| Zeunerite | |
| Category: | Arsenate mineral |
| Formula: | Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2·(10-16)H2O |
| Imasymbol: | Zeu[1] |
| Strunz: | 8.EB.05 |
| Dana: | 40.02a.14.01 |
| System: | Tetragonal |
| Class: | Ditetragonal dipyramidal (4/mmm) H-M symbol: (4/m 2/m 2/m) |
| Symmetry: | P4/nnc |
| Color: | Yellow-green, emerald-green |
| Habit: | Crystals flat tabular on, commonly subparallel to micaceous |
| Cleavage: | perfect,, distinct |
| Mohs: | 2.5 |
| Luster: | Vitreous |
| Streak: | pale green |
| Diaphaneity: | Transparent, becoming translucent on dehydration |
| Gravity: | 3.2–3.4 |
| Opticalprop: | Uniaxial (−) |
| Refractive: | nω = 1.610 – 1.613 nε = 1.582 – 1.585 |
| Birefringence: | δ = 0.028 |
| Pleochroism: | Visible |
| Other: | Radioactive |
| References: | [2] [3] [4] |
Zeunerite is a green copper uranium arsenate mineral with formula Cu(UO2)2(AsO4)2·(10-16)H2O. It is a member of the autunite group. The associated mineral metazeunerite is a dehydration product of zeunerite.
Zeunerite occurs as a secondary mineral in the oxidized weathering zone of hydrothermal uranium ore deposits which contain arsenic. Olivenite, mansfieldite, scorodite, azurite and malachite are found in association with zeunerite.[2]
It was first described in 1872 for an occurrence in the Schneeberg District, Ore Mountains, Saxony, Germany. It was named for Gustav Anton Zeuner (1828–1907).[3]