Schoepite , Rutherfordine Locality: Musonoi Mine, Kolwezi , Western area, Katanga Copper Crescent, Katanga (Shaba) , Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre) ( Locality at mindat.org ) Beautiful yellow acicular crystals, on matrix, richly covering the piece. AN EXTRAORDINARILY RICH SPECIMEN! Confirmed by Bill Pinch. 4.2 x 3.5 x 2.5 cm — Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0
Rutherfordine
Nearly pure uranyl carbonate — a yellow secondary uranium mineral forming radiating laths and earthy masses.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Rutherfordine is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the carbonate class, with the chemical formula (UO₂)(CO₃).
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Imm2).
Key properties: specific gravity 5.7; Dull to earthy, silky if fibrous luster; refractive index 1.737; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Rfd, IMA status: approved, named in 1906.
A secondary mineral formed as a weathering product of uraninite.
It is found associated with Uraninite, becquerelite, masuyite, schoepite, kasolite, curite, boltwoodite, vandendriesscheite, billietite, metatorbernite, fourmarierite, studtite.
The mineral was named to honor Professor Ernest Rutherford (1871–1937), New Zealand–English atomic physicist.