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Institute of Geochemistry, Mineralogy and Mineral Resources, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Albertov 6, CZ-128 43, Praha 2,
Czech Republic
Department of Mineralogy and Petrology, National Museum, Vclavsk nm. 68, CZ-115 79 Praha 1, Czech Republic
Biskupsk dvr 2, CZ-110 00 Praha 1, Czech Republic
Czech Geological Survey, Klrov 3, CZ-118 21 Praha 1, Czech Republic
Regional Museum Sokolov, Zmeck 1, Sokolov, CZ-356 00, Czech Republic
This paper presents the existing and newly obtained information on supergene minerals of the Horn Slavkov uranium ore district. Mineralogical studies confirmed occurrences of the following minerals: anglesite, annabergite, arsenolite, autunite, carnotite, compreignacite,
cuprosklodowskite, kaatialaite, liebigite, meta-autunite, metanovekite, metatorbernite, mohrite, novekite, phosphuranylite, rutherfordine,
schultenite, siderite, torbernite, uranophane, zeunerite, and unnamed phase UNK5. The present study did not confirm the presence of
previously reported occurrences of bassetite, soddyite, uranophane- and uranospinite. Also presented is interpretation of formation of the
supergene mineralization in this ore district.
Key words: Horn Slavkov uranium district; supergene minerals; uranium; uranyl minerals
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Fig. 4 Dump of the mine No. 11, Horn Slavkov uranium district (photograph by J. Sejkora, May 2002).
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Methods of study
Arsenolite As2O3
If not stated otherwise, all minerals described in this report have been identified by X-ray powder diffraction
analysis (XRD). Powder diffraction data were collected
using two instruments:
1) Philips XPert MPD diffractometer (Czech Geological Survey, Prague) a metallo-ceramic copper tube was
operated at high-voltage of 40 kV and tube current of 40
mA. A graphite secondary monochromator has been used
to produce CuK12 radiation. The results were processed
using X-ray analysis software ZDS for DOS (Ondru
1993), Bede ZDS Search/Match ver. 4.5 (Ondru Skla 1997)
2) PANalytical XPert Pro diffractometer (Faculty of
Science, Charles University, Prague) with XCelerator detector, with secondary monochromator, using CuK radiation at 40 kV and 30 mA. Measured data were processed using software High Score Plus 2.0.1
(PANalytical). Le Baile fit (Pseudo-Voigt profile function) was used for refinement of unit- cell parameters, and
in some cases the program by Burnham (1962).
Energy dispersion analyzer LinkISIS300 with the microscope CamScan4 was used for semiquantitative chemical composition data (operator R. Prochzka, Faculty of
Science, Charles University, Prague), using natural (not
polished) surfaces of minerals. The surface morphology
of samples was studied with the optical microscope Nikon SMZ1500 in combination with the digital camera
Nikon DXM1200F, for photography in incandescent
light. Detailes of surface morphology were studied in secondary electron images using the Jeol JSM-6380 scanning electron microscopy (operators M. Mazuch and J.
Plil, Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague).
Anglesite PbSO4
Anglesite has been found in samples from partly weathered galena vein with veinlets and inclusions of other primary minerals, mainly marcasite, pyrite and arsenopyrite.
This material was collected at the shaft No. 8. Anglesite
occurs as sub-recently formed, bluish earthy or botryoidal aggregates several cm2 in size. It occurs in association with mohrite, kaatialaite, schultenite, and secondary
siderite. Anglesite is identified by XRD as it occurs in
mixtures with other minerals.
Dubinkina (1947) described this mineral from near-surface parts of the cementation zone of uranium veins,
about 40 to 50 m below surface. Samples were collected
during sinking shafts Nos 1 and 2 on the vein Zda Bh.
Bassetite occurs in association with autunite and torbernite on black uranium oxides, resulting from alteration
of uraninite. This mineral assemblage is tied to partly limonitized marcasite or other sulphides. Bassetite is
younger than autunite and forms rims around crystalline
aggregates of autunite. Dubinkina (1947) noted, without
closer explanation, that optical properties of local bassetite differ from published values. New study did not confirm the presence of bassetite at the locality.
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Fig. 5 Tabular crystals of compreignacite, Horn Slavkov uranium district. Width of the area shown is 80 m. SEM photograph by J. Plil.
this paper
14.868(1)
7.2036(8)
12.161(2)
1302.5
Burns (1998)
14.8591(7)
7.1747(3)
12.1871(5)
1299.3(2)
this paper
7.06(1)
9.19(1)
6.675(7)
109.54(8)
90.24(8)
108.9(1)
384(1)
154
It belongs to the most common mineral phases in the recently studied museum (NMCR, MuseumParis) specimens. Phosphuranylite forms compact and powdery yellow aggregates, which surround uraninite strongly
affected by supergene alteration (Fig. 7). On rare instanc-
this paper
16.682(6)
17.59(1)
13.652(7)
4006.9
Mereiter (1982)
16.699(3)
17.557(3)
13.697(3)
4015.7
155
this paper
4.835(2)
9.240(4)
4.301(2)
192.14
Schultenite Pb(AsO3OH)
Schultenite has been found in samples from weathered
galena vein with veinlets and inclusions of marcasite,
pyrite and arsenopyrite. This material was collected in the
shaft No. 8. Schultenite forms very brittle, red brown oval
coatings, covering surface of weathered sulphides. The
aggregates are up to several cm2 in size. Schultenite is
associated with mohrite, kaatialaite, anglesite and secondary siderite. The mineral is identified only by XRD study
due to its occurrence in mixtures with other minerals.
Siderite FeCO3
It forms grey brown brittle coating and crusts with some
imperfect and corroded siderite crystals, deposited on
galena crystals. Siderite aggregates are up to 5 mm long.
Samples were collected at the shaft No. 8. The mineral
is identified by X-ray powder diffraction.
this paper
15.774(4)
13.791(3)
17.318(4)
3767.5
Rutherfordine UO2CO3
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hydration of the original torbernite has taken place during a prolonged storage of the specimens or during sample preparation for X-ray analysis. Metatorbernite forms
non-transparent green tabular crystals with mat surface,
up to 5 mm long, and abundant crystalline coatings or
crusts. It is associated with autunite and often with uranophane and phosphuranylite. The refined unit-cell parameters (Table 6) are in good agreement with published data.
this paper
15.904(2)
7.0026(9)
6.6538(7)
97.224(9)
735.17
Ginderow (1988)
15.909(6)
7.002(3)
6.665(3)
97.27(4)
736.5
this paper
6.9705(7)
17.3464(8)
842.8
a []
c []
V[3]
this paper
7.1782(5)
20.860(2)
1074.9
157
Acknowledgements. The present authors thank PierreJacques Chiappero, Musum National dHistoire Naturelle of Paris, for his co-operation in preparation of this article. Our thanks also go to Jaromr Tvrd, GP Karlovy
Vary, Ji ejka, Roudnice nad Labem, Ji Litochleb,
National Museum, Prague and Stanislav Vrna, Czech
Geological Survey, Prague. Our thanks are also due to
Oldich Fatka, Charles University, for kindly providing
access to electron scanning microscope (SEM photography) and also to Martin Mazuch for his help. Michal
Huk (Institute of chemical technology, Prague), provided access to data processing with the High Score Plus
program. This project received financial support from the
Ministry of Culture of the Czech Republic (Project
MK00002327201) a Granting Agency of the Czech Republic (Grant No. 205/03/D004).
References
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