Uramphite

{{Short description|Uranyl phosphate mineral}} {{Infobox mineral | name = Uramphit | IMAsymbol = Uap<ref name="Warr" /> | formula = * (NH₄)(UO₂)(PO₄)·3H₂O<ref name="IMA-Liste" /><ref name="StrunzNickel" /> | category = Phosphate, Arsenate und Vanadate | strunz = 8.EB.15 | dana = 40.02a.07.01 | system = tetragonal | class = ditetragonal-dipyramidal; 4/''m''2/''m''2/''m''<ref name="Webmineral" /> | symmetry = ''P''4/''ncc'' (#130)<ref name="StrunzNickel" /> | mohs = 2-3<ref name="Lapis" /> | density = 3.7 (measured), 3.26 (calculated) g/cm³<ref name="Handbookofmineralogy" /> | cleavage = straight along two planes<ref name="Handbookofmineralogy" /> | color = pale to bottle-green, pale yellow<ref name="Lapis" /> | streak = green-white to white<ref name="Lapis" /> | diaphaneity = translucent<ref name="Handbookofmineralogy" /> | luster = glass-shiny<ref name="Handbookofmineralogy" /> | refractive = {{math|''n''_α {{=}} 1.564}}, {{math|''n''_β {{=}} 1.585}}<ref name="Mindat" /> | birefringence = 0.021<ref name="Mindat" /> | pleochroism = colorless vs. pale green<ref name="Mindat" /> | solubility = slightly in dilute, cold hydrochloric acid (HCl) or warm nitric acid (HNO₃) | other = 25px Radioactive }} '''Uramphite''' is a rarely-found phosphate mineral in the "phosphate, arsenate and vanadate" mineral class with chemical composition (NH₄)₂[UO₂PO₄]₂·6H₂O<ref name="StrunzNickel" /> from which it is seen to be a hydrated ammonium uranyl phosphate.

Uramphite crystallizes in the tetragonal crystal system and develops rectangular crystal faces approximately 0.2&nbsp;mm wide, but is also found as rosette-like mineral aggregates and surface films. The mineral is translucent a colored light to bottle-green or light yellow with a shiny lustre on the exterior.

== Etymology and history == Uramphite was discovered in 1950<ref name="Pekov" /> in the uranium-coal-bed "Tura-Kaffak" near Minkush in the Moldo Too mountains in Naryn, Kyrgyzstan. Analysis and publication followed in 1957 through the efforts of Z. A. Nekrasova ({{langx|ru|З. А. Некрасова}}), who named the mineral after its composition of '''ur'''anium, '''am'''monium, and '''ph'''osphate.

No type location for the mineral has yet been documented.<ref name="Handbookofmineralogy" /><ref name="IMA-Typmaterialkatalog" />

As uramphit was already known and acknowledged as a mineral prior to the International Mineralogical Association (IMA)'s establishment, the ''Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification'' (CNMNC) accepted it and categorized it as a so-called "grandfathered" (G) mineral.<ref name="IMA-Liste" /> The generally-accepted IMA/CNMNC abbreviation ("mineral symbol") for uramphite is "Uap".<ref name="Warr" />

== Classification == Already in the old Strunz 8th edition, uramphite belongs to the "phosphate, arsenate und vanadate" mineral class, group VII/D (hydrated phosphates, arsenates and vanadates with other anions)". It belonged to the uraninite (uranium mica, VII/D.20) subgroup, forming the "uranium family" (VII/D.20a) with autunite, bassetite, fritzscheite, heinrichite, kahlerite, kirchheimerite, sodium uranospinite, nováčekite, sabugalite, saléeite, torbernite, uranocircite, uranospathite, uranospinite and zeunerite.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

In Stefan Weiß's most recent (2018) edition of the ''Lapis Mineral Catalogue'', which maintains Karl Hugo Strunz's old system for the sake of private collectors and institutions, the mineral has identifier ''VII/E.02-160''. In the "Lapis system" this corresponds to the newly defined category of "uranyl phosphates/arsenates and uranyl vanadates with [UO₂]²⁺–[PO₄]/[AsO₄]³⁻ und [UO₂]²⁺–[V₂O₈]⁶⁻ and isotypic vanadates (sincosite family)". Therein uramphite forms the "meta-autunite group" with number ''VII/E.02'' together with abernathyite, bassetite, chernikovite, lehnerite, meta-ankoleite, meta-autunite, meta-heinrichite, meta-kahlerite, meta-kirchheimerite, meta-lodèvite, meta–sodium-autunite, meta-nováčekite, meta-rauchite, meta-saléeite, meta-torbernite, meta-uranocircite, meta-uranospinite, meta-zeunerite, sodium uranospinite, ulrichite, and uramarsite.<ref name="Lapis" />

