The uranyl sulphate mineral zippeite was studied by Raman spectroscopy. The phase purity of the sample was initially checked
by X-ray powder diffraction and its chemical composition was defined by electron microprobe (wavelength dispersive spectroscopy,
WDS) analysis. The Raman spectroscopy research focused on the low wavenumber and uranyl stretching vibration regions. Vibration
bands down to 50 cm–1 were tentatively assigned. The U–O bond lengths were calculated based on empirical relations. Inferred values are consistent
with those obtained from the crystal structure analysis of synthetic zippeite. Number of bands was interpreted on the basis
of factor group analysis.
Keywords Raman spectroscopy - Zippeite - Potassium uranyl sulphate - Factor group analysis