KAHLERITE

    Class : Phosphates, arsenates, vanadates
    Subclass : Uranyl arsenates
    Crystal system : Tetragonal
    Chemistry : Fe(UO2)2(AsO4)2 12H2O
    Rarity : Very rare

Kahlerite is a secondary arsenate of uranium and iron from the oxidation zone of uranium deposits and uranium iron deposits. It was named in honor of Franz Kahler, geologist at the Carinthian Landesmuseum (Austria). Kahlerite usually forms fine greenish yellow to lemon yellow tablets, 2 mm maximum.

Main photo : Kahlerite from Knichte section, Lölling, Austria © Stephan Wolfsried

Kahlerite in the World

Kahlerite is a very rare mineral, the best specimens of which are small tablets associated with scorodite which encrust altered löllingite in the siderite deposit of Lölling Schättseite, near Huttenberg (Austria). Kahlerite is also present in the oxidized surface zone of polymetallic uranium veins in the Black Forest (Menzenschwand, Wittichen).

Kahlerite in France

In France, kahlerite is known in the uranium deposits of Mas d'Alary and Rabejac near Lodève (Hérault).

Twinning

No twin known for this mineral species.

Fakes and treatments

No fakes recorded for this mineral species.


Hardness : 2 to 2.5
Density : 3.22
Fracture : Undetermined
Streak : Undetermined

TP : Translucent to transparent
RI : 1.632 to 1.634
Birefringence : 0.002
Optical character : Uniaxial -
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None

Solubility : -

Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : Strong