Raman Spectroscopic Study of The Uranyl Phosphate Mineral Dewindtite

Raman spectra of two uranyl mineral dewindtite samples are presented and interpreted. Observed bands are attributed to the stretching and bending vibrations of (UO2)2+ and (PO4)3- units and water molecules. Hydrogen bonding network in dewindtite crystal structure is shortly mentioned. U-O bond lengths in uranyls are 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