Outstanding yellow crystal aggregates of the extremely rare uranium mineral furongite from one of the only two known localities worldwide: Kobokobo Pegmatite, Mwenga, South Kivu, DR Congo. Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Furongite
Furongite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the phosphate class, with the chemical formula Al₄(UO₂)₄(PO₄)₆(OH)₂(H₂O)₁₉.₅.
It crystallizes in the triclinic crystal system.
Key properties: specific gravity 2.82–3; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Frg, IMA status: approved, named in 1976.
Found in the oxidation zone of a uranium deposit (Hunan Province, China); in a complex granite pegmatite (Kobokobo pegmatite, Congo).
It is found associated with Variscite, evansite, autunite, halloysite, “opal”, “limonite” (Hunan Province, China); moreauite (Kobokobo pegmatite, Congo).
The name comes from a poetic name for Hunan Province, China.