Soddyite
Current inventory: 0 gems
 

  
Soddyite is named after Frederick Soddy (1877 - 1956), British physicist and radiochemist.

Discovered in 1922; IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

(UO₂)₂SiO₄ · 2H₂O

Hydrated Uranyl Silicate

Molecular Weight:

668.17 gm

Composition:

Uranium

71.25 %

U

80.83 %

UO₂

Silicon

4.20 %

Si

8.99 %

SiO₂

Hydrogen

0.60 %

H

5.39 %

H₂O

Oxygen

23.95 %

O

100.00 %

95.21 %

= TOTAL OXIDE

Classification

Mineral Classification:

SILICATES (Germanates)

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

8/B.36-10

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

9.AK.05

9 : SILICATES (Germanates)
A : Nesosilicates
K : Uranyl neso- and polysilicates

Related to:

n/a

Varieties:

None

Synonyms:

None

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Orthorhombic - Dipyramidal

Crystal Habit:

As crystals of pyramidal to platy habit, to 3 mm. As subparallel to divergent crystal clusters; in cross-fiber veinlets; also massive to earthy. 

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

Perfect on {001}, good on {111}

Fracture:

Conchoidal

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

3.5

Density:

4.63 - 4.70 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

Fluorescent, Short UV = weak orange yellow, Long UV = weak orange yellow

Radioactivity:

Very Strong; GRapi = 5,126,250.25 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)

Health Warning:

Contains uranium - always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking. Never lick or ingest. Avoid prolonged exposure in proximity of the body. Store away from inhabited areas.

Optical Properties

Color:

Amber to yellow or greenish yellow

Transparency:

Transparent, Translucent, Opaque

Luster:

Vitreous to adamantine, dull when earthy

Refractive Index:

1.650 - 1.715  Biaxial ( - )

Birefringence:

0.049 - 0.061

Dispersion:

Negligible to strong; r > v

Pleochroism:

X = colorless; Y = very pale yellow; Z = pale yellow-green

Occurances

Geological Setting:

A secondary mineral formed by oxidation of uraninite.

Common Associations:

Cuprosklodowskite, Kasolite, Sklodowskite, Uranophane, Torbernite, Curite

Common Impurities:

n/a

Type Locality:

Shinkolobwe Mine (Kasolo Mine), Shinkolobwe, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)

Year Discovered:

1922

View mineral photos:

Soddyite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Soddyite is a hydrated uranyl silicate mineral that is very strongly radioactive due to its uranium (U) content of over 71%. It is also fluorescent showing weak orange yellow under both shortwave and longwave UV. Its type locality is the Shinkolobwe Mine (Kasolo Mine), Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre). This mine is the type locality for quite a few uranium minerals. At this and other localities Soddyite is often closely associated with other radioactive minerals such as Cuprosklodowskite, Curite, Kasolite, Sklodowskite, Swamboite, Torbernite and Uranophane. The picture above shows yellow Soddyite associated with green Cuprosklodowskite. Soddyite mineral specimens are very attractive with its bright yellow crystals set with other brightly colored minerals such as green Cuprosklodowskite. Faceted gems are extremely rare and unusual.

Soddyite is named after Frederick Soddy (1877 - 1956), British physicist and radiochemist.

As with all radioactive minerals always wash hands after handling. Avoid inhaling dust when handling or breaking. Never lick or ingest. Avoid prolonged exposure in proximity of the body. Store away from inhabited areas.

Locations for Soddyite: From Kasolo, Swambo, and in the Musonoi mine, Kolwezi, Katanga Province, Congo (Shaba Province, Zaire). At the Norrabees pegmatite, Namaqualand, Cape Province, South Africa. In the Krunkelbachtal mine, near Menzenschwand, Black Forest, Germany. In the USA, in the Ruggles pegmatite, Grafton, Grafton County, New Hampshire; at the Steel City mine, Yavapai County, Arizona; from the Jackpile mine, Laguna, Valencia County, New Mexico; in the Lucky Mc mine, Fremont County, Wyoming; from the Honeycomb Hills, Juab County, Utah; and at the Lookout No. 22 claim, Marshall Pass, Saguache County, Colorado. On Mt. Painter, Flinders Ranges, South Australia, and from South Alligator Valley, Northern Territory, Australia.
 

  
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