andersonite

Andersonite is a rare mineral with the chemical formula CaNa2(UO2)2(CO3)3 6H2O. It is a uranium-bearing carbonate mineral and is considered a secondary mineral, meaning it forms from the alteration of other uranium minerals. Andersonite typically occurs as yellow to greenish-yellow, translucent crystals. It is often found in association with other uranium minerals like liebigite and schroeckingerite.

The mineral was first discovered in the 1940s in the San Juan County, Utah, United States. It is named in honor of Charles Anderson, a mineral collector and prospector from Utah. Andersonite is known for its fluorescence under ultraviolet light, commonly emitting a bright green glow.

Due to its uranium content, andersonite is radioactive. It is typically found in arid to semi-arid environments, often within oxidized sandstone deposits or as a coating on rock surfaces. While it is a beautiful mineral specimen, its rarity and radioactivity limit its economic or practical applications. The primary interest in andersonite is from mineral collectors and researchers studying uranium mineralization.