Raman spectroscopic study of the uranyl phosphate minerals phosphuranylite and yingjiangite

Raman spectra of phosphuranylite and yingjiangite were measured and interpreted, and compared with the published infrared spectra of both minerals. UO bond lengths were calculated using the Bartlett–Cooney empirical relations and the OHċO hydrogen bond lengths were inferred on the basis of Libowitzky's empirical relation. The presence of oxonium and (H 3 O) + ions, expected from the single crystal structure analysis of phosphuranylite, was not inferred from the Raman spectra. It was assumed that phosphuranylite and yingjiangite are identical and the name yingjiangite should be discarded because the name phosphuranylite has priority.