Vysokýite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Vysokýite
Arnošt Vysoký
Formula:
U4+[AsO2(OH)2]4 · 4H2O
Colour:
Light-green
Lustre:
Sub-Vitreous
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
3.393
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Name:
Named in honour of Arnošt Vysoký (1823–1872), the former head of the Jáchymov smelters; chemist and metallurgist.
One of the very rare oxysalt minerals containing tetravalent U. Second purely U4+ arsenate mineral after štěpite. May be covered by štĕpite and closely associated with bĕhounekite. New structure type. The structure contains UO8 square antiprisms, that have all of their vertices shared with with 8 As-bearing tetrahedra to form infinite chains || [010]. The chains are linked by hydrogen bonds, that involve terminal (OH) groups of the double-protonated As-tetrahedra and inter-chain water molecules.
Name Encoding
ASCII-7:
Vysokyite
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
43595
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:43595:6
IMA Classification of Vysokýite
Approved
IMA Formula:
U4+[As5+O2(OH)2]4·4H2O
Approval year:
2012
First published:
2013
Classification of Vysokýite
8.CJ.47
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
J : With only large cations
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
C : Phosphates without additional anions, with H2O
J : With only large cations
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Vys | 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 Vysokýite
Sub-Vitreous
Comment:
An alabaster lustre
Colour:
Light-green
Streak:
Greenish-gray to grayish
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Comment:
~2
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
along (100) and (001)
along (100) and (001)
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
3.393 g/cm3 (Measured) 3.34 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Chemistry of Vysokýite
Mindat Formula:
U4+[AsO2(OH)2]4 · 4H2O
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Common Impurities:
Si
Crystallography of Vysokýite
Crystal System:
Triclinic
Class (H-M):
1 - Pinacoidal
Space Group:
P1
Setting:
P1
Cell Parameters:
a = 10.749 Å, b = 5.044 Å, c = 19.1778 Å
α = 89.872°, β = 121.534°, γ = 76.508°
α = 89.872°, β = 121.534°, γ = 76.508°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 2.131 : 1 : 3.802
Unit Cell V:
852.1 ų
Z:
2
Morphology:
Fibrous crystals.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 8.782 Å | (100) |
| 8.067 Å | (50) |
| 6.399 Å | (7) |
| 4.773 Å | (6) |
| 3.411 Å | (10) |
| 3.197 Å | (18) |
| 3.189 Å | (11) |
| 3.076 Å | (11) |
Locality:
Reference:
Comments:
From Type Description.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] | |
| Stage 10b: Anthropogenic minerals | <10 Ka |
| 55 : Anthropogenic mine minerals |
Type Occurrence of Vysokýite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Extremely fibrous light-green crystals up to 8 mm long on altered surface of massive native As.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Department of Mineralogy and Petrology of the National Museum in Prague, Prague, Czech Republic, catalogue number P1P 1/2012
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Vysokýite
Other Language Names for Vysokýite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 5 photos of Vysokýite associated with Štěpite | U(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 5 photos of Vysokýite associated with Native Arsenic | As |
| 4 photos of Vysokýite associated with Arsenolite | As2O3 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.CJ. | Airdite | Sr(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ. | Dobšináite | Ca2Ca(AsO4)2 · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ. | Sainfeldite | Ca5(AsO4)2(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ. | Caesiumpharmacosiderite | CsFe3+4[(AsO4)3(OH)4] · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ. | Jeankempite | Ca5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 7H2O |
| 8.CJ.05 | Stercorite | (NH4)Na(PO3OH) · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.10 | Swaknoite | (NH4)2Ca(PO3OH)2 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.10 | Mundrabillaite | (NH4)2Ca(PO3OH)2 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.15 | Nabaphite | NaBaPO4 · 9H2O |
