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Formula: (UO2)(CO3)
Anhydrous carbonate, uranyl mineral
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 5.7 measured, 5.682 calculated
Streak: White
Colour: Pale brownish-yellow, yellow to orange, yellowish green
Solubility: Soluble in acids
RADIOACTIVE
Environments
Pegmatites
Sedimentary environments
Hydrothermal environments
Rutherfordine is a secondary mineral formed as a
weathering product of
uraninite. Associated minerals include uraninite,
becquelerite, masuyite,
schoepite, kasolite,
curite, boltwoodite,
vandendriesscheite, billietite,
metatorbernite, fourmarierite,
studtite and sklodowskite
(HOM).
Rutherfordine often forms visually distinctive pale yellowish to cream-coloured bundles of acicular crystals
(Lauf2).
Localities
At the type locality, Lukwengule, Uluguru Mts, Morogoro Region, Tanzania, rutherfordine occurs as powdery
masses composed of minute matted
fibres, pseudomorphic after
uraninite
(Mindat, Dana).
At the Shinkolobwe mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove District, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo, rutherfordine occurs as
radiating clusters on
uraninite with masuyite
(Dana).
Rutherfordine from Shinkolobwe - Image
At the Dunton Gem Quarry, Newry, Oxford County, Maine, USA, rutherfordine occurs as an alteration product of
uraninite
(AM 41.127-133).
At the Apex Mine, Reese River Mining District, Lander county, Nevada, USA, rutherfordine occurs radial sprays
up to 1 mm in size with
uranopilite and zippeite,
frequently overgrown with
uranopilite
(R&M 87.3.275).
Rutherfordine from the Apex mine - Image
At Beryl Mountain Quarry, South Acworth, Sullivan county, New Hampshire, USA, rutherfordine occurs abundantly
as dense to earthy
pseudomorphs after uraninite
in pegmatites, associated
with schoepite,
vandendriesscheite and
uranophane
(AM 41.127-133).
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