Nolanite is a rare vanadium-iron oxide typically found in hydrothermal uranium deposits. It is best identified by its metallic bronze luster and occurrence as small, platy hexagonal crystals within uranium-bearing ores.
Is this nolanite?
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 nolanite with a known reference. Nolanite sits at Mohs 5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: brownish black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: submetallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: euhedral crystals, hexagonal.
Often confused with
Nolanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Nolanite leaves brownish black, Hematite leaves cherry-red or reddish brown; luster reads submetallic on Nolanite and metallic or submetallic to dull on Hematite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Nolanite leaves brownish black, Ilmenite leaves black to reddish brown; luster reads submetallic on Nolanite and metallic to submetallic on Ilmenite.
Often found alongside nolanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with nolanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- V₄FeO₇(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 4.69 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Brownish black
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque, slightly translucent in thin fragments
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Euhedral crystals, hexagonal
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In hydrothermal uranium deposits (Saskatchewan, Canada); in gold deposits in metamorphosed greenstones (Kalgoorlie, Western Australia)
Where rockhounds find nolanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Wild Steer Canyon, Paradox Valley, Montrose Co., Colorado, and in the Campbell mine, Bisbee, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
- Fish-Hook Bay, Lake Athabaska, and at the Ace mine, the Consolidated Nicholson Mine No.2, and the Pitche claims, Beaverlodge Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada
- Mounana uranium mine, Franceville, Gabon
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In hydrothermal uranium deposits (Saskatchewan, Canada); in gold deposits in metamorphosed greenstones (Kalgoorlie, Western Australia). If you start seeing dolomite, calcite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: euhedral crystals, hexagonal. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify nolanite?+
Where is nolanite found?+
Is nolanite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like nolanite?+
What minerals are found with nolanite?+
What kind of rock does nolanite form in?+
What is nolanite used for?+
Find nolanite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
