Althupite is a rare aluminum thorium uranyl phosphate mineral with the complex formula written as AlTh(UO2)7(PO4)4O2(OH)5·15H2O, from a granitic pegmatite. Its named after its composition (Aluminum, THorium, Uranium, and Phosphor).
General information:
- Formula: AlTh(UO2)7(PO4)4O2(OH)515H2O,
- Colour: Yellow
- Lustre: Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous
- Hardness: 3½ – 4
- Specific Gravity: 3.91
- Crystal System: Triclinic.
Physical Properties of Althupite
For a periodic crystal, the group must also be consistent with the maintenance of the three-dimensional translational symmetry that defines crystallinity. The macroscopic properties of a crystal would look exactly the same before, in the classification of crystals, each point group is also known as a crystal class.
- Lustre: Vitreous, Sub-Vitreous
- Transparency: Transparent
- Colour: Yellow
- Streak: Yellow
- Hardness: 3½ – 4 on Mohs scale
- Tenacity: Flexible
- Density: 3.91 g/cm3 (Measured) and 3.98 g/cm3 (Calculated)
The mineral was discovered by the Italian mineralogist Ferruccio Zambonini in 1926. He analyzed several samples from the volcanic fumaroles close to Mount Vesuvius and from the Lipari islands. As a result, it can only found as a sublimation product around volcanic fumaroles.
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