Mineralpedia Details for Ranunculite
Ranunculite
The buttercup flower is the namesake of this mineral after the Latin and scientific name for the flower ranunculus, in reference to the similarity of the color between the mineral and the flower. This rare mineral is found only at its type locality from the Kobokobo pegmatite in the Kivu province in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Here it forms as a secondary mineral in oxidized uraniferous granite pegamatite. Ranunculite is highly radioactive.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/ranuculite.pdf
- Formula
- Al(UO2)(PO3OH)(OH)3ยท4H2O
- Crystal System
- Monoclinic
- Crystal Habit
- Nodular, Platy, Botryoidal
- Cleavage
- Perfect, Perfect, None
- Color
- golden yellow, canary yellow
- Streak
- light yellow
- Class
- Monoclinic
- Fracture
- Irregular
- Hardness
- 3
- WebMineral
- View Ranunculite
- Mindat
- View Ranunculite
Ranunculite from Kobokobo Pegmatite, Sud-Kivu, Democratic Republic of Congo
An earthy mass full of secondary uranium alterations. If I have this right, and I have never seen this mineral before, the bright yellow coatings are Triangulite, which is the prevalent mineral. The light yellow crystals are the Ranunculite. However, looking at the list of minerals there are a plethora of other minerals found at this deposit including the very rare Eylettersite. This deposit features 14 type locality minerals any of which could be found on this specimen. It is a large specimen, so breaking it up analyzing it would be good thing to do. The long bladed thin crystals are columbite and even these seem to be altered. There are also brown zircon "cyrtolite". A handwritten label can be seen under the prov. tab.
