Home > Uranium Minerals II – November 29 > MS0830 Schoepite replacing Ianthinite

Schoepite replacing Ianthinite - Sold


Inathinite is a hydrated oxide of uranium. Schoep (1926) named mineral after the Greek word for violet, which is the color of the unaltered mineral. The mineral readily oxidizes to yellow shcoepite in dry air. This specimen has mostly altered to schoepite, as indicated by the abundance of yellow crusts on the piece, but no violet showings. Perhaps if borken, fresh ianthinite remains on the interior veins in the sample.

This specimen was part of the personal collection of Ralph Merrill, proprietor of the prolific mail order business Minerals Unlimited. He obtained the piece in 1970 from Sainfeld at the Sorbonne. Merrill's collection card and label also ship with the specimen.