Chernikovite Mineral Data

General Chernikovite Information

Chemical Formula:

(H3O)2(UO2)2(PO4)2•6(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 876.14 gm

Uranium 54.34 % U 61.64 % UO₂

Phosphorus 7.07 % P 16.20 % P₂O₅

Hydrogen 2.07 % H 18.51 % H₂O

Oxygen 36.52 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 96.35 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

(H₃O)₂(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂•6(H₂O)

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 1988

Locality:

Zod, Armenia and North Aksu, Kazakhstan. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for A. P. Chernikov (1927-), Institute of Mineralogy, Geochemistry and Rare Elements, Moscow, Russia.

Synonym:

Hydrogen Autunite

Chernikovite Image

Images:

Chernikovite

Comments: Greenish-yellow crystals of chernikovite intimately intergrown with meta-autunite.
Location: Rockelmann Quarry, Schwarzenberg, Schwarzenberg District, Erzgebirge, Saxony, Germany. Scale: Picture Size 3.5 mm.
© Thomas Witzke / Abraxas-Verlag

Chernikovite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:c = 1:1.28817

Cell Dimensions:

a = 7.02, c = 9.043, Z = 1; V = 445.64 Den(Calc)= 3.26

Crystal System:

Tetragonal - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal H-M Symbol (4/m 2/m 2/m) Space Group: P 4/nmm

$Help on X Ray Diffraction:$ X Ray Diffraction:

By Intensity(I/I_o): 9.03(1), 3.8(0.9), 3.27(0.8),2.77(0.7), 3.51(0.7), 2.96(0.6), 2.16(0.5), 5.56(0.5),

Physical Properties of Chernikovite

Cleavage:

{001} Perfect, {100} Distinct

Color:

Light yellow.

Diaphaneity:

Transparent to Translucent

Habit:

Micaceous - Platy texture with "flexible" plates.

Hardness:

2-2.5 - Gypsum-Finger Nail

Luminescence:

Fluorescent, Short UV=intense yellow green, Long UV=intense yellow green.

Luster:

Vitreous (Glassy)

Streak:

yellow white

Optical Properties of Chernikovite

Dichroism (e):

slight.

Dichroism (w):

slight.

Gladstone-Dale:

CI calc= -0.141 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC)
KPDcalc= 0.1759,KC= 0.1542
Ncalc = 1.5

Optical Data:

Uniaxial (-), e=1.568, w=1.579, bire=0.0110.

Calculated Properties of Chernikovite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=2.92 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Chernikovite =3.26 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.0040906102
Boson Index = 0.9959093898

Photoelectric:

PE_Chernikovite=1,378.06 barns/electron
U=PE_Chernikovite x r_electron=4,020.04 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 4,144,443.22 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Concentration of Chernikovite per GRapi unit = 241.29 (PPB)

Chernikovite is Radioactive as defined in 49 CFR 173.403. Greater than 70 Bq / gram.

Estimated Maximum U.S. Postal Shipping Size (10 mRem/hr limit, Unshielded 10 cm box) 7.34 ± 1.83 grams of pure Chernikovite .
Estimated Maximum U.S. Postal Shipping Size (10 mRem/hr limit, Unshielded 100 cm box) 733.91 ±183.48 grams of pure Chernikovite .

**Estimated Radioactivity from Chernikovite** - very strong
Specimen Size Weight/Volume (Sphere) *	Calculated Activity Bequerols (Bq)	Calculated Activity Curies (Ci)	Estimated Activity GR(api)	Estimated Exposure (mRem**)/hr If Held in Hand For One Hour
1000 gm / 8.37 cm	97,261,524	2.63E-03	4,144,443.22	1,362.56
100 gm / 3.88 cm	9,726,152	2.63E-04	414,444.32	136.26
10 gm / 1.80 cm	972,615	2.63E-05	41,444.43	13.63
1 gm / 8.37 mm	97,262	2.63E-06	4,144.44	1.36
0.1 gm / 3.88 mm	9,726	2.63E-07	414.44	0.14
0.01 gm / 1.80 mm	973	2.63E-08	41.44	0.01
0.001 gm / 0.84 mm	97	2.63E-09	4.14	0.00

Weight of pure Chernikovite in grams (gm) and Calculated Diameter of a Sphere with a Density of 3.26 gm/cc.*
Goverment Estimate of Average Annual Exposure ( 360 mRem) **
Note: 10 microsieverts/hr = 1 mRem/hr **
Max Permissable Adult Dose 50,000 mRem/yr (hands), 15,000 mRem/yr (eyes)
Lethal Dose LD(50) Exposure 400,000 to 500,000 mRem

Chernikovite Classification

Dana Class:

40.02a.19.01 (40)Hydrated Phosphates, etc

(40.02a)where A++ (B++)2 (XO4) ï¿½ x(H2O), containing (UO2)++

(40.02a.19)Dana Group

40.02a.19.01 Chernikovite (H3O)2(UO2)2(PO4)2•6(H2O) P 4/nmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

Strunz Class:

08.EB.15 08 - PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES

08.E - Uranyl Phosphates and Arsenates

08.EB -UO2:RO4 = 1:1

08.EB.15 Abernathyite K(UO2)(AsO4)•4(H2O) P 4/ncc 4/m 2/m 2/m

08.EB.15 Chernikovite (H3O)2(UO2)2(PO4)2•6(H2O) P 4/nmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

08.EB.15 Meta-ankoleite K2(UO2)2(PO4)2•6(H2O) P 4/nmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

08.EB.15 Natrouranospinite (Na2,Ca)(UO2)2(AsO4)2•5(H2O) P 4/nmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

08.EB.15 Uramphite (NH4)(UO2)(PO4)•3(H2O) P 4/nmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

08.EB.15 Trogerite H2(UO2)2(AsO4)2•8(H2O) P 4/mmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

08.EB.15 Uramarsite! (NH4,H3O)2(UO2)2(AsO4,PO4)2•6H2O P 4/mmm 4/m 2/m 2/m

Other Chernikovite Information

References:

NAME( Dana8) PHYS. PROP.(Am.Min.,Vol.74,p1400,1989;Dana8) OPTIC PROP.(Dana8)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Chernikovite :
1 - Am. Min. Crystal Structure Database
2 - Athena
3 - EUROmin Project
4 - Ecole des Mines de Paris
5 - GeoScienceWorld
6 - Google Images
7 - Google Scholar
8 - Handbook of Mineralogy (MinSocAm)
9 - Handbook of Mineralogy (UofA)
10 - MinDAT
11 - Mineralienatlas (Deutsch)
12 - Online Mineral Museum
13 - QUT Mineral Atlas
14 - Ruff.Info
15 - Uranium Minerals

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Chernikovite

(H3O)2(UO2)2(PO4)2•6(H2O)
Dana No: 40.02a.19.01 Strunz No: 08.EB.15
Locality:

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