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, so 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, 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?+
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What rocks look like metastudtite?+
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Find metastudtite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
