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Cousinite

A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered - questionable
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Jules Cousin
Formula:
MgU2Mo2O11 · 6H2O
Colour:
Black
Lustre:
Vitreous
Name:
Named in 1958 by J.F. Vaes after Jules Cousin (Comblain-au-Pont, Liège province, Belgium, January 12 1884 - Brussels, November 12 1965). He worked for the Union Minière du Haut-Katanga, in Africa and in Belgium.
Possibly a "Mg-Umohoite". Reinvestigation by modern methods needed.

Davison (1954) describes also an uran molybdate of Mg as monoclinic / pseudo-orthorombic with a = 6.37, b = 33.46, c = 15.0 A and beta = 90°. This mineral is listed in the recent compilation of unnamed species (Smith & Nickel, 2007) as UM1954-// - MoO-MgU.


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Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
1143
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1143:9

Similar NamesHide

IMA Classification of CousiniteHide

IMA status:
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959), Questionable
IMA Formula:
MgU4+2(Mo6+O4)2(OH)6·2H2O (?)
Type description reference:
Vaes, J.F. (1958) Cousiniet, een nieuw uraanmineral. Geologie en Mijnbouw: 20: 449.

Classification of CousiniteHide

Strunz-mindat (2026):
7.HA.10

7 : SULFATES (selenates, tellurates, chromates, molybdates, wolframates)
H : Uranium and uranyl molybdates and wolframates
A : With U4+
Dana 8th ed.:
49.3.2.1

49 : HYDRATED MOLYBDATES AND TUNGSTATES
3 : Hydrated Molybdates and Tungstates Containing Hydroxyl or Halogen
Hey's CIM Ref.:
27.3.10

27 : Sulphites, Chromates, Molybdates and Tungstates
3 : Molybdates

Mineral SymbolsHide

As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.

SymbolSourceReference for Standard
CusIMA–CNMNCWarr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43

Physical Properties of CousiniteHide

Lustre:
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Black

Chemistry of CousiniteHide

Mindat Formula:
MgU2Mo2O11 · 6H2O
Element Weights:
Element% weight
U48.758 %
O27.857 %
Mo19.657 %
Mg2.489 %
H1.239 %

Calculated from ideal end-member formula.
U
O
Mo
Mg
H
Elements listed:
H, Mg, Mo, O, U - search for minerals with similar chemistry

Geological EnvironmentHide

Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic ModeEarliest Age (Ga)
Stage 7: Great Oxidation Event<2.4
47a : [Near-surface hydration of prior minerals]
47f : [Uranyl (U⁶⁺) minerals]

Type Occurrence of CousiniteHide

Type Locality:
ⓘ Shinkolobwe Mine, Shinkolobwe, Kambove Territory, Haut-Katanga, DR Congo
General Appearance of Type Material:
thin blades
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Royal Belgium Institute of Natural History, Brussels, Belgium, RC4759 and RC4760.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
MolybdeniteUraniniteWulfenite
Reference:
Vaes, J.F. (1958) Cousiniet, een nieuw uraanmineral. Geologie en Mijnbouw: 20: 449.

Other Language Names for CousiniteHide

Dutch:Cousiniet
German:Cousinit
Spanish:Cousinita

Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat GroupingHide

7.HA.05SedoviteU(MoO4)2Orth.
7.HA.15MoluraniteH4U4+(UO2)3(MoO4)7 · 18H2OAmor.

RadioactivityHide

Other InformationHide

Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

Internet Links for CousiniteHide

References for CousiniteHide

Localities for CousiniteHide

Showing 1 localities.

This map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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Locality ListHide

- This locality has map coordinates listed. - This locality has estimated coordinates. ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence. ? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. - Good crystals or important locality for species. - World class for species or very significant. (TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species. (FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties). Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality. Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).

All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
DR Congo (TL)
 
  • Haut-Katanga
    • Kambove Territory
      • Shinkolobwe
Vaes (1958) +2 other references
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