Moluranite Mineral Data

General Moluranite Information

Chemical Formula:

H4U++++(UO2)3(MoO4)7•18(H2O)

Composition:

Molecular Weight = 2,495.98 gm

Uranium 38.15 % U 43.27 % UO₂

Molybdenum 26.91 % Mo 40.37 % MoO₃

Hydrogen 1.62 % H 14.44 % H₂O

Oxygen 33.33 % O

______ ______

100.00 % 98.08 % = TOTAL OXIDE

Empirical Formula:

H₄U(UO₂)₃(MoO₄)₇•18(H₂O)

Environment:

In fine fissures in granulated albite, in part replacing brannerite.

IMA Status:

Approved IMA 1959

Locality:

Aleksandrovskii Golets Moï¿½U deposit, upper Chetkanda River, Udokan Range, Chara region, northern Transbaikal, Russia. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.

Name Origin:

Named for the MOLybdenum and URANium in the composition.

Name Pronunciation:

Moluranite + Pronunciation

Moluranite Image

Images:

Moluranite

Comments: Dark gray-black moluranite coatings on sandstone.
Location: La Sal, San Juan County, Utah, USA. Scale: See Photo.
© Jeff Weissman / Photographic Guide to Mineral Species

Moluranite Crystallography

Crystal System:

Amorphous- No Crystals

Physical Properties of Moluranite

Cleavage:

None

Color:

Black, Brown.

Density:

Diaphaneity:

Translucent

Fracture:

Brittle - Generally displayed by glasses and most non-metallic minerals.

Hardness:

3-4 - Calcite-Fluorite

Luster:

Resinous

Streak:

brown

Optical Properties of Moluranite

Gladstone-Dale:

CI meas= -0.296 (Poor) - where the CI = (1-KPDmeas/KC)
KPDmeas= 0.2438,KC= 0.188
Ncalc = 1.75

Optical Data:

Isotropic, n=1.97-1.98.

Calculated Properties of Moluranite

Electron Density:

Bulk Density (Electron Density)=3.58 gm/cc
note: Specific Gravity of Moluranite =4.00 gm/cc.

Fermion Index:

Fermion Index = 0.07
Boson Index = 0.93

Photoelectric:

PE_Moluranite=1,012.05 barns/electron
U=PE_Moluranite x r_electron=3,626.53 barns/cc.

Radioactivity:

GRapi = 2,912,811.10 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Concentration of Moluranite per GRapi unit = 343.31 (PPB)

Moluranite 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) 10.44 ± 2.61 grams of pure Moluranite .
Estimated Maximum U.S. Postal Shipping Size (10 mRem/hr limit, Unshielded 100 cm box) 1044.2 ±261.06 grams of pure Moluranite .

**Estimated Radioactivity from Moluranite** - 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 / 7.82 cm	68,281,219	1.85E-03	2,912,811.10	957.64
100 gm / 3.63 cm	6,828,122	1.85E-04	291,281.11	95.76
10 gm / 1.68 cm	682,812	1.85E-05	29,128.11	9.58
1 gm / 7.82 mm	68,281	1.85E-06	2,912.81	0.96
0.1 gm / 3.63 mm	6,828	1.85E-07	291.28	0.10
0.01 gm / 1.68 mm	683	1.85E-08	29.13	0.01
0.001 gm / 0.78 mm	68	1.85E-09	2.91	0.00

Weight of pure Moluranite in grams (gm) and Calculated Diameter of a Sphere with a Density of 4.00 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

Moluranite Classification

Dana Class:

49.01.02.01 (49)Basic and Hydrated Molybdates and Tungstates

(49.01)(Acid Hydrated)

(49.01.02)Dana Group

49.01.02.01 Moluranite H4U(UO2)3(MoO4)7•18(H2O) None

Strunz Class:

07.HA.15 07 - SULFATES (SELENATES, TELLURATES)

07.H - Uranium and Uranyl Molybdates and Wolframates

07.HA -With U4+

07.HA.15 Moluranite H4U(UO2)3(MoO4)7•18(H2O) None

Other Moluranite Information

References:

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

See Also:

Links to other databases for Moluranite :
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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Print or Cut-and-Paste your Moluranite Specimen Label here :

Moluranite

H4U++++(UO2)3(MoO4)7•18(H2O)
Dana No: 49.01.02.01 Strunz No: 07.HA.15
Locality:

Notes:

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