Yingjiangite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Yingjiangite
Formula:
K2Ca(UO2)7(PO4)4(OH)6 · 6H2O
Colour:
Yellow, golden-yellow
Lustre:
Sub-Adamantine, Sub-Vitreous, Resinous
Hardness:
3 - 4
Specific Gravity:
4.15
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
Name:
Named in 1990 by Zhangru Chen, zuzhu Huang, and Xiaofa Gu for its discovery locality in Yingjiang County, Yunnan Province, China. Doubt was cast on the species by Coutinho, J. M. V. and Atencio, D. (2000).
Isostructural with:
Phosphuranylite Group.
Easily confused with Phosphuranylite. Possibly identical to phosphuranylite (Coutinho and Atencio, 2000; Plášil et al., 2009).
Easily confused with Phosphuranylite. Possibly identical to phosphuranylite (Coutinho and Atencio, 2000; Plášil et al., 2009).
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
4362
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:4362:1
Classification of Yingjiangite
Phosphuranylite sheet topology
The sheet topology exhibited by members of the phosphuranylite group.
IMA Classification of Yingjiangite
Approved
IMA Formula:
K2Ca(U6+O2)7(PO4)4(OH)6·6H2O
Approval year:
1989
8.EC.10
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
E : Uranyl phosphates and arsenates
C : UO2:RO4 = 3:2
8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
E : Uranyl phosphates and arsenates
C : UO2:RO4 = 3:2
42.6.12.1
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : A2(XO4)Zq·xH2O
42 : HYDRATED PHOSPHATES, ETC.CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : A2(XO4)Zq·xH2O
19.11.7
19 : Phosphates
11 : Phosphates of U
19 : Phosphates
11 : Phosphates of U
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Yin | 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 Yingjiangite
Sub-Adamantine, Sub-Vitreous, Resinous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Yellow, golden-yellow
Streak:
Pale yellow
Hardness:
3 - 4 on Mohs scale
Hardness Data:
Measured
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
None Observed
Density:
4.15 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.17 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Yingjiangite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.666 - 1.669 nβ = 1.692 - 1.703 nγ = 1.707 - 1.710
2V:
Measured: 36° to 38°, Calculated: 36°
Birefringence:
0.041
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.041
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
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.
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).
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.
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:
r > v or r < v
Optical Extinction:
Parallel
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X = almost colorless
Y = pale yellow
Z = yellow
Orientation: Length-slow
Y = pale yellow
Z = yellow
Orientation: Length-slow
Chemistry of Yingjiangite
Mindat Formula:
K2Ca(UO2)7(PO4)4(OH)6 · 6H2O
Element Weights:
Common Impurities:
Na,Mg,Mn,Fe,Ti,Si
Crystallography of Yingjiangite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Cmcm
Cell Parameters:
a = 15.707 Å, b = 17.424 Å, c = 13.692 Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.901 : 1 : 0.786
Unit Cell V:
3,747.21 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Yellow crusts and fine-grained coating, also acicular crystals <1 mm.
Comment:
Space group reported as C222[sub]1[/sub] (by analogy with phosphuranylite; cell: a = 13.73(1), b = 15.99(1), c = 17.33(2) A) and as Bmmb (cell data given on Mindat refer to this space group). The crystal structure has not been solved yet.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 8.03 Å | (100) |
| 5.90 Å | (40) |
| 3.99 Å | (90) |
| 3.88 Å | (40) |
| 3.45 Å | (40) |
| 3.17 Å | (70) |
| 3.10 Å | (70) |
| 2.886 Å | (60) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event | <2.4 |
| 47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals] | |
| 47c : [Carbonates, phosphates, borates, nitrates] | |
| 47d : [Arsenates, antimonates, selenates, bismuthinates] |
Type Occurrence of Yingjiangite
General Appearance of Type Material:
granular massive
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Geological Museum, Beijing, China
Geological Setting of Type Material:
oxidized zone of a uranium deposit
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Yingjiangite
Other Language Names for Yingjiangite
