Soddyite is a mineral of uranium. It has yellow crystals and usually mixed with curite in oxidized uranium ores. It is named after the British radiochemist and physicist Frederick Soddy (1877–1956). Soddyite has been a valid species since 1922, following its discovery in the locality of the Shinkolobwe uranium mine in the Haut-Katanga Province of the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).[2][3][4]

Soddyite
A piece of rock from Swambo in the Democratic Republic of Congo containing yellow crystals of soddyite
General
CategoryNesosilicates
Formula
(repeating unit)
(UO2)2SiO4·2H2O
IMA symbolSod[1]
Strunz classification9.AK.05
Dana classification53.03.03.01
Crystal systemOrthorhombic
Crystal classDipyramidal (mmm)
H-M symbol: (2/m 2/m 2/m)
Space groupF ddd
Unit cell1,745.03 ų
Identification
ColorCanary yellow to amber yellow
CleavagePerfect on {001}, good on {111}
Mohs scale hardness3 - 4
LusterVitreous, greasy, dull
StreakYellow
DiaphaneityTransparent, translucent, opaque
Density4.627
Optical propertiesBiaxial (-)
Refractive indexnα = 1.650 - 1.654, nβ = 1.685, nγ = 1.699 - 1.715
Birefringence0.049 - 0.061
DispersionRelatively weak
Ultraviolet fluorescenceWeak orange yellow
Other characteristics Radioactive

References

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  1. ^ 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.
  2. ^ Webmineral data for soddyite
  3. ^ Mindat information page for Soddyite
  4. ^ Handbook of Mineralogy