Nickelzippeite is a rare secondary uranium mineral typically forming as vibrant yellow acicular or lath-like crystals in oxidized uranium ore deposits. It is known for its intense yellow-green fluorescence under ultraviolet light. Due to its radioactive nature, it is primarily sought after by advanced collectors of secondary uranium minerals.
Is this nickelzippeite?
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 nickelzippeite with a known reference. Nickelzippeite 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. Streak: yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: earthy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, tan, orange yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: earthy.
Often confused with
Nickelzippeite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads earthy on Nickelzippeite and vitreous on Zippeite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Nickelzippeite leaves yellow, Johannite leaves pale green; luster reads earthy on Nickelzippeite and vitreous on Johannite.
Often found alongside nickelzippeite
Minerals reported to co-occur with nickelzippeite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ni₂(UO₂)₆(SO₄)₃(OH)₁₀·16H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- ~2
- Density
- 4.3 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Earthy
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Earthy
- Cleavage
- Perfect to {010}; perhaps another, inclined (synthetic)
- Fluorescence
- Bright yellow-green under UV
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Typically as secondary coatings on mine walls, derived from oxidation of uranium-bearing primary Ni–Co sulfides
Where rockhounds find nickelzippeite
Classic worldwide localities
- Happy Jack mine, White Canyon, San Juan Co., and at Castleton, La Sal Mountains, Grand Co., Utah, USA
- Hillside mine, about 5.5 km north of Bagdad, Eureka district, Yavapai Co., Arizona, USA
- Great Bear Lake, Northwest Territories, Canada
- Jáchymov (Joachimsthal), Czech Republic
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Typically as secondary coatings on mine walls, derived from oxidation of uranium-bearing primary Ni–Co sulfides. If you start seeing cobalt-zippeite, sodium-zippeite, zippeite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: earthy. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find nickelzippeite on the map
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