Liebigite is a secondary uranium mineral characterized by its bright yellow to greenish-yellow color and intense fluorescence under ultraviolet light. It is commonly found as crusts or small crystalline aggregates in the oxidized zones of uranium deposits and requires careful handling due to its radioactivity.
Is this liebigite?
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 liebigite with a known reference. Liebigite sits at Mohs 2.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Liebigite leaves a pale yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Liebigite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellow-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: short prismatic crystals, crusts, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Liebigite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Liebigite and pearly on Autunite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Liebigite leaves pale yellow, Meta-autunite leaves yellow; luster reads vitreous on Liebigite and pearly on Meta-autunite.
Often found alongside liebigite
Minerals reported to co-occur with liebigite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₂UO₂(CO₃)₃·11H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 2.41 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale Yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Short Prismatic Crystals, Crusts, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Distinct
- Fluorescence
- Strong Green Under UV Light
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Uranium Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 for thumbnail to small cabinet specimens
Where rockhounds find liebigite
Classic worldwide localities
- Jáchymov, Czech Republic
- Shinkolobwe, Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Moab, Utah, USA
- Grants, New Mexico, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of uranium deposits country — that is the host setting where liebigite typically forms. If you start seeing schröckingerite, andersonite, bayleyite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a short prismatic crystals, crusts, radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find liebigite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
