Borzęckiite
A valid IMA mineral species - pending publication
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Borzęckiite
Robert Borzęcki - Polish collector and museologist, discoverer of borzęckiite
Formula:
Pb(UO2)3(SeO3)2O2 · 3H2O
Colour:
pale orange-yellow
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
2
Specific Gravity:
5.277 (Calculated)
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in honour of Robert "Redbor" Borzęcki (www.redbor.pl), born 19 September 1964 (Warsaw, Poland) - a well-known Polish mineral collector, museologist, and expert in (mining) history of the Sudetes Mountains, where the type locality is located. He has provided a number of specimens for studies, including the holotype one used in the description, and is such the discoverer of the mineral.
The Pb analogue of guilleminite. Borzęckiite and guilleminite are structurally related to the uranyl selenite minerals marthozite and larisaite.
The type material was found in mine dumps and most likely came from the Nachtwächter shaft.
The type material was found in mine dumps and most likely came from the Nachtwächter shaft.
Name Encoding
CP1252:
Borzeckiite
Latin-1:
Borzeckiite
ASCII-7:
Borzeckiite
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
470374
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:470374:3
IMA Classification of Borzęckiite
Classification of Borzęckiite
4.JJ.
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
J : Arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites; iodates
J : Selenites with additional anions, with H2O
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
J : Arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites; iodates
J : Selenites with additional anions, with H2O
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Bzc | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Physical Properties of Borzęckiite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Translucent
Colour:
Pale orange-yellow
Streak:
Pale yellow
Hardness:
2 on Mohs scale
Comment:
ca., probable, by analogy with guilleminite
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
on {100}, and good on {010}, by analogy with guilleminite
on {100}, and good on {010}, by analogy with guilleminite
Parting:
not observed
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven
Density:
5.277 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Comment:
not measured due its exceeding of that of known heavy liquids; the calculated value is based on ideal formula & unit cell volume (from Rietveld analysis)
Chemistry of Borzęckiite
Mindat Formula:
Pb(UO2)3(SeO3)2O2 · 3H2O
Element Weights:
Crystallography of Borzęckiite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mm2 - Pyramidal
Cell Parameters:
a = 7.00(2) Å, b = 7.13(1) Å, c = 17.10(4) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.982 : 1 : 2.398
Unit Cell V:
854.2 ų
Z:
2
Twinning:
not observed
Comment:
the space group is P21nm
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 8.545 Å | (72) |
| 7.101 Å | (100) |
| 3.503 Å | (48) |
| 3.145 Å | (31) |
| 3.064 Å | (38) |
| 1.955 Å | (30) |
| 1.765 Å | (19) |
| 1.298 Å | (15) |
Type Occurrence of Borzęckiite
General Appearance of Type Material:
intergrown, lath-like crystals, up to 6 micrometres in length and ca. 0.3 microns thick, forming crusts and botryoidal aggregates (up to 0.5 mm in diameter); also veinlets cutting oxidized uraninite-clausthalite masses
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
In the collections of the S.J. Thugutt Geological Museum, Faculty of Geology, University of Warsaw, ul. ̇Zwirki i Wigury 93, 02-089 Warsaw, Poland,catalogue number MWG UW 009763
Geological Setting of Type Material:
secondary genesis; uranium mine dump
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Borzęckiite
Other Language Names for Borzęckiite
Dutch:Borzęckiiet
German:Borzęckiit
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 2 photos of Borzęckiite associated with Olsacherite | Pb2(Se6+O4)(SO4) |
| 1 photo of Borzęckiite associated with Digenite | Cu9S5 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.JJ. | Kristekite | Cu2(H2O)4(UO2)(SeO3)3 · 4H2O |
