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Upalite

A valid IMA mineral species
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Upalite

Kobokobo pegmatite, Mwenga Territory, South Kivu, DR Congo
05736760017626306371438.jpg
Upalite

Kobokobo pegmatite, Mwenga Territory, South Kivu, DR Congo
09070910017626306371312.jpg
Upalite

Kobokobo pegmatite, Mwenga Territory, South Kivu, DR Congo
05075620017618258394994.jpg
Upalite

Kobokobo pegmatite, Mwenga Territory, South Kivu, DR Congo
02868670017271927345042.jpg
Upalite

Kobokobo pegmatite, Mwenga Territory, South Kivu, DR Congo
04620930017271927374505.jpg
Upalite

Kobokobo pegmatite, Mwenga Territory, South Kivu, DR Congo
03697270017626306385645.jpg
Upalite

Kobokobo pegmatite, Mwenga Territory, South Kivu, DR Congo
02868670017271927345042.jpg
Upalite

Kobokobo pegmatite, Mwenga Territory, South Kivu, DR Congo
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About UpaliteHide

Formula:
Al(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH) · 7H2O
Colour:
Amber-yellow, yellow-brown
Hardness:
3
Specific Gravity:
3.9
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
The name reflects its composition: uranyl (U), phosphorus (P) and aluminium (Al).
This page provides mineralogical data about Upalite.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
4096
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4096:5

Similar NamesHide

CupaliteA valid IMA mineral species(Cu,Zn)Al
Opalite
Opalite (glass)A synonym of 'Pigmented structural glass'
Opalite (of Koivula and Kammerling)
UraliteA variety of Amphibole SupergroupAX2Z5((Si,Al,Ti)8O22)(OH,F,Cl,O)2

Classification of UpaliteHide

04582630017697764655689.jpg
Phosphuranylite sheet topology

The sheet topology exhibited by members of the phosphuranylite group.

IMA Classification of UpaliteHide

IMA status:
Approved
IMA Formula:
Al(U6+O2)3(PO4)2O(OH)·7H2O
Approval year:
1978
First published:
1979
Type description reference:
Deliens, Michel, Piret, Paul (1979) Les phosphates d'uranyle et d'aluminium de Kobokobo. II. La phuralumite Al2(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)6·10H2O et l'upalite Al(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)3, nouveaux minéraux. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 102 (4) 333-337 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1979.7326
Strunz-mindat (2026):
8.EC.05

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
E : Uranyl phosphates and arsenates
C : UO2:RO4 = 3:2
Dana 8th ed.:
42.7.12.1

42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
7 : (AB)2(XO4)Zq·xH2O
Hey's CIM Ref.:
19.11.26

19 : Phosphates
11 : Phosphates of U

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
UpaIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of UpaliteHide

Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Amber-yellow, yellow-brown
Hardness:
3 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
{010}, distinct
Density:
3.9(1) g/cm3 (Measured)    3.94 g/cm3 (Calculated)

Optical Data of UpaliteHide

Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.649 nβ = 1.666 nγ = 1.676
2V:
Measured: 74° , Calculated: 74°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.027
Based on recorded range of RI values above.

Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.

Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.

Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.

Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).

This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure - the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are isogyres.

Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
strong
Pleochroism:
Strong
Comments:
X colorless, Y and Z canary yellow
Comments:
X = b, Y = a

Chemistry of UpaliteHide

Mindat Formula:
Al(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH) · 7H2O
Element Weights:
Element% weight
U60.204 %
O31.024 %
P5.223 %
Al2.275 %
H1.275 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
U
O
P
Al
H
Elements listed:
Al, H, O, P, U - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Crystallography of UpaliteHide

Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/b
Setting:
P21/a
Cell Parameters:
a = 13.704(4) Å, b = 16.82(1) Å, c = 9.332(2) Å
β = 111.5(1)°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.815 : 1 : 0.555
Unit Cell V:
2,001.36 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Twinning:
By reflection on {001}, universal.

Crystal StructureHide

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IDSpeciesReferenceLinkYearLocalityPressure (GPa)Temp (K)
0012081UpalitePiret P, Declercq J-P (1983) Structure cristalline de l'upalite Al[(UO2)3O(OH)(PO4)2]*7H2O. Un exemple de macle mimetique Bulletin de Mineralogie 106 383-3891983Kobokobo, Kivu, Democratic Republic of the Congo0293
CIF Raw Data - click here to close

X-Ray Powder DiffractionHide

Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacingIntensity
8.4 Å(100)
6.03 Å(50)
4.24 Å(60)
4.18 Å(80)
3.43 Å(80)
3.17 Å(70)
3.084 Å(70)
2.903 Å(75)

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event<2.4
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals]
47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates]
47f : [Uranyl (U⁶⁺) minerals]

