Coffinita
Coffinita is a mineral with formula USiO₄, in the Silicatos group. This specimen comes from Temple Mountain, San Rafael, Emery County, Utah, Estados Unidos.
Description
Black to dark grey, micaceous, lustrous masses dispersed in silicified matrix. Compact appearance with metallic reflections and fine surface glints. Measured radioactivity 0.60 µSv/h.
History of this specimen
This piece is a direct child of the nuclear boom on the Colorado Plateau in the 1950s–1960s. It was the so‑called "uranium fever", supported by the US government buying at favourable prices, when thousands went into the desert with Geiger counters in hand discovering new species. I keep it with its original and handwritten labels, which show a demonstrable chain of custody: originally documented by Professor Frank Bauer and, in the 1980s, in the personal collection of Dr G. Jung.
About Coffinita
An apparently simple uranium silicate, but in fact extremely rare. Isostructural with zircon, it is usually a product of uraninite alteration. It typically occurs massive or intermixed with organic matter (such as radioactive petrified wood), only rarely with visible crystal habit. It was described in 1954, at the height of the uranium boom.
About the locality
Temple Mountain is a classic Triassic sandstone uranium deposit within the San Rafael district, Utah. Known since the mid-20th century, it yielded specimens of uraninite, autunite and coffinite—minerals that marked the start of the United States uranium boom.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0170
- Composition
- USiO₄
- Name
- Coffinita
- Group
- Silicatos
- Category
- Núcleus Ardens
- Matrix
- Matriz silicificada con impregnaciones negras
- Mine
- Temple Mountain
- District / Municipality
- San Rafael
- Province
- Emery County
- Region
- Utah
- Country
- Estados Unidos
- Size (cm)
- 4.5 x 2.5 x 1.5
- Weight
- 13 g
- Ex-collection
- Prof. Frank Bauer > Dr. G. Jung
- Etymology
- Named in honour of R. B. Coffin, a US Geological Survey geologist.
- Quality
- Muy buena
- Value trend
- Estable
Related specimens
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