Relationship of Yingjiangite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of Phosphuranylite Group:
| Althupite | AlTh(UO2)7(PO4)4(OH)5O2 · 15H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
| Bergenite | Ca2Ba4(UO2)9(PO4)6O6 · 16H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Dewindtite | H2Pb3(UO2)6O4(PO4)4 · 12H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmma |
| Dumontite | Pb2(UO2)3O2(PO4)2 · 5H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
| Françoisite-(Ce) | (Ce,Nd,Ca)(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH) · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Françoisite-(Nd) | (Nd,Ce,Sm)(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH) · 6H2O | Mon. 2/m |
| Hügelite | Pb2(UO2)3(AsO4)2O2 · 5H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/m |
| Phosphuranylite | KCa(H3O)3(UO2)7(PO4)4O4 · 8H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Cmcm |
| Phuralumite | Al2[(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH)](OH)3(H2O)9 | Mon. 2/m |
| Phurcalite | Ca2(UO2)3(PO4)2O2 · 7H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) : Pbca |
| Upalite | Al(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH) · 7H2O | Mon. 2/m : P21/b |
| Vanmeersscheite | U6+(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O | Orth. mmm(2/m2/m2/m) |
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 4 photos of Yingjiangite associated with Meta-autunite | Ca(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 6H2O |
| 4 photos of Yingjiangite associated with Saléeite | Mg(UO2)2(PO4)2 · 10H2O |
| 2 photos of Yingjiangite associated with Becquerelite | Ca(UO2)6O4(OH)6 · 8H2O |
| 2 photos of Yingjiangite associated with Phosphuranylite | KCa(H3O)3(UO2)7(PO4)4O4 · 8H2O |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 8.EC.05 | Upalite | Al(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH) · 7H2O |
| 8.EC.05 | Françoisite-(Nd) | (Nd,Ce,Sm)(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH) · 6H2O |
| 8.EC.05 | Françoisite-(Ce) | (Ce,Nd,Ca)(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH) · 6H2O |
| 8.EC.05 | Phuralumite | Al2[(UO2)3(PO4)2O(OH)](OH)3(H2O)9 |
| 8.EC.10 | Renardite | Pb(UO2)4(PO4)2(OH)4 · H2O |
| 8.EC.10 | Phosphuranylite | KCa(H3O)3(UO2)7(PO4)4O4 · 8H2O |
| 8.EC.10 | Arsenuranylite | Ca(UO2)4(AsO4)2(OH)4 · 6H2O |
| 8.EC.10 | 'Kivuite' | Th(UO2)4(PO3OH)2(OH)8 · 7H2O |
| 8.EC.10 | Dewindtite | H2Pb3(UO2)6O4(PO4)4 · 12H2O |
| 8.EC.15 | Dumontite | Pb2(UO2)3O2(PO4)2 · 5H2O |
| 8.EC.15 | Hügelite | Pb2(UO2)3(AsO4)2O2 · 5H2O |
| 8.EC.20 | Vanmeersscheite | U6+(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
| 8.EC.20 | Arsenovanmeersscheite | U6+(UO2)3(AsO4)2(OH)6 · 4H2O |
| 8.EC.20 | Metavanmeersscheite | U6+(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 8.EC.25 | Althupite | AlTh(UO2)7(PO4)4(OH)5O2 · 15H2O |
| 8.EC.30 | Mundite | Al(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)3 · 5.5H2O |
| 8.EC.35 | Phurcalite | Ca2(UO2)3(PO4)2O2 · 7H2O |
| 8.EC.40 | Bergenite | Ca2Ba4(UO2)9(PO4)6O6 · 16H2O |
Radioactivity
Radioactivity:
| Element | % Content | Activity (Bq/kg) | Radiation Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uranium (U) | 64.1220% | 16,030,500 | α, β, γ |
| Thorium (Th) | 0.0000% | 0 | α, β, γ |
| Potassium (K) | 3.0093% | 933 | 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 Yingjiangite
weak yellowish green under SW UV
Other Information
Health Risks:
Radioactive
Internet Links for Yingjiangite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-4362.html
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References for Yingjiangite
Localities for Yingjiangite
Showing 13 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.
China | |
| Jingyi Zhang et al. (1992) +1 other reference |
| Chen Zhangru et al. (1990) |
Czech Republic | |
| Plášil et al. (2009) |
| Jakub Plasil information 2013 +1 other reference |
| Hloušek et al. (2002) |
Germany | |
| Schnorrer (1995) +1 other reference |
| Gröbner et al. (2007) +1 other reference |
Italy | |
| Ciriotti et al. (2010) |
| Gamboni et al. (2021) |
Portugal | |
| Pavel M. Kartashov analytical data |
Switzerland | |
| XRD determination by N. Meisser (MGL Lausanne) |
| Meisser (2012) |
USA | |
| Min News 14:7 p1 |
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Tirpersdorf, Vogtlandkreis, Saxony, Germany