| 4.JJ.X | Larisaite | Na(H3O)(UO2)3(SeO3)O2 · 4H2O |
| 4.JJ. | Petermegawite | Al6(Se4+O3)3[SiO3(OH)](OH)9 · 10H2O |
| 4.JJ. | Amurselite | (NH4)2(UO2)5(SeO3)3O2(OH)2(H2O) · 8H2O |
| 4.JJ.05 | Marthozite | Cu2+(UO2)3(SeO3)2O2 · 8H2O |
| 4.JJ.10 | Guilleminite | Ba(UO2)3(SeO3)2O2 · 3H2O |
| 4.JJ.15 | Piretite | Ca(UO2)3(SeO3)2(OH)4 · 4H2O |
| 4.JJ.20 | Demesmaekerite | Pb2Cu5(UO2)2(SeO3)6(OH)6 · 2H2O |
| 4.JJ.25 | Haynesite | (UO2)3(Se4+O3)2(OH)2 · 5H2O |
| 4.JJ.30 | Favreauite | PbBiCu6O4(SeO3)4(OH) · H2O |
Radioactivity
Radioactivity:
| Element | % Content | Activity (Bq/kg) | Radiation Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Uranium (U) | 52.6130% | 13,153,250 | α, β, γ |
| Thorium (Th) | 0.0000% | 0 | α, β, γ |
| Potassium (K) | 0.0000% | 0 | β, γ |
For comparison:
- Banana: ~15 Bq per fruit
- Granite: 1,000–3,000 Bq/kg
- EU exemption limit: 10,000 Bq/kg
Note: Risk is shown relative to daily recommended maximum exposure to non-background radiation of 1000 µSv/year. Note that natural background radiation averages around 2400 µSv/year so in reality these risks are probably extremely overstated! With infrequent handling and safe storage natural radioactive minerals do not usually pose much risk.
Interactive Simulator:
Note: The mass selector refers to the mass of radioactive mineral present, not the full specimen, also be aware that the matrix may also be radioactive, possibly more radioactive than this mineral!
Activity: –
| Distance | Dose rate | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| 1 cm | ||
| 10 cm | ||
| 1 m |
The external dose rate (D) from a radioactive mineral is estimated by summing the gamma radiation contributions from its Uranium, Thorium, and Potassium content, disregarding daughter-product which may have a significant effect in some cases (eg 'pitchblende'). This involves multiplying the activity (A, in Bq) of each element by its specific gamma ray constant (Γ), which accounts for its unique gamma emissions. The total unshielded dose at 1 cm is then scaled by the square of the distance (r, in cm) and multiplied by a shielding factor (μshield). This calculation provides a 'worst-case' or 'maximum risk' estimate because it assumes the sample is a point source and entirely neglects any self-shielding where radiation is absorbed within the mineral itself, meaning actual doses will typically be lower. The resulting dose rate (D) is expressed in microsieverts per hour (μSv/h).
D = ((AU × ΓU) + (ATh × ΓTh) + (AK × ΓK)) / r2 × μshield
Fluorescence of Borzęckiite
non-fluorescent
Other Information
Notes:
slowly dissolves in dilute HCl at room temperature; Raman bands [cm-1]: ~3450-3540 (OH stretching in water; maximum at ~3505); ~1590vw (weak, hydrogen-bonded water molecules); 801 + 782sh, 865 (symmetric stretching of the uranyl groups); 729 (antisymmetric stretching of the selenate(IV) groups); 710w (either the same as the former, or related to water libration modes); 569w (U-Oeq vibrations of equatorial oxygen); 526w & 480w, (selenite bending); 436 & 360w (selenite bending); 221 (uranyl bending); 164, 139 & 69: phonon modes
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 Borzęckiite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-470374.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
Search Engines:
External Links:
Mineral Dealers:
References for Borzęckiite
Localities for Borzęckiite
Showing 6 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- 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).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
DR Congo | |
| Desor (05/2022) +1 other reference |
Poland (TL) | |
| Miyawaki et al. (2022) |
Spain | |
| Joan Abella Creus finds and analyses by ... |
Switzerland | |
| Ansermet S.; Meisser N. (2025) |
| Ansermet et al. (2025) | |
USA | |
| Carnegie Museum of Natural History ... |
Quick NavTopAbout BorzęckiiteName EncodingUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPhysical Properties Chemistry Crystallography X-Ray Powder DiffractionType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatRadioactivityFluorescence Other InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Musonoi Mine, Kolwezi, Mutshatsha, Lualaba, DR Congo