Formula: Ca(UO2)2[SiO3(OH)]2.5H2O
Origin of name: from composition and from Greek phanos for "to appear"
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Crystal class: 2
Twinning:
Unit cell: a = 15.92 Å, b = 7.01 Å, c = 6.67 Å, b = 97.25°
Colour: Pale yellow, lemon yellow to yellowish green, yellow orange
Diaphaneity: Translucent to subtranslucent
Luster: Vitreous to greasy, pearly on cleavage
Habit: Crystals prismatic, nearly square cross section, to 8 mm or acicular, hair-like, radiated or tufted aggregates, massive, earthy, fibrous
Hardness: about 2.5
Specific gravity: 3.83
Cleavage: 1; {100} perfect
Tenacity: Brittle, uneven fracture
Streak: Yellowish white
Synonyms/varieties: alpha-uranophane (a-uranophane), lambertite, uranotile
Comments: dimorphous with beta-uranophane (b-uranophane), fluoresces weak yellowish green, massive material usually nonfluorescent, radioactive
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