Bariandite and Francevillite - Oklo Nuclear Reactor Gabon XL
Brand : Jensan Scientifics LLC
- SKU:
- JPT-12862
- Condition:
- New
- Availability:
- Usually ships in 24 hours
- Weight:
- 2.00 LBS
- Minimum Purchase:
- 1 unit
- Maximum Purchase:
- 1 unit
- Shipping:
- Calculated at Checkout
Bariandite and Francevillite uranium minerals, Oklo Nuclear Reactor
This rare Bariandite specimen comes from Earth's only known natural nuclear reactor zone, the only geological setting of its kind ever discovered.
Bariandite, Francevillite Uranium Minerals from Oklo, Gabon
This specimen contains Bariandite with a great coating of the uranium mineral Francevillite from Gabon's Oklo natural nuclear reactor zone. Bariandite occurs as minute blackish-green fibrous aggregates associated with oxidized uranium mineralization, while Francevillite is a uranium mineral.
Together, these minerals reflect the unusual oxidized assemblage that developed after the uranium deposit was transformed over geologic time. Their association gives this specimen both mineralogical rarity and unparalleled geological context.
Geological Significance of Oklo and Okelobondo
Oklo and Okelobondo are part of the Paleoproterozoic uranium system in southeastern Gabon, where natural nuclear fission occurred about 2 billion years ago. Okelobondo is understood as part of the broader southern extension of the Oklo ore system within the Francevillian Basin.
This matters because the specimen is not simply a rare uranium mineral from Africa. It came from a geological setting that preserves evidence of ancient criticality, ore alteration, groundwater interaction, and long-term mineral transformation within one of the most scientifically unusual ore systems ever identified.
The Unique Geology for a Natural Nuclear Reactor
The Oklo reactors operated when natural uranium contained a higher proportion of uranium-235 than it does today. Uranium-rich layers hosted in permeable rock interacted with groundwater, which served as a neutron moderator, enabling self-sustaining fission reactions to occur naturally.
This combination of uranium concentration, permeability, fluid movement, and basin structure was exceptionally uncommon. That is why Oklo remains unique: it is the only confirmed natural nuclear reactor system known on Earth.
The Geochemistry of Oklo
The geochemistry of Oklo is as important as its nuclear history. Vanadium-bearing minerals such as Bariandite and the uranium mineral, Francevillite, help record the oxidized alteration history of the ore system.
It preserves mineral evidence of the chemical evolution of the Oklo uranium system, making it relevant to both mineral collectors and those interested in deep-time, nuclear geochemical processes.
| Object Type | Very Rare uranium mineral specimen, large Francevillite coverage, Oklo, Gabon |
| Mineral Details | Bariandite with Francevillite from the Oklo natural reactor district |
| Locality | Oklo natural nuclear reactor district, Haut-Ogooue Province, Gabon |
| Scientific Significance | The only known natural nuclear reactor system on Earth |
| Specimen Size | 45 mm H x 33 mm W x 23 mm D |
| Distinctive Feature | Great uranium mineral, terrific Francevillite coating on the face |
| Free Gift with Purchase | Earth's Oldest Rocks and Oldest Life rolled Earth Science Poster |
| Included With Purchase | Certificate of Authenticity; note sizing cube is not included Scientific paper about the Oklo natural nuclear reactors and Bariandite/Francevillite Copy of the Oklo natural nuclear reactor zone map sites |
| U.S. Shipping | Free Priority Shipping within the USA; international calculated at checkout |
Color may vary only slightly, depending on screen settings, display environment, and your own ambient lighting conditions.
Rarity & Significance
- Scientific Significance: ★★★★★
- Market Availability: ★
- Radiation Level: ★★★
- Display Appeal: ★★★★★
Buy this rare specimen containing uranium minerals from Oklo, Gabon, the world's only known natural nuclear reactor site, and add an extraordinary piece of geological and nuclear history to your collection.
Why is Oklo scientifically important?
Oklo is the only confirmed natural nuclear reactor system known on Earth. It preserves evidence that self-sustaining nuclear fission occurred naturally in uranium-rich rock about 2 billion years ago.
What makes this mineral association unusual?
This specimen combines Bariandite with Francevillite, linking rare vanadium-bearing uranium mineralization to the history of the Oklo ore system. That gives it value beyond its rarity alone, as it reflects a very specific geochemical environment.
Is this mainly a display specimen or a research-style collector specimen?
It works as both, but it leans strongly toward the serious collector, educator, or geoscience-minded buyer who values provenance, mineral rarity, and the singular geological importance of the Oklo reactor district.
Are handling precautions necessary?
Yes. This is medium-radioactivity material and should be handled responsibly. Wash your hands after handling, avoid creating or inhaling dust, and do not use the material as jewelry.
Few mineral specimens can claim a direct connection to one of the most improbable geological events in Earth's history. This Bariandite and Francevillite association is tied to the Oklo natural reactor system, where ore chemistry, groundwater flow, and deep time intersect in a way never documented anywhere else on the planet! For collectors of rare minerals, uranium mineralization, or historically important geological material, this is a remarkably specialized addition.
