Original paper
Uranium-rich metamict senaite from Alinci, Yugoslavia
Bermanec, Vladimir; Tibljaš, Darko; Kniewald, Goran
European Journal of Mineralogy Volume 4 Number 2 (1992), p. 331 - 336
15 references
published: Mar 31, 1992
manuscript accepted: Jul 16, 1991
manuscript received: Dec 21, 1990
DOI: 10.1127/ejm/4/2/0331
Abstract
Abstract Senaite from Alinci (Yugoslavia), formerly determined as davidite, was analysed by ICP atomic emission spectrometry and X-ray diffraction. The results indicate that the mineral is unusually rich in uranium (ca. 11 % U3O8) and depleted in REE with the average structural formula (Pbo.87Sro.1o [REE + Y] 0.02)10.99 (Tii3.48Fe6.ooUo.78Sno.o9Vo.θ5Zno.o5Cro.θ5Gao.o4)Σ20.54 O38∙ Uranium-induced radiation damage caused rather complete metamictization. X-ray powder diffraction patterns obtained after annealing yield hexagonal cell parameters a = 10.382 Å and c = 20.899 Å, similar to those of davidite. Although low in total REE, the senaite shows a marked LREE enrichment, implying oxidative hydrothermal vein mineralization.
Keywords
senaite • REE • U • chemical composition