Curienite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Curienite
Hubert Curien
Formula:
Pb(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 5H2O
Colour:
Canary-yellow
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
4.88
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Named in honor of Hubert Curien (30 October 1924, Cornimont, France – 6 February 2005, Loury, France), physicist, mineralogist, and administrator. He was a crystallographer and professor at the Laboratory of Mineralogy and Crystallography, University of Pierre and Marie Curie (Sorbonne), Paris, France. He was a key figure in European science serving as President of CERN Council and as the first chairman of the European Space Agency (ESA). He has been called the Father of the Ariane rocket program.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1196
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1196:5
Similar Names
| Caryinite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | (Na,Pb)(Ca,Na)CaMn22+(AsO4)3 |
| Cerianite-(Ce) | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Ce4+O2 |
| Corneite | A synonym of 'Biotite hornfels' | |
| Cornite | A synonym of 'Petrosilex' | |
| Coronite | A rock subtype | |
| Coronite (of Hunt) | A synonym of Dravite | |
| Corynite | A synonym of 'Antimony-bearing Gersdorffite' | |
| Guarinite | (Na, Ca, Zr, Si, F, O) | |
| Guérinite | A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered | Ca6(HAsO4)3(AsO4)2 · 10.5H2O |
Classification of Curienite
Francevillite sheet topology
Curienite contains the francevillite sheet topology.
IMA Classification of Curienite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Pb2+(U6+O2)2(V5+O4)2·5H2O
Approval year:
1967
First published:
1968
Type description reference:
4.HB.15
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
H : V[5,6] Vanadates
B : Uranyl Sorovanodates
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
H : V[5,6] Vanadates
B : Uranyl Sorovanodates
40.2a.27.2
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
2a : AB2(XO4)2·xH2O, containing (UO2)2+
40 : HYDRATED NORMAL PHOSPHATES,ARSENATES AND VANADATES
2a : AB2(XO4)2·xH2O, containing (UO2)2+
21.4.13
21 : Vanadates (and vanadates with arsenate or phosphate)
4 : Vanadates of U, Mn, Fe or Ni
21 : Vanadates (and vanadates with arsenate or phosphate)
4 : Vanadates of U, Mn, Fe or Ni
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Cue | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Curienite
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Canary-yellow
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Density:
4.88 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.94 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Curienite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
Comments:
α = n.d. β = > 2 γ = > 2
Chemistry of Curienite
Mindat Formula:
Pb(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 5H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Curienite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.40(4) Å, b = 8.45(3) Å, c = 16.34(4) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 1.231 : 1 : 1.934
Unit Cell V:
1,435.96 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Comment:
Space Group: P can (synthetic).
Crystal Structure
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Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
Unit Cell | Unit Cell Packed
2x2x2 | 3x3x3 | 4x4x4
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0012133 | Curienite | Borene J, Cesbron F (1971) Structure cristalline de la curienite Pb(UO2)2(VO4)2(H2O)5 Bulletin de la Societe Francaise de Mineralogie et de Cristallographie 94 8-14 | 1971 | Mounana, Gabon | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.005 Å | (vvs) |
| 8.19 Å | (vvs) |
| 4.10 Å | (vs) |
| 5.13 Å | (s) |
| 4.22 Å | (s) |
| 3.226 Å | (ms) |
| 2.116 Å | (ms) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47g : [Halogen-bearing surface weathering minerals] | |
| 47h : [Near-surface oxidized, dehydrated minerals] |
Type Occurrence of Curienite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Microcrystalline powder on tabular crystals of francevillite.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
University of Pierre and Marie Curie, Paris, France.
National School of Mines, Paris, France.
