Piretite
Piretite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the oxides & hydroxide class, with the chemical formula Ca(UO₂)₃(Se⁴⁺O₃)₂(OH)₄·4H₂O.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 2.5; specific gravity 4; Pearly luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Pir, IMA status: approved, named in 1996.
A rare secondary mineral found in the oxidized zone of a uranium deposit in limestone.
It is found associated with Uraninite.
The mineral was named to honor Professor Paul Piret (1932–1999), crystallographer, Catholic University of Louvain, Louvain, Belgium, who described numerous new mineral species.
Index entry. This entry combines official IMA/RRUFF species data with published physical-property data — a full written entry hasn’t been published yet.
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