How do I identify Bijvoetite-(y)?

Bijvoetite-(y) can be identified by its hardness of 2 on the Mohs scale, Yellow color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.

What color is Bijvoetite-(y)?

Bijvoetite-(y) typically appears in Yellow. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.

How hard is Bijvoetite-(y)?

Bijvoetite-(y) has a hardness of 2 on the Mohs scale. This makes it a soft mineral that can be scratched easily.

Bijvoetite-(y)

Bijvoetite-(Y)

A variety of Minerals

What is Bijvoetite-(y)?

Bijvoetite-(Y) is a very rare rare-earth and uranium mineral with the formula (Y,REE)8(UO2)16(CO3)16O8(OH)8·39H2O. When compared to the original description, the formula of bijvoetite-(Y) was changed in the course of crystal structure redefinition. Bijvoetite-(Y) is an example of natural salts containing both uranium and yttrium, the other examples being kamotoite-(Y) and sejkoraite-(Y). Bijvoetite-(Y) comes from Shinkolobwe deposit in Republic of Congo, which is famous for rare uranium minerals. The other interesting rare-earth-bearing uranium mineral, associated with bijvoetite-(Y), is lepersonnite-(Gd). The mineral is named after the Dutch chemist and crystallographer Johannes Martin Bijvoet.

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Bijvoetite-(y) Localities Map

See where Bijvoetite-(y) is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.

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North ZoneCentral RidgeSouth Basin

Key Characteristics

Formation of Bijvoetite-(y)

Bijvoetite-(Y) was found in the Shinkolobwe dolomite-hosted uranium deposit, Republic of Congo, where it occurs in an oxidation zone, together with numerous other uranium minerals: lepersonnite-(Gd), becquerelite, curite, kasolite, oursinite, rutherfordine, schoepite, sklodowskite, soddyite, studtite, torbernite, and uranophane.

Composition of Bijvoetite-(y)

Although originally though to be orthorhombic, bijvoetite-(Y) was later shown to be monoclinic. The structural formula of the mineral is M8(H2O)25(UO2)16O8(OH)8(CO3)1614, where M = (Y,REE). The structure has 16 uranium sites, with uranium belonging to near-linear uranyl groups. The important features of the structure are: presence of uranyl pentagonal bipyramids (UPB), formed by coordination of (eight) uranyl groups by three oxide and two hydroxyl anions presence of uranyl hexagonal bipyramids (UHB), formed by coordination of another eight uranyl groups by six oxide anions presence of uranyl carbonate chain parallel to [100], of a novel type, built of edge-sharing dimers of UPB and UHB, and carbonate groups presence of irregular MΦn polyhedra (Φ - unspecified ligand) linking the uranyl carbonate chain, thus forming a compound novel-type sheet parallel to (010) location of 14 water molecules in the interlayer space (held by hydrogen bonding) bonding of the remaining 25 water molecules to trivalent cations

Quick Facts

Physical Properties

Color: Yellow
Hardness (Mohs): 2
Streak: Light yellow

Chemical Properties

Chemical Formula: Y8(UO2)16(CO3)16O8(OH)8 · 39H2O Structural formula (Li et al., 2000): M83+(H2O)25(UO2)16O8(OH)8(CO3)1614, where M= (Y,REE)
Elements: C, H, O, U, Y

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