What is Pitchblende?
{{Infobox mineral | name = Uraninite | category = [[Oxide minerals]] | boxwidth = | boxbgcolor = | image = Pitchblende_schlema-alberoda.JPG | imagesize = | caption = Pitchblende from Niederschlema-Alberoda deposit, [[Germany]] | formula = [[Uranium dioxide]] or [[uranium(IV) oxide]] (UO<sub>2</sub>) | molweight = | strunz = 04.DL.05 | symmetry = Isometric, hexoctahedral<br/>[[H-M symbol]]: (4/m{{overline|3}}2/m) <br/>[[Space group]]: F m3m | unit cell = a = 5.4682 Å; Z = 4 | color = Steel-black to velvet-black, brownish black, pale gray to pale green; in transmitted light, pale green, pale yellow to deep brown | habit = Massive, [[botryoidal]], granular. Octahedral crystals uncommon. | system = [[Cubic (crystal system)|Isometric]] | twinning = | cleavage = Indistinct | fracture = Conchoidal to uneven | mohs = 5–6 | luster = Submetallic, greasy, dull | refractive = | opticalprop = Isotropic | birefringence = | pleochroism = | streak = Brownish black, gray, olive-green | gravity = 10.63–10.95; decreases on oxidation | density = | melt = | fusibility = | diagnostic = | solubility = | diaphaneity = Opaque; transparent in thin fragments | other = Radioactive: greater than 70 Bq/g | references = <ref name=Klein>Klein, Cornelis and Cornelius S. Hurlbut, Jr., ''Manual of Mineralogy,'' Wiley, 1985, 20th ed. pp. 307–308 {{ISBN|0-471-80580-7}}</ref><ref name=HBM>{{cite book|editor=Anthony, John W.; Bideaux, Richard A.; Bladh, Kenneth W. and Nichols, Monte C. |title= Handbook of Mineralogy|publisher= Mineralogical Society of America|place= Chantilly, VA, US|url=http://rruff.geo.arizona.edu/doclib/hom/uraninite.pdf|chapter=Uraninite |accessdate=December 5, 2011|isbn=0-9622097-2-4 |volume=III (Halides, Hydroxides, Oxides)}}</ref><ref name=Mindat>[http://www.mindat.org/show.php?id=4102 Uraninite]. Mindat.org</ref><ref name=Webmin>[http://webmineral.com/data/Uraninite.shtml Uraninite]. Webmineral.com</ref> | var1 = Pit