Outstanding yellow crystals of the very rare uranium phosphate mineral vanmeersscheite from the type locality: Kobokobo, Mwenga, Sud-Kivu, Congo (Democratic Republic) (former Zaire). — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Vanmeersscheite
Vanmeersscheite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the phosphate class, with the chemical formula U(UO₂)₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₆·4H₂O.
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group P2_1mn).
Key properties: specific gravity 4.67; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Vms, IMA status: approved, named in 1981.
A rare secondary mineral found in the uraniferous zone of an altered granite pegmatite.
It is found associated with Metavanmeersscheite, studtite.
The mineral was named to honor Professor Maurice Van Meerssche (1923–1990), Belgian crystallographer, Catholic University of Louvain, Louvain, Belgium.