Metastudtite is a secondary uranium mineral formed as an alteration product of uraninite. Collectors should look for delicate, fibrous, or acicular yellow to white crusts occurring in uranium-rich hydrothermal environments.
Is this metastudtite?
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 metastudtite with a known reference. Metastudtite 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. Metastudtite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Metastudtite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, pale yellow, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular or fibrous crystal aggregates, crusts, or coatings.
Often confused with
Metastudtite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads pearly on Metastudtite and earthy on Studtite.
How to tell apart: Vandenbrandeite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3 vs. 2); streak differs — Metastudtite leaves white, Vandenbrandeite leaves light green; luster reads pearly on Metastudtite and vitreous on Vandenbrandeite.
Often found alongside metastudtite
Minerals reported to co-occur with metastudtite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- UO₄·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 3.8 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular or Fibrous Crystal Aggregates, Crusts, Or Coatings
- Cleavage
- Distinct On {100}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Uranium Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen depending on size and quality
Where rockhounds find metastudtite
Classic worldwide localities
- Shinkolobwe Mine, DR Congo
- Jáchymov, Czech Republic
- Rabejac, France
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of uranium deposits country — that is the host setting where metastudtite typically forms. If you start seeing uraninite, soddyite, fourmarierite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular or fibrous crystal aggregates, crusts, or coatings habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify metastudtite?+
Where is metastudtite found?+
How much is metastudtite worth?+
Is metastudtite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like metastudtite?+
What minerals are found with metastudtite?+
What kind of rock does metastudtite form in?+
What is metastudtite used for?+
Find metastudtite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
