Moreauite Locality: Valdeíñigos, Tejeda de Tiétar, Cáceres, Extremadura, Spain Field of View: 1 mm Yellow crystal aggregates of Moreauite. Species confirmed by XRD, electron microprobe and Raman spectroscopy. — Photo: César Menor-Salván · CC BY 3.0
Moreauite
Moreauite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the phosphate class, with the chemical formula Al₃(UO₂)(PO₄)₃(OH)₂·13H₂O.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group P2_1/c).
Key properties: specific gravity 2.64; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Moa, IMA status: approved, named in 1984.
A rare secondary mineral found in the oxidized uraniferous zone of a complex granite pegmatite.
It is found associated with Furongite, ranunculite, phosphosiderite.
The mineral was named to honor Professor Jules Moreau (1931–), Belgian mineralogist, Catholic University of Louvain, Louvain, Belgium.