Geographic Minerals

Mundite: Properties and Occurrences

Mundite: Properties and Occurrences

Mundite is an orthorhombic mineral containing aluminum, hydrogen, oxygen, phosphorus, and uranium. It is a uranium phosphate mineral with chemical formula: Al(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)3·5(H2O). It contains aluminum and has a yellow tinge to it. It usually appears on sandstones or limestones.

It was named after Walter Mund, born in Antwerp on January 22th 1892, and passed away at Leuven on August 15th, 1956, professor at the University of Leuven.

General Information

  • Category: Phosphate minerals
  • Formula: Al(UO2)3(PO4)2(OH)35(H2O)
  • Crystal system: Orthorhombic.

Properties

Mundite is a uranium phosphate mineral. It contains aluminum and has a yellow tinge to it. It usually appears on sandstones or limestones.

  • Cleavage:{010} Perfect, {100} Perfect, {001} Perfect
  • Color: Golden yellow, Light yellow.
  • Density: 4.295
  • Diaphaneity: Translucent
  • Hardness: 2-3 – Gypsum-Calcite
  • Streak: white

Occurrence: A secondary mineral in the uraniferous zone of an altered granite pegmatite.

Association: Beryl, columbite, ranunculite, upalite, phuralumite, threadgoldite, mundite, triangulite, meta-autunite.