Nuragheite is a rare thorium-bearing molybdate mineral primarily found in oxidized hydrothermal deposits. It typically occurs as small, delicate yellow tabular crystals forming crusts on host rock matrix.
Is this nuragheite?
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 nuragheite with a known reference. Nuragheite 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. Nuragheite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Nuragheite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellow-orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, crusts.
Often confused with
Nuragheite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Nuragheite and silky on Molybdite.
How to tell apart: Powellite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5 vs. 2); streak differs — Nuragheite leaves yellow, Powellite leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Nuragheite and adamantine on Powellite.
Often found alongside nuragheite
Minerals reported to co-occur with nuragheite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Th(MoO₄)₂·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 4.57 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Crusts
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Hydrothermal Molybdenite Deposits
- Typical price
- $100-500+ per specimen
Where rockhounds find nuragheite
Classic worldwide localities
- Su Senzu mine, Sardinia, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of hydrothermal molybdenite deposits country — that is the host setting where nuragheite typically forms. If you start seeing molybdenite, ferrimolybdite, goethite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find nuragheite on the map
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