Vandenbrandeite
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Vandenbrandeite was named by Alfred Schoep in 1932 in honor of Pierre Van den Brande (1896-1957), Belgian geologist, Geological Survey of Katanga, who discovered the deposit at Kalongwe deposit, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre).

Discovered in 1932; IMA status: Valid (pre-IMA; Grandfathered)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

Cu(UO₂)(OH)₄

Copper Uranyl Oxide Hydroxide

Molecular Weight:

401.60 gm

Composition:

Uranium

59.27 %

U

67.24 %

UO₂

Copper

15.82 %

Cu

19.81 %

Cu₂O

Hydrogen

1.00 %

H

8.97 %

H₂O

Oxygen

23.90 %

O

100.00 %

96.02 %

= TOTAL OXIDE

Classification

Mineral Classification:

OXIDES

Strunz 8th Ed. ID:

4/H.04-10

Nickel-Strunz 10th Ed. ID:

4.GB.45

4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
G : Uranyl Hydroxides
B : With additional cations (K, Ca, Ba, Pb, etc.); with mainly UO₂(O,OH)₅ pentagonal polyhedra

Related to:

n/a

Varieties:

None

Synonyms:

Uranolepidite, ICSD 1041, PDF 8-325

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Triclinic - Pinacoidal

Crystal Habit:

Crystals, flattened on {001}, may be lathlike, rounded, to 0.5 cm; in parallel aggregates, lamellar, scaly; massive 

Twinning:

None

Physical Properties

Cleavage:

Perfect on {110}; distinct in the [001] zone; and also indistinct in that zone

Fracture:

n /a

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

4.0

Density:

4.91 - 5.03 (g/cm³)

Luminescence:

None

Radioactivity:

Very Strong; GRapi = 4,352,567.33 (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:

Dark green to nearly black; green in transmitted light

Transparency:

Translucent, transparent in thin fragments

Luster:

Vitreous

Refractive Index:

1.765 - 1.800  Biaxial ( + ) or ( - )

Birefringence:

0.035

Dispersion:

Visible to strong

Pleochroism:

X = blue-green, Z = yellow-green

Occurances

Geological Setting:

A rare secondary mineral in the oxide zone of hydrothermal copper-bearing uranium deposits.

Common Associations:

Cuprosklodowskite, Kasolite, Sklodowskite, Malachite, Chalcocite, Chalcopyrite, Uraninite, Goethite, Soddyite (Kalongwe, Congo); Curite, Uranophane, Sharpite (Shinkolobwe, Congo)

Common Impurities:

n/a

Type Locality:

Kalongwe deposit, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre)

Year Discovered:

1932

View mineral photos:

Vandenbrandeite Mineral Photos and Locations

More Information

Mindat.org
Webmineral.com

Vandendrandeite is a copper uranyl hydroxide mineral that is very strongly radioactive. It contains over 59% Uranium (U). The picture above shows green micro crystals of Vandenbrandeite in yellow Soddyite another Uranium rich mineral. Vandenbrandeite is often closely associated with other radioactive minerals such as Cuprosklodowskite, Curite, Kasolite, Sklodowskite, Swamboite, Torbernite and Uranophane.

Vandenbrandeite was named by Alfred Schoep in 1932 in honor of Pierre Van den Brande (1896-1957), Belgian geologist, Geological Survey of Katanga, who discovered the deposit at Kalongwe deposit, Katanga, Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre).

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 Vandendrandeite: In Congo (Zaire), in Katanga (Shaba) Province, from the Luiswishi mine; at Kalongwe; from Shinkolobwe; at Kambove; from Swambo; and in the Musonoi mine, near Kolwezi. In the Rabéjac uranium deposit, seven km south-southeast of Lodève, Hérault, France.
 

  
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