In the International Mineralogical Association (IMA)'s Strunz 9th edition (2009),<ref name="IMA-Liste-2009" /> uramphite is listed in the "uranyl phosphates and arsenates" category. This is further grouped by atomic proportions as a uranyl complex (UO₂) with phosphorus, arsenic, or vanadate complexes (RO₄), so that the mineral is accordingly found in the subgroup "UO₂&nbsp;:&nbsp;RO₄&nbsp;=&nbsp;1&nbsp;:&nbsp;1". There it makes up the unnamed group ''8.EB.15'' together with abernathyite, chernikovite, meta-ankoleite, sodium uranospinite, trögerite, and uramarsite.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

Also in the Dana mineral classification system, used predominantly in the English-speaking world, uramphite is classified in the "phosphate, arsenate and vanadates" and then in the group of "hydrated phosphates etc." There it forms the unnamed subgroup ''40.02a.07'' together with uramarsite, found in the group "hydrated phosphates etc., with A²⁺(B²⁺)₂(XO₄) × x(H₂O) and (UO₂)²⁺".{{cn|date=January 2025}}

== Crystal structure == Uramphite crystallizes in the tetragonal ''P''4/''ncc'' group (#130) with lattice parameters {{math|''a''&nbsp;{{=}}&nbsp;7.02&nbsp;Å}} and {{math|''c''&nbsp;{{=}}&nbsp;18.08&nbsp;Å}} with two formula units per unit cell.<ref name="StrunzNickel" />

== Characteristics == The mineral is quite strongly radioactive, on account of its uranium content (up to 54.46%). Given the elemental proportions in the atomic formula and also the subsequent products in the decays series, the mineral has a specific activity of approximately 97.481&nbsp;kBq/g<ref name="Webmineral" /> (for comparison: natural potassium has 0.0312&nbsp;kBq/g). The quoted value may of course differ for any particular mineral, depending on content and retention of the decay products, as these vary the activity.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

Uramphite is slightly soluble in dilute cold hydrochloric acid (HCl) and warm nitric acid (HNO₃). Under UV light, uramphite shows a yellowish-green fluorescence, diminishing in intensity as the mineral is heated. If heated for a long time at 500&nbsp;°C, the fluorescence vanishes entirely.<ref name="Fleischer" />

== Formation and discovery location == Uramphite forms in the {{ill|oxidation zone|de|Oxidationszone}} of the uranium-coal bed "Tura-Kaffak" and can be found in the broken coal at a 20–50&nbsp;m depth below the surface. The uramphit mineral community is generally unnamed, but in the aforementioned type locality, the ({{as of|2023}}) only known deposit,<ref name="Fundorte" /> gypsum and meta-autunite have been found.<ref name="Typlokalität" />

== Safety == Because of the mineral's strongly ionizing radiation, possible uramphite minerals should only be examined in dust- and radiation-protecting gear, and above all never stored in living-, bedding-, or workspaces. In general, absorption into the body ({{ill|bodily incorporation|de|Inkorporation (Medizin)}}, ingestion) should always be prevented and for safety direct bodily contact avoided. Handling of the mineral ought be performed wearing a mouth-guard and gloves.{{cn|date=January 2025}}

