Renardite

Pb(UO2)4(PO4)2(OH)4 · 7H2O
IMA status
  • Approved
  • Grandfathered
  • Questionable
IMA symbol
Rnd
Also known as
  • Renardiet

Where it forms, where it's found

12recorded occurrences
Source · OpenStreetMap

Radioactivity

Physical

Transparency
Translucent
Colour
Yellow
Cleavage
Perfect

Parallel to (100)

Density
4.0 g/cm³

Optical

Refractive index
1.715 – 1.739
Surface relief
High
Principal indices
nα 1.715 · nβ 1.736 · nγ 1.739
Pleochroism
Weak

X = colorless; Y = yellow; Z = yellow

Michel-Lévy diagramhighlighted lineδ = 0.0240
Attainable Michel-Lévy rangeΔ ∈ [0, t·δmax]240 nm1st order
Δ = 0Δmax
Thin-section mosaic70 grains · random 3D orientations
PPLpleochroism per grain
XPLindependent extinctions · rotate the stage
Interference simulatorsingle grain · PPL ↔ XPL
PPLpleochroism only · colour blends on rotation
XPLinterference colour · extinct every 90°
Retardation240 nm
Order1st order
XPL colour

Crystallography

Crystal system
Orthorhombic
Cell parameters
a = 16.01 Å · b = 17.5 Å · c = 13.7 Å
Ratio a:b:c
1 : 1.093 : 0.856
Z
6
Morphology

Platy, rectangular prismatic crystals parallel to (100), with a rhombic appearance. The largest crystal described by Schoep (1928) measured 1.0 x 0.35 x 0.07 mm.

Comment

Point group : n.d.; Space Group n.d.

Chemical composition

Constituent elements
Mass composition breakdown
ElementAtoms At. mass g/mol Mass g/molMass share
92UUraniumUranium4238.029952.116
56.97%
8OOxygenOxygen2715.999431.973
25.84%
82PbLeadLead1207.200207.200
12.40%
15PPhosphorusPhosphorus230.97461.948
3.71%
1HHydrogenHydrogen181.00818.144
1.08%
Total1671.381100.00%

Mass share = atoms × atomic mass ÷ molar mass × 100

From IMA formula

Synonyms

  • Renardiet

In other languages

German
Renardit
Italian
Renardite

Classification

Strunz
10th ed.

8.EC.10

  • 8Phosphates, Arsenates, VanadatesClass
  • 8.EUranyl phosphates and arsenatesDivision
  • 8.ECUO2:RO4 = 3:2Group
  • 8.EC.10RenarditeSpecies

Literature, links & citation

Citations
  1. Van Der Meersche, Eddy, De Paepe, Paul, Stoops, Georges (n.d.) Minerals with Belgian Roots - from hopeite (1824) to tazieffite (2009) Academia Press, Ghent.
  2. 1928Schoep, A. (1928) La renardite, nouveau minéral uranifère. Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 51(3-4): 247-252 (in French). https://www.persee.fr/doc/bulmi_0366-3248_1928_num_51_3_4045
  3. 1929Foshag, W.F. (1929) New mineral names. American Mineralogist: 14: 244-244.
  4. 1951Palache, Charles; Berman, Harry; Frondel, Clifford (1951) The System of Mineralogy (7th ed.) Vol. 2 - Halides, Nitrates, Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates, Phosphates, Arsenates, Tungstates, Molybdates, Etc. John Wiley and Sons.
  5. 1954Frondel, Clifford, Cuttitta, Frank (1954) Studies of uranium minerals (XIV): Renardite. American Mineralogist, 39 (5-6) 448-451
Cite this entry
@misc{mineral2026,
  author    = {Mineral Index editorial board},
  title     = {Renardite — Mineral Index},
  year      = {2026},
  url       = {https://mineralindex.org/minerals/renardite-5219},
  note      = {Accessed 2026-05-11}
}