Margaritasite Mineral Data

General Margaritasite Information

Chemical Formula:

(Cs,K,H3O)2(UO2)2V2O8•(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 974.70 gm

Cesium 16.36 % Cs 17.35 % Cs₂O

Potassium 2.41 % K 2.90 % K₂O

Uranium 48.84 % U 55.41 % UO₂

Vanadium 10.45 % V 18.66 % V₂O₅

Hydrogen 0.27 % H 2.40 % H₂O

Oxygen 21.67 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 96.72 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

Cs_1.2K_0.6(H₃O)_0.2(UO₂)₂V⁵⁺₂O₈•(H₂O)

Environment:

Principle ore mineral found in pore fillings and phenocryst casts in felsic volcanic tuffs, which have been altered by high-temperature hydrothermal fluids.

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 1982

Locality:

Margaritas uranium deposit, Peï¿½na Blanca district, about 70 km north of Chihuahua City, Chihuahua, Mexico. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for the locality.

Name Pronunciation:

Margaritasite

Synonym:

ICSD 15839

PDF 25-1218

Margaritasite Image

Images:

Margaritasite

Comments: Bright yellow earthy margaritasite crust on rhyolite.
Location: Margaritas Open Pit Mine, Sierra Pena Blanca, Chihuahua,. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Margaritasite Crystallography

Axial Ratios:

a:b:c =1.2479:1:0.8605

Cell Dimensions:

a = 10.514, b = 8.425, c = 7.25, Z = 2; beta = 106.01° V = 617.30 Den(Calc)= 5.24

Crystal System:

Monoclinic - Prismatic H-M Symbol (2/m) Space Group: P 2₁/a

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

By Intensity(I/I_o): 6.965(1), 3.344(0.7), 3.6(0.7),

Physical Properties of Margaritasite

Color:

Yellow.

Density:

5.4

Hardness:

2 - Gypsum

Streak:

light yellow

Optical Properties of Margaritasite

Optical Data:

NCalc= 1.8 - from Gladstone-Dale relationship (KC = 0.1533) where Ncalc=Dcalc*KC+1
NCalc= 1.83 - from Gladstone-Dale relationship (KC = 0.1533) where Ncalc=Dmeas*KC+1

Calculated Properties of Margaritasite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=4.47 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Margaritasite =5.24 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.0038852036
Boson Index = 0.9961147964

Photoelectric:

PE_{Margaritasite}=1,375.06 barns/electron
U=PE_{Margaritasite} x r_electron=6,144.51 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 3,550,271.38 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Concentration of Margaritasite per GRapi unit = 281.67 (PPB)

Margaritasite 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) 8.57 ± 2.14 grams of pure Margaritasite .
Estimated Maximum U.S. Postal Shipping Size (10 mRem/hr limit, Unshielded 100 cm box) 856.74 ±214.19 grams of pure Margaritasite .

**Estimated Radioactivity from Margaritasite** - 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 / 7.14 cm	87,427,050	2.36E-03	3,550,271.38	1,167.21
100 gm / 3.32 cm	8,742,705	2.36E-04	355,027.14	116.72
10 gm / 1.54 cm	874,271	2.36E-05	35,502.71	11.67
1 gm / 7.14 mm	87,427	2.36E-06	3,550.27	1.17
0.1 gm / 3.32 mm	8,743	2.36E-07	355.03	0.12
0.01 gm / 1.54 mm	874	2.36E-08	35.50	0.01
0.001 gm / 0.71 mm	87	2.36E-09	3.55	0.00

Weight of pure Margaritasite in grams (gm) and Calculated Diameter of a Sphere with a Density of 5.24 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

Margaritasite Classification

Dana Class:

40.02a.28.02 (40)Hydrated Phosphates, etc

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

(40.02a.28)Dana Group

40.02a.28.01 Carnotite K2(UO2)2V2O8•3(H2O) P 2₁/a 2/m

40.02a.28.02 Margaritasite (Cs,K,H3O)2(UO2)2V2O8•(H2O) P 2₁/a 2/m

Strunz Class:

04.HB.05 04 - OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodate

04.H - V[5,6] Vanadates

04.HB -Uranyl Sorovanadates

04.HB.05 Carnotite K2(UO2)2V2O8•3(H2O) P 2₁/a 2/m

04.HB.05 Margaritasite (Cs,K,H3O)2(UO2)2V2O8•(H2O) P 2₁/a 2/m

Other Margaritasite Information

References:

NAME( AntBidBlaNic4) PHYS. PROP.(Enc. of Minerals,2nd ed.,1990)

See Also:

Links to other databases for Margaritasite :
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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Margaritasite

(Cs,K,H3O)2(UO2)2V2O8•(H2O)
Dana No: 40.02a.28.02 Strunz No: 04.HB.05
Locality:

Notes:

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