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Formula: Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2.3H2O
Hydrated normal vanadate,
carnotite group
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 3.81 to 3.93 measured, 3.85 calculated
Hardness: 2
Streak: Yellow
Colour: Bright yellow
RADIOACTIVE
Environments
Metatyuyamunite is a common dehydration product of tyuyamunite in Colorado Plateau-type
uranium-vanadium deposits, associated with tyuyamunite,
carnotite, corvusite,
hewettite, rauvite,
uraninite, volborthite,
vésigniéite, autunite,
malachite and gypsum
(HOM, Mindat).
Localities
There are four co-type localities, the Mesa number 1 mine, White Ash Peak, Lukachukai Mining District, Lukachukai Mountains, Apache county,
Arizona, USA, and three in New Mexico, USA, the Laguna Mining District, the Haystack mine, McKinley county and the Shiprock District,
San Juan county, all of which are sedimentary uranium deposits
(Mindat).
On the Colorado Plateau, USA, metatyuyamunite occurs as masses disseminated in sandstone,
in limestone mixed with carnotite and as
radial aggregates to 3 mm on gypsum. It is often mixed with
carnotite and tyuyamunite
(Dana, AM 41.187-201).
At the Small Spot and May Day mines, Calamity Mesa, Mesa county, Colorado, USA, metatyuyamunite crystals to 3 mm formed on
gypsum, which coated the walls of fractures in
sandstone
(AM 41.187-201).
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