Andersonite from Utah, USA.
A mineral is a naturally-occurring, solid, inorganic, crystalline substance having a fairly definite chemical composition and having fairly definite physical properties. At its simplest, a mineral is a naturally-occurring solid chemical. Currently, there are over 6000 named and described minerals - about 200 of them are common and about 20 of them are very common. Mineral classification is based on anion chemistry. Major categories of minerals are: elements, sulfides, oxides, halides, carbonates, sulfates, phosphates, and silicates.
Andersonite is a hydrous sodium calcium uranyl carbonate mineral, Na2Ca(UO2)(CO3)3·6H2O. It occurs in various shades of green or yellow, is moderately soft (H = 2.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale), and is radioactive.
Locality: unrecorded / undisclosed site in Utah, USA
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Photo gallery of andersonite:
www.mindat.org/gallery.php?min= 219
Tags: andersonite mineral minerals carbonate carbonates radioactive uranium Utah
Andersonite glowing under ultraviolet light from Utah, USA.
A mineral is a naturally-occurring, solid, inorganic, crystalline substance having a fairly definite chemical composition and having fairly definite physical properties. At its simplest, a mineral is a naturally-occurring solid chemical. Currently, there are over 6000 named and described minerals - about 200 of them are common and about 20 of them are very common. Mineral classification is based on anion chemistry. Major categories of minerals are: elements, sulfides, oxides, halides, carbonates, sulfates, phosphates, and silicates.
Andersonite is a hydrous sodium calcium uranyl carbonate mineral, Na2Ca(UO2)(CO3)3·6H2O. It occurs in various shades of green or yellow, is moderately soft (H = 2.5 on the Mohs Hardness Scale), and is radioactive.
Fluorescence occurs when short-wavelength ultraviolet radiation, long-wavelength ultraviolet radiation, or x-rays bombard atoms. This causes electron excitation, but the electrons do not remain in an energetically excited state - they quickly give off energy and resume their normal energy levels. If the electron energy release is in the visible spectrum of light, a mineral glows, or fluoresces.
Locality: unrecorded / undisclosed site in Utah, USA
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Photo gallery of andersonite:
www.mindat.org/gallery.php?min= 219
Tags: andersonite mineral minerals carbonate carbonates radioactive uranium Utah fluoresce fluorescing fluoresces fluorescent