dark green Vandenbrandeite with small yellow spherical Kasolite, Musonoi Mine, Katanga (Shaba), Democratic Republic of Congo (Zaïre), FOV: 15mm — Photo: Weirdmeister · CC BY 4.0
Vandenbrandeite
A dark green-to-black copper uranyl mineral named in 1932 for Belgian geologist Pierre Van den Brande.
Intro adapted from Wikipedia (CC BY-SA).
Vandenbrandeite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the oxides & hydroxide class, with the chemical formula Cu(UO₂)(OH)₄.
It crystallizes in the triclinic crystal system (space group P-1).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 4; specific gravity 4.91–5.03; Green streak; Vitreous luster.
IMA symbol Vbd, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1932.
A rare secondary mineral found in the oxide zone of hydrothermal copper-bearing uranium deposits.
It is found associated with Cuprosklodowskite, kasolite, sklodowskite, malachite, chalcocite, chalcopyrite, uraninite, goethite (Kalongwe, Congo); curite, uranophane.
The mineral was named to honor Pierre Van den Brande (1896–1957), Belgian geologist, who discovered the uranium deposit at Kalongwe, Congo.