National School of Mines, Paris, France.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Uranium deposit in sandstone
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Curienite
Other Language Names for Curienite
Relationship of Curienite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Francevillite Group:
| Finchite | Sr(UO2)2(V2O8) · 5H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
| Francevillite | Ba(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 5H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
| Fritzscheite | Mn2+(UO2)2(VO4,PO4)2 · 4H2O | Tet. |
Forms a series with:
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 83 photos of Curienite associated with Francevillite | Ba(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 5H2O |
| 43 photos of Curienite associated with Mounanaite | PbFe3+2(VO4)2(OH)2 |
| 36 photos of Curienite associated with Chervetite | Pb2(V2O7) |
| 2 photos of Curienite associated with Metazeunerite | Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2 · 8H2O |
| 2 photos of Curienite associated with Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 2 photos of Curienite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 1 photo of Curienite associated with Gypsum | CaSO4 · 2H2O |
| 1 photo of Curienite associated with Uraninite | UO2 |
| 1 photo of Curienite associated with Chalcopyrite | CuFeS2 |
| 1 photo of Curienite associated with Baryte | BaSO4 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.HB.X | Spanoite | Tl2[(UO2)2(V2O8)] |
| 4.HB.05 | Margaritasite | (Cs,K,H3O)2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · H2O |
| 4.HB.05 | Carnotite | K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
| 4.HB.10 | Sengierite | Cu2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 4.HB.15 | Francevillite | Ba(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 5H2O |
| 4.HB.15 | Fritzscheite | Mn2+(UO2)2(VO4,PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 4.HB.15 | Finchite | Sr(UO2)2(V2O8) · 5H2O |
| 4.HB.20 | Vanuralite | Al(UO2)2(V2O8)(OH) · 11H2O |
| 4.HB.20 | Metavanuralite | Al(UO2)2(VO4)2(OH) · 8H2O |
| 4.HB.25 | Metatyuyamunite | Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O |
| 4.HB.25 | Tyuyamunite | Ca(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 5-8H2O |
| 4.HB.30 | Strelkinite | Na2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 4.HB.35 | Uvanite | U6+2V5+6O21 · 15H2O (?) |
| 4.HB.40 | Rauvite | Ca(UO2)2(V10O28) · 16H2O |
| 4.HB.45 | Vandermeerscheite | K2[(UO2)2V2O8] · 2H2O |
Radioactivity
Radioactivity:
| Element | % Content | Activity (Bq/kg) | Radiation Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uranium (U) | 44.6077% | 11,151,925 | α, β, γ |
| Thorium (Th) | 0.0000% | 0 | α, β, γ |
| Potassium (K) | 0.0000% | 0 | β, γ |
For comparison:
- Banana: ~15 Bq per fruit
- Granite: 1,000–3,000 Bq/kg
- EU exemption limit: 10,000 Bq/kg
Note: Risk is shown relative to daily recommended maximum exposure to non-background radiation of 1000 µSv/year. Note that natural background radiation averages around 2400 µSv/year so in reality these risks are probably extremely overstated! With infrequent handling and safe storage natural radioactive minerals do not usually pose much risk.
Interactive Simulator:
Note: The mass selector refers to the mass of radioactive mineral present, not the full specimen, also be aware that the matrix may also be radioactive, possibly more radioactive than this mineral!
Activity: –
| Distance | Dose rate | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cm | ||
| 10 cm | ||
| 1 m |
The external dose rate (D) from a radioactive mineral is estimated by summing the gamma radiation contributions from its Uranium, Thorium, and Potassium content, disregarding daughter-product which may have a significant effect in some cases (eg 'pitchblende'). This involves multiplying the activity (A, in Bq) of each element by its specific gamma ray constant (Γ), which accounts for its unique gamma emissions. The total unshielded dose at 1 cm is then scaled by the square of the distance (r, in cm) and multiplied by a shielding factor (μshield). This calculation provides a 'worst-case' or 'maximum risk' estimate because it assumes the sample is a point source and entirely neglects any self-shielding where radiation is absorbed within the mineral itself, meaning actual doses will typically be lower. The resulting dose rate (D) is expressed in microsieverts per hour (μSv/h).
D = ((AU × ΓU) + (ATh × ΓTh) + (AK × ΓK)) / r2 × μshield
Other Information
Notes:
Radioactive
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Curienite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1196.html
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References for Curienite
Reference List:
Cesbron, Fabien, Morin, Noël (1968) Une nouvelle espèce minérale : la curiénite. Étude de la série francevillite-curiénite. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 91 (5) 453-459 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1968.6260
Burns, Peter C. (2005) U6+ minerals and inorganic compounds: insights into an expanded structural hierarchy of crystal structures. The Canadian Mineralogist, 43 (6) 1839-1894 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.43.6.1839
Localities for Curienite
Showing 16 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Czech Republic | |
| Pauliš (1992) |
| Hloušek et al. (2002) | |
DR Congo | |
| Deliens (1996) |
France | |
| Cuchet et al. (2000) |
| - (1998) |
Gabon | |
| |
| Cesbron et al. (1968) +1 other reference |
Germany | |
| Walenta (1996) |
| Thorne (n.d.) |
Iraq | |
| |
Italy | |
| Campostrini I. (2013) |
| Campostrini et al. (2006) |
Switzerland | |
| Meisser (2012) |
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Mounana Mine, Mounana, Léboumbi-Leyou Department, Haut-Ogooué Province, Gabon