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Formula: (UO2)4O(OH)6(H2O)6
Oxide, uranyl mineral,
schoepite group
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 4.8 measured, 4.918 calculated
Hardness: 2&3189;
Streak: Yellow
Colour: Amber-yellow, lemon-yellow, or sulphur-yellow
RADIOACTIVE
Environments
Sedimentary environments
Hydrothermal environments
Schoepite is a rare alteration product of uraninite in hydrothermal
uranium deposits; it may also form directly from dehydration of ianthinite
(HOM) and it may itself dehydrate spontaneously at room temperature to
metaschoepite and paraschoepite
(Webmin, Mindat), and any given sample is likely to contain at least two and possibly all three of these minerals
(Dana).
Common associates include becquerelite and
ianthinite
(Mindat).
At the type locality, the Shinkolobwe Mine, Kambove District, Haut-Katanga, Democratic Republic of the Congo,
schoepite
occurs in the oxidised zone of a copper-uranium deposit as an alteration product of
ianthinite (Mindat).
Associated minerals include uraninite,
becquerelite, billietite,
vandendriesscheite,
fourmarierite, ianthinite,
curite, soddyite,
rutherfordine and uranophane
(HOM).
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At Wolsendorf, Bavaria, Germany schoepite occurs with ianthinite
and becquerelite
(Dana).
At Beryl mountain, Akworth, New Hampshire, USA, schoepite occurs as
pseudomorphs after
uraninite
(Dana).
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At the Cherkasar deposit, Uzbekistan, schoepite occurs with paraschoepite,
arsenuranylite, metazeunerite,
uranospinite and novákite
(HOM).
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