Occurs as small clusters in fissure and cavities in quartz gangue from the mine dump. Mineral is formed by the supergene alteration of uraninite and bismuth sulfides.
IMA Status:
Approved IMA 2004 (Dana # Added)
Locality:
Ore depost near Smrkovec,k in western Bohemia, Czech Republic. Link to MinDat.org Location Data.
Name Origin:
Named as the phosphate (PO4---) analogue of walpurgite.
Encrustations - Forms crust-like aggregates on matrix.
Habit:
Euhedral Crystals - Occurs as well-formed crystals showing good external form.
Hardness:
4-5 - Fluorite-Apatite
Luster:
Vitreous - Adamantine
Streak:
light brownish gray
Optical Properties of Phosphowalpurgite
Gladstone-Dale:
CI calc= 0.008 (Superior) - where the CI = (1-KPDcalc/KC) KPDcalc= 0.1496,KC= 0.1507 Ncalc = 1.96
Optical Data:
Biaxial (?), a=1.9, g=2, bire=0.1000
Calculated Properties of Phosphowalpurgite
Electron Density:
Bulk Density (Electron Density)=5.35 gm/cc note: Specific Gravity of Phosphowalpurgite =6.35 gm/cc.
Fermion Index:
Fermion Index = 0.0016409975 Boson Index = 0.9983590025
Photoelectric:
PEPhosphowalpurgite =1,547.28 barns/electron U=PEPhosphowalpurgite x relectron=8,270.30 barns/cc.
Radioactivity:
GRapi = 1,116,707.99 (Gamma Ray American Petroleum Institute Units)
Concentration of Phosphowalpurgite per GRapi unit = 895.49 (PPB)
Phosphowalpurgite 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)
27.24 ± 6.81 grams of pure Phosphowalpurgite .
Estimated Maximum U.S. Postal Shipping Size
(10 mRem/hr limit, Unshielded 100 cm box)
2723.8 ±680.94 grams of pure Phosphowalpurgite .
Estimated Radioactivity from Phosphowalpurgite - 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 / 6.70 cm
27,860,024
7.53E-04
1,116,707.99
367.14
100 gm / 3.11 cm
2,786,002
7.53E-05
111,670.80
36.71
10 gm / 1.44 cm
278,600
7.53E-06
11,167.08
3.67
1 gm / 6.70 mm
27,860
7.53E-07
1,116.71
0.37
0.1 gm / 3.11 mm
2,786
7.53E-08
111.67
0.04
0.01 gm / 1.44 mm
279
7.53E-09
11.17
0.00
0.001 gm / 0.67 mm
28
7.53E-10
1.12
0.00
Weight of pure Phosphowalpurgite in grams (gm) and Calculated Diameter of a Sphere with a Density of 6.35 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
Chemical Formula: 
- very strong