Zippeite

Zippeite is a potassium uranium sulphate mineral which typically occurs as bright yellow crystals.

 

It is a uranium mineral and should be considered toxic and radioactive.

Information about Zippeite

Zippeite is a secondary uranium mineral that typically occurs as bright yellow to orange crusts, efflorescences, or earthy masses on the surfaces of other uranium-bearing minerals.

It often forms in velvety coatings or delicate scaly aggregates, sometimes with a fibrous or powdery habit.

 

Uses and History

Zippeite was once apparently used in the creation of paints, and while I am aware of the existence of uranium yellow paints, I haven’t been able to find any evidence of Zippeite specifically being used in paintmaking.

Wikipedia makes the claim that zippeite is used in the manufacture of depleted uranium, and while this may be true I wasn’t able to find any evidence of that either.

My suspicion is that various ores were used for both, and it is possible zippeite was one of these ores, but it was likely not anyones first choice.

 

Zippeite was first described in 1859 from Jáchymov, Czech Republic, a region famous for uranium minerals.

It was named after Franz Xaver Maximilian Zippe (1791–1863), an Austrian mineralogist.

Over time, multiple varieties have been recognised, depending on hydration states and chemical substitutions within the structure.

 

Mineralogy

Chemistry
A hydrous potassium uranium sulphate with the formula K3(UO2)4(SO4)2O3(OH) · 3H2O.
Colours and Variations

Yellow, yellow orange, red, brown-yellow, brown-orange.

Streak
Luster
Silky, dull
Transparency
Translucent
Fracture
Translucent
Crystal habit
Typically forms powdery coatings or crusts on matrix, but rarely crystallises. Crystals rhomboidal, platy.
Mohs hardness
2
Fluorescence
Often fluorescent, yellow – yellow-green under SW and LW.
Specific Gravity
Some sources (Wiki) say 3.66, some say 4.66. I believe this is likely a typo and the true SG is 4.66 – via mindat, handbook of mineralogy.
Easiest testing method
May be very difficult to distinguish from other secondary uranium minerals.

Hazards and Warnings

Radioactive and toxic mineral – contains uranium.

Handle with care, wash your hands, and take care to mitigate the possibilities of radon gas release.

 

Mineral collectors should wash their hands after handling specimens, to avoid any exposure to potential toxins.

Almost all rocks, minerals (and, frankly, almost all other substances on earth) can produce toxic dust when cutting, which can cause serious respiratory conditions including silicosis.

When cutting or polishing rocks, minerals, shells, etc, all work should be done wet to minimise the dust, and a suitable respirator or extraction system should be used.

 

Translations

Arabic:

Hindi:

Portuguese:

Bengali:

Indonesian:

Punjabi:

English:

  • Zippeite

Italian:

Russian:

  • Циппеит

French:

Japanese:

  • ジッペ石

Spanish:

  • Zippeit

German:

  • Zippeit

Korean:

Thai:

Gujurati:

Mandarin Chinese:

  • 水铀矾

Urdu:

Further Reading / External Links