THE MINERAL SCHROCKINGERITE

  • Chemistry: NaCa3UO2SO4(CO3)3F - 10H2O, Hydrated Sodium Calcium Uranyl Sulfate Carbonate Fluoride.
  • Class: Carbonates
  • Uses: As a very insignificant source of uranium and as mineral specimens.
  • Specimens

Schrockingerite, also spelled schroeckingerite or schrokingerite, is one of the few uranyl carbonate minerals that is found on the mineral markets. Other uranyl carbonates include andersonite, rutherfordine, sharpite, liebigite, swartzite and bayleyite. Schrockingerite, in addition to having a uranyl (UO2) group in its chemistry, has a sulfate ion. Schrockingerite could be classified as a sulfate, but is here classified as a carbonate due to the greater number and therefore greater significance of the carbonate ions. Other sulfate carbonates include susannite, leadhillite, hanksite, macphersonite, wherryite and caledonite. The fact that schrockingerite is a uranyl sulfate carbonate though makes it very rare. Schrockingerite forms as a secondary mineral and is also found on cave and mine walls.

PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS:

  • Color is yellow-green.
  • Luster is vitreous to pearly.
  • Transparency: Crystals are transparent to translucent.
  • Crystal System is triclinic.
  • Crystal Habits include pseudohexagonal platy crystals and encrustations.
  • Cleavage is perfect in one direction.
  • Hardness is 2.5.
  • Specific Gravity is 2.5 - 2.6 (slightly below average for a translucent mineral)
  • Streak is slightly off-white.
  • Other Characteristics Some specimens are fluorescent.
  • Associated Minerals include clays, gypsum, johannite, andersonite, swartzite and bayleyite and other secondary uranium minerals.
  • Notable Occurrences include the type locality of Jachymov, Zapadocesky kraj, Czech Republic as well as the Miller Ranch deposit, Kern County, California; Hillside Mine, Yavapai County, Arizona and Lost Creek, Sweetwater, Wyoming, USA; La Soberania Mine, San Isidro, Mendoza, Argentina.
  • Best Field Indicators: Crystal habit, color, associations, fluorescence and locality.
SCHROCKINGERITE specimens:
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SCHROCKINGERITE specimen scr-1
$ 48.00
Dims:0.6x0.5x0.3" (1.5x1.3x0.8 cm)
Wt: 0.04oz. (1.1g)
Wamsutter, Wyoming
This small thumbnail specimen consists of tiny (nearly microscopic) crystals of the mineral schrockingerite on matrix. Under a loupe, tiny crystal faces may be seen, but no details of the triclinic form can be distinguished. This specimen fluoresces a bright yellow-green under both short and long wave ultraviolet light-an indicator of uranium. This specimen shows no damage. Schrockingerite is named for the Austrian geologist J. von Schrockinger.
no photo
scr-1 ($ 48.00)
Wamsutter, Wyoming
SCHROCKINGERITE specimen scr-2
$ 50.00
Dims:1.6x0.9x0.5" (4.1x2.3x1.3 cm)
Wt: 0.2oz. (7g)
Lost Creek, Sweetwater cty., Wyoming
Scattered here and there over the surface of this specimen is a thin crust of greenish-yellow schrockingerite. No details of the triclinic form can be ascertained, even with the use of a loupe. There is no damage to this specimen. This specimen fluoresces a dark red under short wave ultraviolet light.
no photo
scr-2 ($ 50.00)
Lost Creek, Sweetwater cty., Wyoming

 


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