Raman spectroscopic study of the mineral guilleminite Ba(UO2)3(SeO3)2(OH)4·3H2O

The Raman spectrum of the mineral guilleminite Ba[(UO₂)₃O₂(SeO₃)₂](H₂O)₃ was studied and complemented by the infrared spectrum of this mineral. Both spectra were interpreted and compared with the spectra of marthozite, larisaite, haynesite and piretite, all of which should have the same phosphuranylite anion sheet topology. The presence of symmetrically distinct water molecules and hydrogen bonds was inferred from the spectra. This is in agreement with the crystal structural analysis of guilleminite. U O bond lengths in uranyl and O H···O hydrogen bond lengths were calculated from the Raman and/or infrared spectra of guilleminite. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.