane and
torbernite
(Dana).
Billietite from Shinkolobwe - Image
Billietite easily loses water when heated
(AM 33.384).
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