Greenlizardite is a sodium uranium sulfate, typically light green-yellow. It was approved as a distinct mineral species in 2017. It was first described from Green Lizard mine, Red Canyon, White Canyon mining district, San Juan County, Utah, USA.
Is this greenlizardite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch greenlizardite with a known reference. Greenlizardite sits at Mohs ~2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: light green-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: platy or micaceous aggregates.
Often confused with
Greenlizardite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside greenlizardite
Minerals reported to co-occur with greenlizardite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (NH₄)Na(UO₂)₂(SO₄)₂(OH)₂·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- ~2
- Density
- 3.469-3.507 g/cm³
- Colors
- Light green-yellow
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy or micaceous aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {100}, good on {21̄0}
- Fluorescence
- Fluoresces greenish under 405 nm laser light
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Ornamental
- Host rock
- A secondary mineral on the walls of mines in U-V deposits that replaced wood and other organic material in sandstones and conglomerate (roll-front type U-V deposits)
Where rockhounds find greenlizardite
Classic worldwide localities
- Green Lizard mine, Red Canyon, White Canyon mining district, San Juan County, Utah, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A secondary mineral on the walls of mines in U-V deposits that replaced wood and other organic material in sandstones and conglomerate (roll-front type U-V deposits). If you start seeing ammoniozippeite, boussingaultite, dickite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy or micaceous aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify greenlizardite?+
Where is greenlizardite found?+
Is greenlizardite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like greenlizardite?+
What minerals are found with greenlizardite?+
What kind of rock does greenlizardite form in?+
What is greenlizardite used for?+
Find greenlizardite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
