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Where to Find Carnotite in Utah

Carnotite is the lemon-yellow uranium-vanadium ore mineral that drove Utah's uranium boom of the 1950s. Most occurrences are in the Salt Wash member of the Morrison Formation, with concentrations in the Uravan mineral belt extending into San Juan and Grand counties. The Lisbon Valley, White Canyon, and Henry Mountains districts produced carnotite as powdery coatings, channel-fill ore, and replacements after fossilized wood. The Cane Creek anticline near Moab carries carnotite alongside copper minerals in sandstone. Carnotite is radioactive, and specimens should be stored ventilated and never displayed in a closed living space. A Geiger counter is useful for both finding and grading material.

Spot list checked against source data on April 1, 2026.

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Every carnotite spot we track in Utah

Standout carnotite spots in Utah

Hand-picked from the full list above, with the reason each one earns a trip.

Best counties for carnotite in Utah

Ranked by the number of mapped carnotite spots. County links open the full rockhounding page for that county.

Carnotite in Utah FAQ

Where can you find carnotite in Utah?+
The mapped spots concentrate in San Juan County, Emery County, and Grand County. Known collecting areas include Lisbon Valley (San Juan County), Henry Mountains district (Garfield County), and White Canyon (San Juan County). Every spot on this page is on the map, and each spot's own page has its coordinates and access notes.
How many carnotite spots are mapped in Utah?+
25 spots across 8 counties. The RockHoundR app keeps the same spots on an offline map with public land overlays, geology layers, and your saved finds.
Is it legal to collect carnotite in Utah?+
Hand collecting of common rocks and minerals in small amounts for personal use is generally allowed on BLM and U.S. Forest Service land, with limits set by the local field office. National parks, most state parks, and tribal land are closed to collecting. 18 of the 25 mapped spots here sit on land marked public. Always confirm current rules with the managing agency before you dig.
How do you identify carnotite found in Utah?+
Carnotite is bright canary-yellow and powdery, often staining the host sandstone yellow on weathered faces. Confirm with a portable radiation meter rather than color alone, since limonite and jarosite can mimic it.

More minerals to hunt in Utah

Hunt carnotite in Utah with the map in your pocket

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