== See also == * List of minerals ==References== <references> <ref name="Fleischer">{{harvnb|Fleischer|1959}}</ref> <ref name="Fundorte">Discovery location for uramphite in [https://www.mindat.org/min-4100.html#autoanchor21 Mindat], accessed 10 June 2023.</ref> <ref name="Handbookofmineralogy">{{Cite encyclopedia |year=2001 |title=Uramphite |encyclopedia=Handbook of Mineralogy, Mineralogical Society of America |url=https://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/uramphite.pdf |access-date=2023-06-10 |last2=Richard A. Bideaux |last3=Kenneth W. Bladh |last4=Monte C. Nichols |author1=John W. Anthony}}</ref> <ref name="IMA-Liste">{{Cite web |last1=Malcolm Back |last2=Cristian Biagioni |last3=William D. Birch |last4=Michel Blondieau |last5=Hans-Peter Boja |display-authors=etal |date=May 2023 |editor-last=IMA/CNMNC, Marco Pasero |title=The New IMA List of Minerals – A Work in Progress – Updated: May 2023 |url=http://cnmnc.units.it/master_list/IMA%20Master%20List%20%282023-05%29.pdf |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=cnmnc.main.jp |archive-date=2023-06-03 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230603215913/http://cnmnc.units.it/master_list/IMA%20Master%20List%20%282023-05%29.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> <ref name="IMA-Liste-2009">{{Cite web |last1=Ernest H. Nickel |author-link=Ernest Henry Nickel |last2=Monte C. Nichols |date=Jan 2009 |editor-last=IMA/CNMNC |title=IMA/CNMNC List of Minerals 2009 |url=http://cnmnc.units.it/IMA2009-01%20UPDATE%20160309.pdf |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=cnmnc.main.jp |archive-date=2023-11-10 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231110212918/http://cnmnc.units.it/IMA2009-01%20UPDATE%20160309.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref> <ref name="IMA-Typmaterialkatalog">{{Cite web |date=2021-02-12 |editor-last=Commission on Museums (IMA) |title=Catalogue of Type Mineral Specimens – U |url=https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/839128_ef1acebcb02a4559b37f37fb193a5cf4.pdf |access-date=2023-06-10}}</ref> <ref name="Lapis">{{Citation |last=Stefan Weiß |title=Das große Lapis Mineralienverzeichnis. Alle Mineralien von A – Z und ihre Eigenschaften. Stand 03/2018 |date=2018 |edition=7., vollkommen neu bearbeitete und ergänzte |place=München |publisher=Weise |isbn=978-3-921656-83-9 |language=de}}</ref> <ref name="Mindat">{{Cite web |editor-last=Hudson Institute of Mineralogy |title=Uramphite |url=https://www.mindat.org/min-4100.html |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=mindat.org}}</ref> <ref name="Pekov">{{harvnb|Pekov|1998}}</ref> <ref name="StrunzNickel">{{Citation |last1=Hugo Strunz |title=Strunz Mineralogical Tables. Chemical-structural Mineral Classification System |year=2001 |edition=9. |place=Stuttgart |publisher=E. Schweizerbart'sche Verlagsbuchhandlung (Nägele u. Obermiller) |isbn=3-510-65188-X |last2=Ernest H. Nickel |author-link=Karl Hugo Strunz |author-link2=Ernest Henry Nickel |page=526}}</ref> <ref name="Typlokalität">Uramphite type locality, per [https://www.mindat.org/loc-123144.html Mindat], accessed 10 June 2023.</ref> <ref name="Warr">{{Cite journal |last=Laurence N. Warr |date=2021 |title=IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols |url=https://www.cambridge.org/core/services/aop-cambridge-core/content/view/62311F45ED37831D78603C6E6B25EE0A/S0026461X21000438a.pdf/imacnmnc-approved-mineral-symbols.pdf |journal=Mineralogical Magazine |volume=85 |issue=3 |doi=10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |access-date=2023-06-10 |pages=291–320|bibcode=2021MinM...85..291W }}</ref> <ref name="Webmineral">{{Cite web |last=David Barthelmy |title=Uramphite Mineral Data |url=http://webmineral.com/data/Uramphite.shtml |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=webmineral.com}}</ref> </references>

== Further reading == * {{Citation |last=З. А. Некрасова [Z. A. Nekrasova] |date=1957 |work=Voprosy Geologii Urana, Atomizdat |trans-title=A hydrous uranyl ammonium phosphate (uramphite), NH₄(UO₂)(PO₄)·3H₂O |script-title=ru:Водный Фосфат уранила и аммония (Урамфит) – NH₄(UO₂)[PO₄]·3H₂O |url=https://rruff.info/rruff_1.0/uploads/Nekrasova_uramphite_VGU_1957.pdf |access-date=2023-06-10 |language=ru |pages=67–72}} * {{Cite journal |last=Michael Fleischer |author-link=Michael Fleischer (mineralogist)|date=1959 |title=New mineral names |url=https://rruff.info/rruff_1.0/uploads/AM44_464.pdf |journal=American Mineralogist |volume=44 |access-date=2023-06-10 |ref={{harvid|Fleischer|1959}} |pages=464–470}} * {{Cite journal |last1=A. N. Fitch |last2=B. E. F. Fender |year=1983 |title=The structure of deuterated ammomium uranyl phosphate trihydrate, ND₄UO₂PO₄·3D₂O by powder neutron diffraction |journal=Acta Crystallographica |volume=C39 |issue=2 |doi=10.1107/S0108270183003972 |pages=162–166|bibcode=1983AcCrC..39..162F }} * {{Citation |last=Igor V. Pekov |title=Minerals first discovered on the territory of the former Soviet Union |year=1998 |edition=1. |place=Moscow |publisher=Ocean Pictures |isbn=5-900395-16-2 |ref={{harvid|Pekov|1998}} |page=222}} == External links == * "[https://www.mineralienatlas.de/lexikon/index.php/Uramphit Uramphite]", in {{ill|Mineralienatlas|de}} (in German). [https://www.mineralienatlas.de/lexikon/index.php/Impressum Geolitho Stiftung]. * {{Cite web |title=IMA Database of Mineral Properties – Uramphite |url=https://rruff.info/ima/?Uramphite |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=rruff.info |collaboration=RRUFF Project}} * {{Cite web |title=American-Mineralogist-Crystal-Structure-Database – Uramphite |url=http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/AMS/result.php?mineral=Uramphite |access-date=2023-06-10 |website=rruff.geo.arizona.edu}}

Category:Tetragonal minerals Category:Ammonium minerals Category:Uranium minerals Category:Phosphate minerals Category:Radioactive minerals Category:Uranyl compounds