Swartzite
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About Swartzite
Formula:
MgCa(UO2)(CO3)3 · 12H2O
Colour:
Bright green, yellowish-white (dehydrated).
Specific Gravity:
2.3
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Name:
Named in honor of Charles Kephart Swartz (03 January 1861, Baltimore, Maryland, USA - 29 November 1949), Professor of Geology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland, USA and 'an inspiring teacher to many generations of students'.
This page provides mineralogical data about Swartzite.
Classification of Swartzite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
First published:
1951
5/F.02-30
5.ED.10
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
E : Uranyl Carbonates
D : UO2:CO3 = 1:3
5 : CARBONATES (NITRATES)
E : Uranyl Carbonates
D : UO2:CO3 = 1:3
15.3.3.2
15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
3 : AmBn(XO3)p·xH2O, with (m+n):p = 1:1
15 : HYDRATED NORMAL CARBONATES
3 : AmBn(XO3)p·xH2O, with (m+n):p = 1:1
11.11.13
11 : Carbonates
11 : Carbonates of Cr and U
11 : Carbonates
11 : Carbonates of Cr and U
Physical Properties of Swartzite
Colour:
Bright green, yellowish-white (dehydrated).
Density:
2.3 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.32 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Swartzite
Type:
Biaxial (-)
RI values:
nα = 1.465 nβ = 1.510 nγ = 1.540
2V:
Calculated: 40°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.075

Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
Low
Dispersion:
r > v strong
Pleochroism:
Visible
Comments:
X = Colourless
Y = Yellow
Z = Yellow
Y = Yellow
Z = Yellow
Chemical Properties of Swartzite
Formula:
MgCa(UO2)(CO3)3 · 12H2O
IMA Formula:
CaMg(UO2)(CO3)3 · 12H2O
Crystallography of Swartzite
Crystal System:
Monoclinic
Class (H-M):
2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:
P21/m
Cell Parameters:
a = 11.12 Å, b = 14.72 Å, c = 6.47 Å
β = 99.43°
β = 99.43°
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.755 : 1 : 0.44
Unit Cell V:
1,044.74 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:
Clusters of tiny prismatic crystals.
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0014803 | Swartzite | Mereiter K (1986) Synthetic swartzite, CaMg[UO2(CO3)3]*12H2O, and its strontium analogue, SrMg[UO2(CO3)3]*12H2O: Crystallography and crystal structures Neues Jahrbuch fur Mineralogie, Monatshefte 1986 481-492 | 1986 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
Type Occurrence of Swartzite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 106107, 106108.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Post-mining efflorescences on mine walls.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
https://rruff.info/rruff_1.0/uploads/AM36_1.pdf
Other Language Names for Swartzite
Common Associates
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
5.ED.05 | Bayleyite | Mg2(UO2)(CO3)3 · 18H2O | Mon. |
5.ED.15 | Albrechtschraufite | Ca4Mg(UO2)2(CO3)6F2 · 17-18H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
5.ED.20 | Liebigite | Ca2(UO2)(CO3)3 · 11H2O | Orth. mm2 |
5.ED.25 | Rabbittite | Ca3Mg3(UO2)2(CO3)6(OH)4 · 18H2O | Mon. |
5.ED.30 | Andersonite | Na2Ca(UO2)(CO3)3 · 6H2O | Trig. 3 : R3 |
5.ED.35 | Grimselite | K3Na(UO2)(CO3)3 · H2O | Hex. |
5.ED.40 | Widenmannite | Pb2(OH)2[(UO2)(CO3)2] | Orth. |
5.ED.45 | Znucalite | Zn12Ca(UO2)(CO3)3(OH)22 · 4H2O | Orth. |
5.ED.50 | Čejkaite | Na4(UO2)(CO3)3 | Mon. m : Bb |
5.ED.50 | Agricolaite | K4(UO2)(CO3)3 | Mon. 2/m : B2/b |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
15.3.3.1 | Bayleyite | Mg2(UO2)(CO3)3 · 18H2O | Mon. |
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