Type Occurrence of UpaliteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Kobokobo pegmatite, Mwenga Territory, South Kivu, DR Congo
General Appearance of Type Material:
Amber-yellow needles, to 1/3 mm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Royal Museum of Central Africa, Tervuren, Belgium, RMG5951, RMG13457, RMG11888.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Oxidized zone of a complex pegmatite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Meta-autunitePhosphuranylitePhuralumiteThreadgoldite
Reference:
Deliens, Michel, Piret, Paul (1979) Les phosphates d'uranyle et d'aluminium de Kobokobo. II. La phuralumite Al2(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)6·10H2O et l'upalite Al(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)3, nouveaux minéraux. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 102 (4) 333-337 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1979.7326

Synonyms of UpaliteHide

Other Language Names for UpaliteHide

Dutch:Upaliet
German:Upalit
Russian:Упалит
Simplified Chinese:磷铝铀矿 II
Spanish:Upalita

Relationship of Upalite to other SpeciesHide

Member of:
Phosphuranylite Group
Other Members of Phosphuranylite Group:
AlthupiteAlTh(UO2)7(PO4)4(OH)5O2 · 15H2OTric. 1 : P1
BergeniteCa2Ba4(UO2)9(PO4)6O6 · 16H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
DewindtiteH2Pb3(UO2)6O4(PO4)4 · 12H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmma
DumontitePb2(UO2)3O2(PO4)2 · 5H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
Françoisite-(Ce)(Ce,Nd,Ca)(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH) · 6H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
Françoisite-(Nd)(Nd,Ce,Sm)(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH) · 6H2OMon. 2/m
HügelitePb2(UO2)3(AsO4)2O2 · 5H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
PhosphuranyliteKCa(H3O)3(UO2)7(PO4)4O4 · 8H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm
PhuralumiteAl2[(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH)](OH)3(H2O)9Mon. 2/m
PhurcaliteCa2(UO2)3(PO4)2O2 · 7H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca
VanmeersscheiteU6+(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
YingjiangiteK2Ca(UO2)7(PO4)4(OH)6 · 6H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
2 photos of Upalite associated with Columbite-(Mn)Mn2+Nb2O6
1 photo of Upalite associated with ThreadgolditeAl(UO2)2(PO4)2(OH) · 8H2O

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

8.EC.05Françoisite-(Nd)(Nd,Ce,Sm)(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH) · 6H2OMon. 2/m
8.EC.05Françoisite-(Ce)(Ce,Nd,Ca)(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH) · 6H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b
8.EC.05PhuralumiteAl2[(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH)](OH)3(H2O)9Mon. 2/m
8.EC.10YingjiangiteK2Ca(UO2)7(PO4)4(OH)6 · 6H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm
8.EC.10RenarditePb(UO2)4(PO4)2(OH)4 · H2OOrth.
8.EC.10PhosphuranyliteKCa(H3O)3(UO2)7(PO4)4O4 · 8H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm
8.EC.10ArsenuranyliteCa(UO2)4(AsO4)2(OH)4 · 6H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
8.EC.10'Kivuite'Th(UO2)4(PO3OH)2(OH)8 · 7H2O
8.EC.10DewindtiteH2Pb3(UO2)6O4(PO4)4 · 12H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmma
8.EC.15DumontitePb2(UO2)3O2(PO4)2 · 5H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
8.EC.15HügelitePb2(UO2)3(AsO4)2O2 · 5H2OMon. 2/m : P21/m
8.EC.20VanmeersscheiteU6+(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m)
8.EC.20ArsenovanmeersscheiteU6+(UO2)3(AsO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2OOrth. mm2 : Pmn21
8.EC.20MetavanmeersscheiteU6+(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)6 · 2H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Fddd
8.EC.25AlthupiteAlTh(UO2)7(PO4)4(OH)5O2 · 15H2OTric. 1 : P1
8.EC.30MunditeAl(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5.5H2OOrth.
8.EC.35PhurcaliteCa2(UO2)3(PO4)2O2 · 7H2OOrth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca
8.EC.40BergeniteCa2Ba4(UO2)9(PO4)6O6 · 16H2OMon. 2/m : P21/b

RadioactivityHide

Radioactivity:
Element % Content Activity (Bq/kg) Radiation Type
Uranium (U) 60.2035% 15,050,875 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: –

DistanceDose rateRisk
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

Fluorescence of UpaliteHide

Other InformationHide

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 UpaliteHide

References for UpaliteHide

Localities for UpaliteHide

Showing 4 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

- 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). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
DR Congo (TL)
 
  • South Kivu
    • Mwenga Territory
Deliens et al. (1979)
Italy
 
  • Sardinia
    • Metropolitan City of Cagliari
      • Capoterra
M:E. Ciriotti collection (SEM-EDS probed)
Romania
 
  • Suceava County
Hîrtopanu P. et al. (2004)
USA
 
  • Colorado
    • Fremont County
      • Eight Mile Park Pegmatite Mining District
Sidney A. Williams specimen
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