ZNUCALITE



Znucalite, a zinc uranium calcium carbonate hydroxide hydrate mineral, was found in 1976 on the 2350 level in the north orebody at Sterling Hill (Bostwick, 1991).
Znucalite occurs as thin crusts of microscopic greenish-yellow crystals on calcite. It was verified using X-ray powder methods and energy-dispersive X-ray analysis which showed major U and Zn and minor Ca. It is fluorescent in both longwave and shortwave ultraviolet radiation with a light green color, which is more intense in shortwave. Although it occurs in thin films, these were locally abundant. Znucalite is not known from Franklin. (Dunn, 1995)

 Location Found: Ogdensburg
     
 
 Year Discovered: 1989
     
 Formula: Zn12Ca(UO2)(CO3)3(OH)22 · 4H2O
 Essential Elements: Calcium, Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Uranium, Zinc
 All Elements in Formula: Calcium, Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen, Uranium, Zinc
     
 IMA Status: Approved 1989
     
Fluorescent Mineral Properties
 Shortwave UV light: Fairly weak green
 Mid wave UV light: Weak green
     
 To find out more about this mineral at minDat's website, follow this link   Znucalite

     
 References:
Dunn, Pete J. (1995). Franklin and Sterling Hill New Jersey: the world's most magnificent mineral deposits. Franklin, NJ.: The Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society. p.626
The Picking Table References
 PT Issue and PageDescription / Comment
View IssueV. 58, No. 1 - Spring 2017, pg. 24Fluorescent Minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill, N.J., Part 2, Richard C. Bostwick - Znucalite
View IssueV. 45, No. 1 - Spring 2004, pg. 15The Art of Fluorescent Mineral Photography, With Special Attention to the Minerals of Franklin and Sterling Hill Photographing the More Popular Franklin and Sterling Hill Fluorescent Minerals - Znucalite
View IssueV. 33, No. 2 - Fall 1992, pg. 11The Check List of Franklin-Sterling Hill Fluorescent Minerals - Znucalite (Fluorescent Info)
View IssueV. 32, No. 2 - Fall 1991, pg. 3Notes from the Laboratory & Changes to the List of Species From Franklin and Sterling Hill, Pete J. Dunn, John L. Baum, Znucalite
View IssueV. 32, No. 2 - Fall 1991, pg. 4A Second Locality for Znucalite: The Sterling Mine, Ogdensburg, N.J.
     
Images
     
Znucalite mineral coating on calcite from the Sterling Hill Mine, NJ
Znucalite mineral coating on calcite from the Sterling Hill Mine, NJ. From the collection of, and photo by JVF.

Znucalite coating on calcite from Sterling Hill Mine North ore body, Ogdensburg, NJZnucalite coating on calcite from Sterling Hill Mine North ore body, Ogdensburg, NJ under shortwave UV Light
Znucalite coating (light gray to light green) on calcite (gray) from Sterling Hill Mine North ore body, Ogdensburg, NJ. Photo by JVF.
Znucalite coating on calcite from Sterling Hill Mine North ore body, Ogdensburg, NJ under shortwave UV light. The znucalite fluoresces green and the calcite is non-fluorescent. Photo by JVF.






All content including, but not limited to, mineral images, maps, graphics, and text on the Franklin-Ogdensburg Mineralogical Society, Inc. (FOMS) website is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License.
Creative Commons License