Raman spectroscopic study of the uranyl phosphate mineral dewindtite

Raman spectra of two samples of the uranyl mineral dewindtite are presented and interpreted. The observed bands are attributed to the stretching and bending vibrations of the (UO2)(2+) and (PO4)(3-) units and water molecules. The hydrogen-bonding network in the dewindtite crystal structure is briefly mentioned. The U-O bond lengths in uranyls were calculated with empirical relations and wavenumbers of the (UO2)(2+) stretching vibrations. These calculations are in agreement with the X-ray single crystal structure data. Copyright (C) 2006 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.