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Formula: Ca3Mg3(UO2)2(CO3)6(OH)4.18H2O
Hydrated carbonate, uranyl mineral
Crystal System: Monoclinic
Specific gravity: 2.57 measured, 2.69 calculated
Hardness: 2½
Colour: Pale green
Luminescence: Fluoresces pale cream-yellow under short wave UV
Solubility: Effervesces in dilute hydrochloric acid and is slowly soluble in cold water
Very strongly RADIOACTIVE
Environments
Sedimentary environments
Hydrothermal environments
Rabbittite is a rare secondary mineral, which may be
of post-mine origin. Associated minerals include natrozippeite,
magnesiozippeite,
fourmarierite, gypsum,
bieberite and cobalt-bearing
calcite
(HOM).
Localities
At the type locality, Lucky Strike No. 2 Mine, San Rafael Swell Mining District, Emery County, Utah, USA,
rabbittite occurs as an efflorescence on a pillar of high-grade ore near the portal. The mine is in a
uranium deposit in Triassic (251.902 to 201.4 million years ago)
conglomerate. The ore contains
pitchblende and is only partly oxidised. The ore near the portal was
high grade, containing pitchblende with a little
pyrite and galena, and many yellow
and orange secondary
uranium minerals, including
fourmarierite, rabbittite,
zippeite, another uranium
sulphate that is related to zippeite, and another new
uranium mineral. Gypsum and
efflorescences of at least two pink cobalt-bearing minerals,
bieberite and
spherocobaltite, were collected from the same pillar on which
the rabbittite occurred. The rabbittite formed bundles of pale-green extremely small acicular crystals
with a silky lustre, some of them bent and twisted
(AM 40.201-206).
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