Zeunerite
Encyclopedia
Zeunerite is a green copper
uranium
arsenate mineral
with formula
Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2•10-16(H2O). It is a member of the autunite
group. Metazeunerite is a dehydration product.
It occurs as a secondary mineral in the oxidized
weathering
zone of hydrothermal uranium ore deposits which contain arsenic. Olivenite
, mansfieldite, scorodite
, azurite
and malachite
are found in association with zeunerite.
It was first described in 1872 for an occurrence in the Schneeberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony
, Germany
. It was named for Gustav Anton Zeuner (1828-1907).
Copper
Copper is a chemical element with the symbol Cu and atomic number 29. It is a ductile metal with very high thermal and electrical conductivity. Pure copper is soft and malleable; an exposed surface has a reddish-orange tarnish...
uranium
Uranium
Uranium is a silvery-white metallic chemical element in the actinide series of the periodic table, with atomic number 92. It is assigned the chemical symbol U. A uranium atom has 92 protons and 92 electrons, of which 6 are valence electrons...
arsenate mineral
Arsenate mineral
Arsenate minerals usually refer to the naturally occurring orthoarsenates, possessing the 3- anion group and, more rarely, other arsenates with anions like AsO32- or [AsO22]- . Arsenite minerals are much less common...
with formula
Chemical formula
A chemical formula or molecular formula is a way of expressing information about the atoms that constitute a particular chemical compound....
Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2•10-16(H2O). It is a member of the autunite
Autunite
Autunite with formula: Ca22·10-12H2O is a yellow - greenish fluorescent mineral with a hardness of 2 - 2½. Autunite crystallizes in the tetragonal system and often occurs as tabular square crystals. Due to the moderate uranium content of 48.27% it is radioactive and also used as uranium ore...
group. Metazeunerite is a dehydration product.
It occurs as a secondary mineral in the oxidized
Redox
Redox reactions describe all chemical reactions in which atoms have their oxidation state changed....
weathering
Weathering
Weathering is the breaking down of rocks, soils and minerals as well as artificial materials through contact with the Earth's atmosphere, biota and waters...
zone of hydrothermal uranium ore deposits which contain arsenic. Olivenite
Olivenite
Olivenite is a copper arsenate mineral, formula Cu2AsO4OH. It crystallizes in the monoclinic system , and is sometimes found in small brilliant crystals of simple prismatic habit terminated by domal faces...
, mansfieldite, scorodite
Scorodite
Scorodite is a common hydrated iron arsenate mineral, with the chemical formula FeAsO4·2H2O. It is found in hydrothermal deposits and as a secondary mineral in gossans worldwide. Scorodite weathers to limonite....
, azurite
Azurite
Azurite is a soft, deep blue copper mineral produced by weathering of copper ore deposits. It is also known as Chessylite after the type locality at Chessy-les-Mines near Lyon, France...
and malachite
Malachite
Malachite is a copper carbonate mineral, with the formula Cu2CO32. This green-colored mineral crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system, and most often forms botryoidal, fibrous, or stalagmitic masses. Individual crystals are rare but do occur as slender to acicular prisms...
are found in association with zeunerite.
It was first described in 1872 for an occurrence in the Schneeberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony
Saxony
The Free State of Saxony is a landlocked state of Germany, contingent with Brandenburg, Saxony Anhalt, Thuringia, Bavaria, the Czech Republic and Poland. It is the tenth-largest German state in area, with of Germany's sixteen states....
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. It was named for Gustav Anton Zeuner (1828-1907).