Really outstanding yellow crystals of the extremely rare Th-U mineral althupite from the type and only known loclaity worldwide in Kobokobo (Kobokobo Pegmatite, Mwenga, South Kivu, DR Congo). Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Althupite
A rare aluminium-thorium-uranyl phosphate from granite pegmatites, named for its four key elements.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Althupite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the phosphate class, with the chemical formula AlTh(UO₂)₇(PO₄)₄O₂(OH)₅·15H₂O.
It crystallizes in the triclinic crystal system (space group P-1).
Key properties: specific gravity 3.9; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Ahp, IMA status: approved, named in 1986.
Found as a secondary mineral in the uraniferous zone of an altered granite pegmatite.
It is found associated with Beryl, columbite, ranunculite, upalite, phuralumite, threadgoldite, mundite, triangulite, meta-autunite.
The name refers to the major cations in the composition, ALuminum, THorium, Uranium, Phosphorus.