Mineralpedia Details for Andersonite
Andersonite
Named for the geologist who gathered the first samples, Charles Alfred Anderson of the United States Geological Survey. Andersonite is an uncommon to rare mineral that occurs in oxidized uranium-bearing hydrothermal polymetallic deposits and can also be of post-mine in origin as coatings on the mine walls. Localities for Andersonite include in the United States, Austria, England, Sweden, the Czech Republic, and Argentina, among only a few others. Andersonite is quite radioactive and will brightly fluoresce a pale- to yellow-green under both short-wave and long0wave ultraviolet light. Andersonite is soluble in water.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/andersonite.pdf
- Formula
- Na2Ca(UO2)(CO3)3ยท6H2O
- Crystal System
- Trigonal
- Crystal Habit
- Druse, Rhombohedral Crystals, Pseudo Cubic
- Luster
- Vitreous - Pearly
- Color
- bright yellow green, green
- Class
- Trigonal - Rhombohedral
- Hardness
- 2.5
- WebMineral
- View Andersonite
- Mindat
- View Andersonite
Andersonite from Atomic King mine, San Juan Co, Utah, United States
Thin "veneer " of bright green Andersonite on Sandstone.
Andersonite from Grants dist., McKinley Co., New Mexico, United States
- Special Info
- Radioactive!!
A large specimen of naturally fluorescent Andersonite. It glows in the sun and turns green and switches back to yellow under fluorescent lights. The crystals exhibit an efflorescent look perhaps from a coating of gyspsum, which protects the Andersonite.
Andersonite from Ambrosia Lake dist., McKinley Co., New Mexico, United States
Naturally glowing yellow efflorescent crystals of Andersonite. The crystals glow under the lights and sun and the photos do not do it justice.Excellent specimen.
