Curite
Mineral Pb3(UO2)8O8(OH)6·3H2O
Take care.
- Radioactive: Keep it in a closed, labelled box away from where people sit or sleep, handle it briefly, wash your hands after, and never grind or cut it.
- Contains lead: Wash your hands after handling it, keep it away from children, and don't make dust.
About it
Orange-red needles and earthy masses, among the first minerals to form as uraninite weathers. Contains lead and uranium; named for Pierre Curie, and best known from Shinkolobwe, DR Congo.
- Type
- Mineral
- Group
- Hydroxide (uranyl oxide hydrate)
- Formula
- Pb3(UO2)8O8(OH)6·3H2O
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 4–5
- Specific gravity
- 7.2–7.4
- Streak
- orange
- Lustre
- adamantine (diamond-like)
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Colours
- orange-red, red, reddish orange, brownish yellow
- Transparency
- translucent
- Cleavage and fracture
- good in one direction
Typical values: real specimens vary. For more, see mindat.org.