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Formula: Cu(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2.6H2O
Nesosilicate (insular SiO4 groups), sklodowskite group,
uranyl mineral
Crystal System: Triclinic
Specific gravity: 3.85 measured, 3.89 calculated
Hardness: 4
Streak: Greenish yellow
Colour: Yellowish green to grass-green or greenish yellow
Solubility:
Common impurities:
Very strongly RADIOACTIVE
Environments
Sedimentary environments
Hydrothermal environments
Cuprosklodowskite is a secondary mineral formed by
alteration of earlier uranium minerals, both in situ and after transport of
solutions. Associated minerals include becquerelite,
brochantite, uranophane,
kasolite, vandenbrandeite,
liebigite, parauranophane
and compreignacite
(HOM).
Localities
At the Sonia Mine, Urcal deposit, Guandacol, Coronel Felipe Varela Department, La Rioja Province, Argentina,
alteration of zirconian uraninite has produced
boltwoodite as small botryoidal aggregates of fibrous crystals
intimately associated with cuprosklodowskite
(AM 46.12-25).
At the Huemul Mine, Pampa Amarilla mining district, Malargüe Department, Mendoza Province, Argentina, in the
alteration zone above the water-table, many hydrated yellow minerals like
tyuyamunite, sengierite,
carnotite, cuprosklodowskite,
autunite, bayleyite and
andersonite are found in close association with
copper minerals such as malachite,
azurite and chalcanthite
(AM 51.1-13).
At Port Radium District, Great Bear Lake, North Slave Region, Northwest Territories, Canada, cuprosklodowskite
occurs as thin dark green coatings and minute, mammillary crusts and as thin blue-grey earthy crusts on
pitchblende. Fourmarierite
is found widely on the same specimen
(CM 7.331-332).
At Nicholson No. 1, Consolidated Nicholson Mines, Goldfields District, Beaverlodge Lake area, Saskatchewan, Canada,
cuprosklodowskite occurs as tiny bright yellow-green needles in a fissure in
talcose argillaceous rock associated with other
uranium minerals. It was also seen close to sulphides and
malachite on a fine-grained carbonaceous rock as a coating
(AM 36.411-414).
At the type locality, the Kalongwe deposit, Mutshatsha, Lualaba, DR Congo, cuprosklodowskite occurs as small
acicular needles in a fissure in a talcose argillaceous rock in the
uranium deposit
(AM 19.235-236).
At the Woodrow mine, Laguna subdistrict, Cibola County, New Mexico, USA, unoxidised ore is composed of
coffinite and uraninite, which
typically are extremely finely divided and intimately mixed with a carbonaceous substance.
Pyrite and marcasite are abundant
also, and small amounts of chalcopyrite,
galena, wurtzite,
cobaltite, baryte and carbonate
minerals are present. The ore is partly oxidised to a depth of about 50 feet. Owing to the low
vanadium content of the deposit, the oxidised ore contains a large variety
of minerals of hexa-valent uranium, including
uranopilite, zippeite and
cuprosklodowskite
(AM 47.26-33).
At an unnamed U mine, McKinley County, New Mexico, USA santafeite is
associated with hematite,
limestone and cuprosklodowskite
(AM 43.677-687).
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