Natrozippeite is a secondary uranium sulfate mineral that typically forms as bright yellow acicular crystal sprays or crusts on oxidized uranium ore. It is highly fluorescent under short-wave UV light, making it a sought-after species for fluorescent mineral collectors. Due to its radioactive nature, it requires careful handling and specialized storage.
Is this natrozippeite?
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 natrozippeite with a known reference. Natrozippeite sits at Mohs 5-5.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: earthy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: encrustations.
Often confused with
Natrozippeite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Natrozippeite is noticeably harder (Mohs 5-5.5 vs. ~2); streak differs, so Natrozippeite leaves pale yellow, Zippeite leaves yellow white; luster reads earthy on Natrozippeite and vitreous on Zippeite.
How to tell apart: Natrozippeite is noticeably harder (Mohs 5-5.5 vs. 2.5); luster reads earthy on Natrozippeite and silky on Uranopilite.
Often found alongside natrozippeite
Minerals reported to co-occur with natrozippeite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₅(UO₂)₈(SO₄)₄O₅(OH)₃·12H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 5-5.5
- Density
- 4.3 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale yellow
- Luster
- Earthy
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Encrustations
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Fluorescence
- Bright yellow under SW and LW UV
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- oxidized zones of uranium-bearing hydrothermal veins
Where rockhounds find natrozippeite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mayn mines on the Colorado Plateau including the Happy Jack mine, White Canyon, San Juan County, Utah, USA (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: oxidized zones of uranium-bearing hydrothermal veins. If you start seeing gypsum, metazeunerite, uranophane in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: encrustations. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify natrozippeite?+
Where is natrozippeite found?+
Is natrozippeite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like natrozippeite?+
What minerals are found with natrozippeite?+
What kind of rock does natrozippeite form in?+
What is natrozippeite used for?+
Find natrozippeite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
