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Paulscherrerite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Paulscherrerite
Paul Scherrer
Formula:
UO2(OH)2
Colour:
canary yellow
Specific Gravity:
6.66 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 2011 by Joël Brugger, Nicolas Meisser, Barbara Etschmann, Stefan Ansermet, Allan Pring in honor of Paul Scherrer [February 3, 1890 Saint Gallen, Switzerland – September 25, 1969 Zürich, Switzerland], Swiss physicist, professor of experimental physics in the Eidgenössische Technische Hochschule of Zürich, Switzerland, and president of the Swiss Atomic Energy Commission. In 1918, together with Paul Debye, he developed a technique for crystal structure determination by X-ray diffraction on powders (Debye-Scherrer technique). He is also known for the Scherrer equation, which describes the dependence of line broadening of reflected X-rays on crystal size for small particles.
Occurs as a dehydration product of metaschoepite.
Previously, generally called 'dehydrated schoepite.'
Previously, generally called 'dehydrated schoepite.'
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
38700
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:38700:2
IMA Classification of Paulscherrerite
Classification of Paulscherrerite
4.GA.20
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
G : Uranyl Hydroxides
A : Without additional cations
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
G : Uranyl Hydroxides
A : Without additional cations
5.2.2.
5 : OXIDES CONTAINING URANIUM OR THORIUM
2 : AXO3·xH2O
5 : OXIDES CONTAINING URANIUM OR THORIUM
2 : AXO3·xH2O
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Psc | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Paulscherrerite
Colour:
Canary yellow
Streak:
Canary yellow
Density:
6.66 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Chemistry of Paulscherrerite
Mindat Formula:
UO2(OH)2
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Paulscherrerite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:
a = 4.281 Å, b = 10.230 Å, c = 6.865 Å
β = 90.35°
β = 90.35°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.418 : 1 : 0.671
Unit Cell V:
300.64 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Comment:
pseudo-orthorhombic
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 5.085 Å | (64) |
| 3.424 Å | (100) |
| 3.405 Å | (27) |
| 2.848 Å | (18) |
| 2.483 Å | (23) |
| 1.9854 Å | (13) |
| 1.9737 Å | (23) |
| 1.7820 Å | (9) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Paulscherrerite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Powdery, pseudomorphs. intimately admixed with significant amounts of metaschoepite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Holotype material (G31382) is deposited in the South Australian Museum, North Terrace, 5000 Adelaide, Australia, and cotype material (MGL 79287) in the Musée Géologique, UNIL-Anthropole, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Paulscherrerite
Other Language Names for Paulscherrerite
Dutch:Paulscherreriet
German:Paulscherrerit
Relationship of Paulscherrerite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Schoepite Group:
| Metaschoepite | (UO2)8O2(OH)12 · 10H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbcn |
| Schoepite | (UO2)8O2(OH)12 · 12H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 10 photos of Paulscherrerite associated with Schoepite | (UO2)8O2(OH)12 · 12H2O |
| 9 photos of Paulscherrerite associated with Vandendriesscheite | PbU7O22 · 12H2O |
| 8 photos of Paulscherrerite associated with Zircon | Zr(SiO4) |
| 6 photos of Paulscherrerite associated with Uraninite | UO2 |
| 4 photos of Paulscherrerite associated with Meta-autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 3 photos of Paulscherrerite associated with Microcline | K(AlSi3O8) |
| 2 photos of Paulscherrerite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 1 photo of Paulscherrerite associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.GA.05 | Paraschoepite | UO3 · 2H2O |
| 4.GA.05 | Metaschoepite | (UO2)8O2(OH)12 · 10H2O |
| 4.GA.05 | Schoepite | (UO2)8O2(OH)12 · 12H2O |
| 4.GA.10 |
Ruggles Mine, Grafton, Grafton County, New Hampshire, USA