Torbernite is a radioactive mineral that was named after Torbern Olof Bergmann (1735-1784). Tobernite was first discovered in 1772 in Cechy (Bohemia), Czech Republic. As a radioactive mineral, torbernite has some limited significance as a uranium ore. Its rich green colour and well-developed distinctive crystals make it a sought-after collector's mineral, as well. However, torbernite, like other hydrated minerals, can easily suffer from loss of water molecules. This loss of water from the mineral leads to an alteration of torbernite specimens into its pseudo morph, meta-torbernite.

Torbern Olof Bergman (March 20, 1735 Katrineberg, Sweden, – July 8, 1784 Medevi, Sweden) was a Swedish chemist and mineralogist noted for his 1775 Dissertation on Elective Attractions, containing the largest chemical affinity tables ever published. Bergman was the first chemist to use the A, B, C, etc., system of notation for chemical species.

 

Within the metaphysical realm of minerals, torbernite is a harmful mineral and should not be handled for prolonged periods of time. Please check out the 'Health Hazards' section of this article for more information.

Please note that MIROFOSS does not suggest in any way that minerals should be used in place of proper medical and psychological care. This information is provided here as a reference only.

Torbernite is mined as a minor ore of uranium. Torbernite is also sought after by collectors however, special precautions should be taken if this mineral is to be placed on display.

Torbernite is a secondary mineral in granites, and other uranium-bearing rocks. Torbernite can also be found in the oxidized zones of some uraniferous copper deposits.

Due to the fact that torbernite is radioactive, mineral samples will give off radon gas which is a major contributor to lung cancer.  To protect living beings from radon gas, a method of sealed storage can be used in which radon will accumulate and decay to secular equilibrium.

Cleavage	Perfect to Distinct
Colour(s)	Green, Grass green, Siskin green, Apple green
Specific Gravity	3.20
Diaphaneity	Transparent to Sub transparent
Fracture	Brittle - generally displayed by glasses and other non-metallic minerals
Mohs Hardness	2.0 to 2.5
Luminescence	Short UV = yellow, Long UV = yellow
Lustre	Vitreous - pearly
Streak	Pale green
Habit(s)	Earthly to Tabular to Foliated
Radioactivity	Torbernite per GRadi unit = 269.90 (PPB)
Magnetism	Non-magnetic

The following health hazards should be noted when handling torbernite

RADIOACTIVE Torbernite is radioactive as defined in section 49 CFR 173.403. Greater than 70 Bq / gram. Torbernite is considered extremely radioactive.

The following image shows the Elemental breakdown of the mineral torbernite along with the mineral crystal structure.

Crystal System	Tetragonal
Class	Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
Axial Ratios	a : b : c = 1 : N/A : 2.90934
Morphology	Commonly forms sub parallel aggregates, foliated, micaceous, scaly
Optical Data Type	Uniaxial (-)
Dichroism (e)	Blue
Dichroism (w)	Green
Pleochroism	Visible
RL Values	nω = 1.590 - 1.592 nε = 1.581 - 1.582
2V	Measured: 8°
Max Birefringence	δ = 0.009 - 0.010(See colour chart at right)
Surface Relief	moderate

Torbernite can be referenced in certain current and historical texts under the following eight names:

Chalcolite	Chalkolite	Copper Uranite	Cuprouranite
Orthotorbernite	Torberite	Uranite	Uran-mica

The mineral torbernite can be translated into the following select languages:

Arabic		Bulgarian		Chinese (Sim)	铜铀云母
Croatian		Czech	torbernit	Danish
Dutch	Torberniet	Esperanto		Estonian
Finnish		French	Urane oxydé	German	Torbernit
Greek		Hebrew		Hungarian
Italian	Torbernite	Japanese	トルボルナイト	Korean	토부루나입
Latin	Uranites Spathosus	Lithuanian		Norwegian
Persian		Polish		Portuguese	Torbernite
Romanian		Russian		Slovak	Torbernit
Spanish	Torbernita	Swedish		Tagalog
Turkish		Ukrainian		Vietnamese

The MIROFOSS database offers free printable geological identification tags for personal and non-profit use. These tags can be used to properly identify mineral samples in your collection. -Click here- to download a full size jpeg image for a torbernite identification tag; which can be printed on paper or used with a plastic laser printer.

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Chemical Composition	Aikin, A. (1814) Manual of Mineralogy, 8 volumes, London, first edition (as Uranite).
Chemical Composition	Burns, P.C. (2005) U 6+ minerals and inorganic compounds: insights into an expanded structural hierarchy of crystal structures. Canadian Mineralogist: 43: 1839-1894.
Crystallography	Jameson, R. (1820) A System of Mineralogy, third edition, 3 volumes (as Uran-Mica).
Crystallography	Larsen, E.S. (1921) The Microscopic Determination of the Nonopaque Minerals, First edition, USGS Bulletin 679: 195.
History	Brooke, H.J. and Miller, W.H. (1852) Introduction to Mineralogy by Wm. Phillips, London, 1823. New edition by Brooke and Miller. 8vo, London: 517 (as Torberite).
History	Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 856.
Geograpcial Data	Mindat.org. Retrieved on 2012-02-21
Physical Identification	Webmineral.com. Retrieved on 2012-02-21.
February 21, 2012	The last time this page was updated
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