Wyartite: Crystallographic evidence for the first pentavalent-uranium mineral
- Univ. of Notre Dame, IN (United States). Dept. of Civil Engineering and Geological Sciences
- Argonne National Lab., IL (United States). Chemical Technology Div.
Determination of the structure of wyartite provides the first evidence for a pentavalent-U mineral. The structure of wyartite, CaU{sup 5+}(UO{sub 2}){sub 2}(CO{sub 3})O{sub 4}(OH)(H{sub 2}O), was solved by direct methods and refined to an agreement index (R) of 4.9% for 2309 unique reflections collected using MoK{alpha}X-radiation and a CCD-based detector. The structure contains three unique U positions; two contain U{sup 6+} and involve uranyl ions with typical pentagonal-bipyramidal coordination. Seven anions coordinate the other U position, but there is no uranyl ion present. The polyhedral geometry, the bond-valence sum incident at this U site, and electroneutrality requirements, all indicate that this site contains U{sup 5+}. The U{phi}{sub 7} ({phi}: O, OH, H{sub 2}O) polyhedra share edges and corners to form a unique sheet in which a CO{sub 3} group shares an edge with the U{sup 5+}{phi}{sub 7} polyhedron. The structure contains one Ca site coordinated by seven anions. The Ca atom and its associated H{sub 2}O groups occupy interlayer sites, along with two H{sub 2}O groups that are held in the structure by H bonds only. The Ca{phi}{sub 7} polyhedron is linked to one adjacent sheet by sharing an edge with the CO{sub 3} group and an O atom with a U{sup 6+}{phi}{sub 7} polyhedron. Structural units are linked together through hydrogen bonds only.
- Sponsoring Organization:
- USDOE, Washington, DC (United States)
- OSTI ID:
- 697153
- Journal Information:
- American Mineralogist, Vol. 84, Issue 9; Other Information: PBD: Sep 1999
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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