Torbernite from Ste Barbe vein, France

Torbernite from Ste Barbe vein (Les Montmins), Montmins mining district, Échassières, Vichy, Allier, Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, France

Small but nice specimen of torbernite from Ste Barbe vein, France - also known as les Montmins. These may be torbernite or metatorbernite - it is impossible to tell without analysis.

Magnification recommended for looking at the crystals, although they are visible with the naked eye.

• #1 - Noticably radioactive with a radiacode2 device - counts jumped from 0.11usv/hr at 30CM to 0.6usv/hr at 0CM. Comes boxed with our ID label and two former owners labels.
• #2 - Less radioactive - radiacode2 counts jumped from 0.09usv/hr at 30CM to 0.23usv/hr at 0CM. Former owner labelled this as Parsonite.
• #3 - Less radioactive - radiacode2 counts jumped from 0.09usv/hr at 30CM to 0.18usv/hr at 0CM. Former owner labelled this as Metatorbernite.

This is not a level of radioactivity I would consider hazardous, but keeping the specimen boxed and minimising handling is a good move.

Toxic and radioactive mineral: contains uranium.