STUDIES OF RADIOACTIVE COMPOUNDS: rx-sKtoDowsKrTE

Of the several species of uranium silicate minerals, sklodowskite has the most limited geographical distribution, the only recorded occurrence being that at Shinkolobwe, Katanga, Belgian Congo. It was first described by Schoep (1924a). The analogy with uranophane was recognized by Schoep (Ig24b) who subsequently (L927) described its. isomorphism with this mineral. Billiet (1936) obtained an rc-ray powder pattern, and established cell dimensions and a symmetry based upon rotation photographs. As was the case with his work on uranophane, erroneous results were obtained owing to the non-amenability of the crystals to the r-ray technique employed. In 1923 Schoep published two brief notes describing a new mineral species from the Shinkolobwe deposits, which he called chinkolobwite. However, in 1926 he wrote on tie identity of chinkolobwite and the species which he had previously named sklodowskite. It was pointed out to Schoep by Buttgenbach that the narne sklodor+'skite wa6 the more appropriate for the species owing to the fact that the mineral does not actually occur at the village of Shinkolobwe, but at Kasolo Hill, and that the honor paid to Maria Sklodowska (later Madame Curie) should be perpetuated.