Raman spectroscopic study of the uranyl mineral,compreignacite, K2[(UO2)3O2(OH)3]2·7H2O

Raman spectra of the uranyl oxyhydroxy‐hydrated mineral compreignacite, K₂[(UO₂)₃O₂(OH)₃]₂·7H₂O, were measured and interpreted. Observed bands were attributed to the stretching and bending vibrations of uranyl units, molecular water and hydroxyl ions. U O bond lengths in uranyl and O HO hydrogen bond lengths were inferred from the spectra and compared with those from the X‐ray single crystal structure data. The importance of this spectroscopic study rests with the ability to analyze very small amounts of the mineral. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.