| 8.CJ.15 | Nastrophite | Na(Sr,Ba)PO4 · 9H2O |
| 8.CJ.20 | Haidingerite | CaHAsO4 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.25 | Rhabdophane-(Y) | YPO4 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.25 | Vladimirite | Ca4(AsO4)2(AsO3OH) · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.27 | 'Churchite-(Dy)' | (Dy,Sm,Gd,Nd)PO4 · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.30 | Ferrarisite | Ca5(AsO4)2(HAsO4)2 · 9H2O |
| 8.CJ.35 | Fulbrightite | Ca(V4+O)2(As5+O4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.35 | Machatschkiite | (Ca,Na)6(AsO4)(HAsO4)3(PO4,SO4) · 15H2O |
| 8.CJ.40 | Rauenthalite | Ca3(AsO4)2 · 10H2O |
| 8.CJ.40 | Phaunouxite | Ca3(AsO4)2 · 11H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Brockite | (Ca,Th,Ce)PO4 · H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Smirnovskite | (Th,Ca)PO4 · nH2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Rhabdophane-(Ce) | Ce(PO4) · 0.6H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Rhabdophane-(La) | La(PO4) · H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Rhabdophane-(Nd) | Nd(PO4) · H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Tristramite | (Ca,U4+,Fe3+)(PO4,SO4) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Grayite | (Th,Pb,Ca)(PO4) · H2O |
| 8.CJ.45 | Štěpite | U(AsO3OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | Churchite-(Y) | Y(PO4) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | Brushite | Ca(PO3OH) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | Ardealite | Ca2(PO3OH)(SO4) · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | Pharmacolite | Ca(HAsO4) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.50 | 'Churchite-(Nd)' | Nd(PO4) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.55 | Mcnearite | NaCa5(AsO4)(HAsO4)4 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.60 | Dorfmanite | Na2(PO3OH) · 2H2O |
| 8.CJ.65 | Sincosite | Ca(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.65 | Bariosincosite | Ba(V4+O)2(PO4)2 · 4H2O |
| 8.CJ.70 | Catalanoite | Na2(PO3OH) · 8H2O |
| 8.CJ.75 | Guérinite | Ca6(HAsO4)3(AsO4)2 · 10.5H2O |
| 8.CJ.85 | Ningyoite | (U,Ca,Ce)2(PO4)2 · 1-2H2O |
Radioactivity
Radioactivity:
| Element | % Content | Activity (Bq/kg) | Radiation Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uranium (U) | 27.2397% | 6,809,925 | 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
Fluorescence of Vysokýite
non-fluorescent
Other Information
Notes:
Raman bands [cm–1]: 2750 + 2230 (v O-H stretching of As-OH and of hydrogen-bonded water molecules);
1545 + 1435 (combination bands and/or overtones); highest
intensity bands 920 + 816 (v3 antisymmetric and v1 symmetric
As-O stretching); 769 (As-OH stretching); 595 + 559 (δ As-OH bending); 427, 368 [v4 (δ) O-As-O bending], 324 [v2 (δ) bending]; 200, 184, 99, 61 (lattice modes)
1545 + 1435 (combination bands and/or overtones); highest
intensity bands 920 + 816 (v3 antisymmetric and v1 symmetric
As-O stretching); 769 (As-OH stretching); 595 + 559 (δ As-OH bending); 427, 368 [v4 (δ) O-As-O bending], 324 [v2 (δ) bending]; 200, 184, 99, 61 (lattice modes)
Health Risks:
Radioactive
Internet Links for Vysokýite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-43595.html
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References for Vysokýite
Reference List:
Williams, P. A., Hatert, F., Pasero, M., Mills, S. J. (2013) IMA Commission on New Minerals, Nomenclature and Classification. CNMNC Newsletter No. 15. Mineralogical Magazine, 77 (1) 1-12 doi:10.1180/minmag.2013.077.1.01
Plášil, J., Fejfarová, K., Hloušek, J., Škoda, R., Novák, M., Sejkora, J., Čejka, J., Dušek, M., Veselovský, F., Ondruš, P., Majzlan, J., Mrázek, Z. (2013) Štěpite, U(AsO3OH)2·4H2O, from Jáchymov, Czech Republic: the first natural arsenate of tetravalent uranium. Mineralogical Magazine, 77 (1) 137-152 doi:10.1180/minmag.2013.077.1.12 (gives also some info on vysokýite)
Localities for Vysokýite
Showing 2 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 | |
| Mineralogical Magazine +1 other reference |
| Plášil et al. (2013) |
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Svornost Mine, Jáchymov, Karlovy Vary District, Karlovy Vary Region, Czech Republic