Torbernite, whose name derives from the Swedish chemist Tornbern Bergmann (1735-1784), is a radioactive, green phosphatemineral, found in granites and other uranium-bearing deposits as a secondary mineral.
Torbernite is isostructural with a related uraniummineral, autunite, with torbernite's lack of fluorescence a notable difference.
As torbernite is radioactive, collectors are urged to take proper precautions in the handling and storage of any specimens.
Torbernite and meta-torbernite are hydrous copper uraniumphosphates, the only difference between the two being the number of water molecules present; their physical properties are identical.
The principal non uraniumminerals associated with torbernite are the clay minerals, limonite, quartz, pyrite, and the copper sulfides and carbonates.
Like torbernite and meta-torbernite, autunite and meta-autunite are identical in their physical properties, the distinction being made on the basis of the number of water molecules present.
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