Billietite is an uncommon mineral of uranium that contains barium. It has the chemical formula: Ba(UO2)6O4(OH)6•8H2O. It usually occurs as clear yellow orthorhombic crystals.[4] Billietite is named after Valere Louis Billiet (1903–1945), Belgian crystallographer at the University of Ghent, Ghent, Belgium.
| Billietite | |
|---|---|
 Becquerelite (yellow) and billietite (orange) | |
| General | |
| Category | Oxide minerals |
| Formula (repeating unit) | Ba(UO2)6O4(OH)6•8H2O |
| IMA symbol | Bil[1] |
| Strunz classification | 4.GB.10 |
| Dana classification | 5.7.1.3 |
| Crystal system | Orthorhombic |
| Crystal class | Pyramidal (mm2) (same H-M symbol) |
| Space group | Pbn21 |
| Identification | |
| Color | Yellow to golden-yellow, amber-yellow, orange-yellow |
| Cleavage | Perfect on {001}, imperfect on {110} and {010} |
| Tenacity | Brittle |
| Luster | Adamantine |
| Diaphaneity | Transparent, translucent |
| Density | 5.28 - 5.36 g/cm3 |
| Other characteristics |  Radioactive |
| References | [2][3] |
Billietite was discovered in the locality of the Shinkolobwe uranium mine in the Haut-Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).[3]
References
edit- ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
- ^ Mineralienatlas
- ^ a b Mindat.org - Billietite
- ^ M. Katherine Pagoaga, Daniel E, Appleman, & James M. Stewart "Crystal structures and crystal chemistry of the uranyl oxide hydrates becquerelite, billietite, and protasite" American Mineralogist, Volume 72, pages 1230-1238, 1987 [1]
External links
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