Xiangjiangite

Fe3+(UO2)4(PO4)2(SO4)2(OH) · 22H2O
IMA status
  • Approved
IMA symbol
Xjg
Discovered
1978
Also known as
  • Xiangjiangiet

Where it forms, where it's found

Type locality
Jinyinzhai Mine (Chenxian Mine
  1. Sanerlin Mine
  2. U deposit No. 320)
  3. Suxian District
  4. Chenzhou
  5. Hunan
  6. China

Radioactivity

Physical

Hardness
123456789101 – 2/ 10 MOHS
  1. 1Talc
  2. 2Gypsum
  3. 3Calcite
  4. 4Fluorite
  5. 5Apatite
  6. 6Orthoclase
  7. 7Quartz
  8. 8Topaz
  9. 9Corundum
  10. 10Diamond
Lustre
Silky · earthy
Transparency
Translucent
Colour
Yellow.
Streak
Light yellow
Density
2.9 g/cm³

Optical

Optical type
Biaxial (-) · 2V measured = 87° · 2V calc = 86°
Refractive index
1.558 – 1.593
Surface relief
Moderate
Principal indices
nα 1.558 · nβ 1.576 · nγ 1.593
Dispersion
weak
Michel-Lévy diagramhighlighted lineδ = 0.0350
Attainable Michel-Lévy rangeΔ ∈ [0, t·δmax]350 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°
Retardation350 nm
Order1st order
XPL colour

Crystallography

Crystal system
Tetragonal
Cell parameters
a = 7.17 Å · b = 7.17 Å · c = 22.22 Å
Ratio a:b:c
1 : 1.000 : 3.099
Z
1
Comment

Monoclinic or orthorhombic (?); pseudotetragonal.; 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
49.30%
8OOxygenOxygen4715.999751.953
38.93%
16SSulfurSulfur232.06064.120
3.32%
15PPhosphorusPhosphorus230.97461.948
3.21%
26FeIronIron155.84555.845
2.89%
1HHydrogenHydrogen451.00845.360
2.35%
Total1931.342100.00%

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

From IMA formula

Synonyms

  • Xiangjiangiet

In other languages

German
Xiangjiangit
Italian
Xiangjiangite
Chinese
湘江铀矿

Classification

Strunz
10th ed.

8.EB.05

  • 8Phosphates, Arsenates, VanadatesClass
  • 8.EUranyl phosphates and arsenatesDivision
  • 8.EBUO2:RO4 = 1:1Group
  • 8.EB.05XiangjiangiteSpecies
Dana
8th ed.

43.05.06.01

  • 43Compound Phosphates, Etc.Class
  • 43.05Hydrated Compound Phosphates, etc·, Containing Hydroxyl or HalogenType
  • 43.05.06— unnamed intermediate level —Group
  • 43.05.06.01XiangjiangiteSpecies
CIM

22.3.31

  • 22Phosphates, Arsenates or Vanadates with other AnionsClass
  • 22.3Phosphates, arsenates or vanadates with sulphatesGroup
  • 22.3.31XiangjiangiteSpecies

Literature, links & citation

Citations
  1. 1978Hunan 230 Institute and X-ray Laboratory, Wuhan Geologic College (1978): Xiangjiangite - A new uranium mineral discovered in China. Scientia Geologica Sinica 1978(2), 183-188 (in Chinese with English abstract). - American MIneralogist (1979), 64, 466 (abstract).
  2. 1978Hunan 230 Institute and X-ray Laboratory, Wuhan Geologic College (1978): Xiangjiangite - A new uranium mineral discovered in China. Scientia Geologica Sinica 1978(2), 183-188
  3. 1993Doklady Akademii Nauk (1993), 329, 792.
  4. 2005(2005) Xiangjiangite. Handbook of Mineralogy. Mineralogical Society of America
Cite this entry
@misc{mineral2026,
  author    = {Mineral Index editorial board},
  title     = {Xiangjiangite — Mineral Index},
  year      = {2026},
  url       = {https://mineralindex.org/minerals/xiangjiangite-4334},
  note      = {Accessed 2026-05-11}
}