Tyuyamunita
Tyuyamunita is a mineral with formula Ca(UO₂)₂(VO₄)₂·5–8H₂O, in the Fosfatos (uranovanadatos) group. This specimen comes from Butler #2 Mine, Crescent Creek, Garfield County, Utah, Estados Unidos and joined the Terrium collection in 2025.
Description
Intense yellow crystalline aggregates in rosettes covering 2/3 of the matrix, with strong contrast against the reddish-brown background. Richer coverage than many tyuyamunite specimens. Registers peaks of 0.80 µSv/h.
About Tyuyamunita
Calcium uranyl vanadate, i.e. a member of the autunite group in which vanadium replaces phosphorus. It is a neoformation mineral: it forms in the oxidation zone and can develop even in relatively recent historic mines. Minerals of this group have been recorded on dumps or in galleries within less than a century, sometimes in only a few decades; they rarely take more than a few thousand years.
About the locality
Butler #2 Mine, Utah, is known for its brightly coloured uranyl vanadates. The arid environment and surficial alteration of uranium minerals favoured the formation of crusts of tyuyamunite and carnotite—classics of United States mineralogy.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0172
- Composition
- Ca(UO₂)₂(VO₄)₂·5–8H₂O
- Name
- Tyuyamunita
- Group
- Fosfatos (uranovanadatos)
- Category
- Núcleus Ardens
- Matrix
- Limonítica
- Associations
- carnotita
- Mine
- Butler #2 Mine
- District / Municipality
- Crescent Creek
- Province
- Garfield County
- Region
- Utah
- Country
- Estados Unidos
- Size (cm)
- 3.7 x 2.1 x 0.7
- Weight
- 8.2 g
- Acquired
- 2025
- Etymology
- The name honours the Russian geologist V. I. Tyuyamun, in whose region of Uzbekistan it was first described.
- Quality
- Muy buena
- Value trend
- Al alza
Related specimens
- Analcima — Estados Unidos
- Auricalcita — Estados Unidos
- Boltwoodita — Estados Unidos
- Calcita (Ahumada) — Estados Unidos
- Calcita — Estados Unidos
- Calcita — Estados Unidos
- Carnotita — Estados Unidos
- Coffinita — Estados Unidos