Metauranospinite is a secondary uranium mineral often found as bright yellow or greenish-yellow platy crystals or micaceous crusts. It is highly sought by collectors for its brilliant green fluorescence under ultraviolet light and is typically found in the oxidation zones of uranium-rich hydrothermal deposits.
Is this metauranospinite?
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 metauranospinite with a known reference. Metauranospinite 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. Metauranospinite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Metauranospinite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellow-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: platy crystals, micaceous aggregates.
Often confused with
Metauranospinite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Metauranospinite leaves yellow, Autunite leaves pale yellow.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Metauranospinite leaves yellow, Torbernite leaves pale green; luster reads pearly on Metauranospinite and vitreous on Torbernite.
Often found alongside metauranospinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with metauranospinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca(UO₂)₂(AsO₄)₂·8H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 3.55 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Micaceous Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect Basal
- Fluorescence
- Bright Green Under SW and LW UV
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Uranium-bearing Veins
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen depending on size and intensity of fluorescence
Where rockhounds find metauranospinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany
- Jáchymov, Czech Republic
- Utah, USA
- Wyoming, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal uranium-bearing veins country — that is the host setting where metauranospinite typically forms. If you start seeing uraninite, gummite, pharmacosiderite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, micaceous aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify metauranospinite?+
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Find metauranospinite on the map
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