Parauranofana
Parauranofana is a mineral with formula Ca(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂·5H₂O, in the Silicatos group. This specimen comes from Rössing Uranium Mine, Arandis, Erongo, Erongo Region, Namibia.
Description
Carpet of intense yellow parauranophane rosettes, with bright, well-defined crystals. Intergrowths with quartz crystals. Well-developed rosette aggregates; shows very well under the loupe.
History of this specimen
Its previous owner, Bernhard Dünkel, was a Bavarian tax adviser and founder of Dünkel & Partner.
About Parauranofana
A scientific rarity. Parauranophane is an uncommon uranyl silicate, dimorphous with uranophane: they share the same chemical composition but have different crystal structures, so they are regarded as separate species. Whereas uranophane typically occurs in acicular or fibrous aggregates, parauranophane develops radiating laminar aggregates forming "rosettes" or "flowers". Specimens with well-developed, voluminous rosettes, like this, are valued for an aesthetic extremely uncommon for the species.
About the locality
Rössing is one of the largest open-pit uranium deposits in the world and a reference locality for secondary uranium minerals. It was discovered in 1928 and belonged to Rio Tinto until it was sold to China. During the 1970s and 1980s, the Rössing mine operated illegally by defying UN resolutions that prohibited the extraction of resources in Namibia, as it was occupied by the South African apartheid regime. This operation was heavily marked by extreme inequality and racial segregation: while white executives and expatriates (such as the Thiels; Peter's father was a chemical engineer there) enjoyed excellent amenities in the picturesque coastal town of Swakopmund, black workers were relegated to Arandis, a settlement built by the company in the middle of the desert that was characterized by overcrowding, inadequate basic services, and strict control over the miners' lives.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0333
- Composition
- Ca(UO₂)₂(SiO₃OH)₂·5H₂O
- Name
- Parauranofana
- Group
- Silicatos
- Category
- Núcleus Ardens
- Matrix
- Granítica
- Associations
- cuarzo
- Mine
- Rössing Uranium Mine
- District / Municipality
- Arandis
- Province
- Erongo
- Region
- Erongo Region
- Country
- Namibia
- Size (cm)
- 7 x 6 x 5
- Weight
- 210.9 g
- Ex-collection
- Bernhard Dünkel
- Etymology
- From the Greek roots κονία (konis, dust) and χαλκος (chalkos, copper), chosen by Breithaupt and Fritzsche to reflect its physical appearance and metallic content.
- Quality
- Top
- Value trend
- Al alza
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