11.11.1 | Stichtite | Mg6Cr3+2(OH)16[CO3] · 4H2O | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
11.11.2 | Rutherfordine | (UO2)CO3 | Orth. mm2 : Imm2 |
11.11.3 | Joliotite | (UO2)CO3 · nH2O | Orth. |
11.11.4 | Grimselite | K3Na(UO2)(CO3)3 · H2O | Hex. |
11.11.5 | Bayleyite | Mg2(UO2)(CO3)3 · 18H2O | Mon. |
11.11.6 | Metazellerite | Ca(UO2)(CO3)2 · 3H2O | Orth. |
11.11.7 | Zellerite | Ca(UO2)(CO3)2 · 5H2O | Orth. |
11.11.8 | Wyartite | CaU5+(UO2)2(CO3)O4(OH) · 7H2O | Orth. |
11.11.9 | Urancalcarite | Ca(UO2)3(CO3)(OH)6 · 3H2O | Orth. |
11.11.10 | Sharpite | Ca(UO2)3(CO3)4 · 3H2O | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmcm |
11.11.11 | Voglite | Ca2Cu(UO2)(CO3)4 · 6H2O | Mon. |
11.11.12 | Andersonite | Na2Ca(UO2)(CO3)3 · 6H2O | Trig. 3 : R3 |
11.11.14 | Rabbittite | Ca3Mg3(UO2)2(CO3)6(OH)4 · 18H2O | Mon. |
11.11.15 | Kamotoite-(Y) | Y2(UO2)4(CO3)3O4 · 14H2O | Mon. 2/m |
11.11.16 | Shabaite-(Nd) | Ca(Nd,Sm,Y)2(UO2)(CO3)4(OH)2 · 6H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
11.11.17 | Astrocyanite-(Ce) | Cu2(Ce,Nd,La)2(UO2)(CO3)5(OH)2 · 1.5H2O | Hex. |
11.11.18 | Bijvoetite-(Y) | Y8(UO2)16(CO3)16O8(OH)8 · 39H2O | Mon. |
11.11.19 | Widenmannite | Pb2(OH)2[(UO2)(CO3)2] | Orth. |
11.11.20 | Znucalite | Zn12Ca(UO2)(CO3)3(OH)22 · 4H2O | Orth. |
Fluorescence of Swartzite
Bright green (UV).
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in water.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
References for Swartzite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
Program Abstract, Mineralogical Society of America (1948), p. 4.
Axelrod, J.M., Grimaldi, F.S., Milton, C., Murata, K.J. (1951) The uranium minerals from the Hillside mine, Yavapai County, Arizona. American Mineralogist: 36: 1-22.
Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951) The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 238-239.
Fleischer, M. (1952) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 37: 359-362.
US Geological Survey Bulletin 1064 (1958): 117.
Mereiter, K. (1986) Synthetic swartzite CaMg[UO2(CO3)3]·12H2O, and its strontium analogue, SrMg[UO2(CO3)3]·12H2O: crystallography and crystal structures. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie, Monatshefte: 1986: 481-492.
Amayri, S., Arnold, T., Foerstendorf, H., Geipel, G., Bernhard, G. (2004) Spectroscopic characterization of synthetic becquerelite, Ca[UO2)6O4(OH)6]·8H2O, and swartzite, CaMg[UO2(CO3)3]·12H2O. The Canadian Mineralogist: 42: 953-962.
Burns, P.C. (2005) U 6+ minerals and inorganic compounds: insights into an expanded structural hierarchy of crystal structures. The Canadian Mineralogist: 43: 1839-1894.
Internet Links for Swartzite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3844.html
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Localities for Swartzite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
USA (TL) | |
| Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 236, 238; Anthony, J.W., et al (1995), Mineralogy of Arizona, 3rd.ed.: 111, 365, 387; Axelrod, J.M., et al (1951), The uranium minerals from the Hillside mine, Yavapai Co., AZ, Am.Min.: 36: 1-22; Frondel, C.C. (1958), Systematic mineralogy of uranium and thorium, USGS Bull. 1064: 119; Galbraith, F.W. & D.J. Brennan (1959), Minerals of AZ: 51; Dana 7:II:236 & 238.; Axelrod, J.M., et al (1951), The uranium minerals from the Hillside mine, Yavapai County, Arizona, American Mineralogist: 36: 1-22. |
| Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckel, E. B. |
| Minerals of Colorado (1997) Eckel, E. B. |
| UGMS Bull 117 Minerals and Mineral Localities of Utah |
Hillside Mine, Bozarth Mesa, Bagdad, Eureka Mining District, Yavapai Co., Arizona, USA