Home > Type Localities I – July 8 > MS0721 Francevillite, Curienite

Francevillite, Curienite - Sold


Francevillite is a barium uranyl vanadate mineral. Its type locality is the Mounana uranium mine, Gabon, one of the naturally occurring nuclear reactors. Branche et al. (1957) named francevillite after the original locality. Francevillite forms orange blocky microcrystals coating a fracture surface on the matrix. There is also powdery yellow curienite present, the lead analog of francevillite. The color of this material is very bright and dramatic; a great uranium mineral species. This specimen comes from Ralph Merrill collection, proprietor of Minerals Unlimited. Purchase includes Merrill's catalog card (and label), accessioned in 1959. His card calls this specimen vanuralite, which is a case of mistaken identity (due to its early date).