Przhevalskite is a rare secondary uranium phosphate mineral that typically forms as bright yellow tabular crystals or crusts. It is most commonly found in the oxidation zones of uranium-rich hydrothermal deposits and is highly prized by collectors for its strong fluorescence.
Is this przhevalskite?
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 przhevalskite with a known reference. Przhevalskite sits at Mohs 2-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: light yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine, vitreous to pearly.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, bright greenish yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: aggregates, foliated.
Often confused with
Przhevalskite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Przhevalskite leaves light yellow, Autunite leaves pale yellow; luster reads adamantine, vitreous to pearly on Przhevalskite and vitreous, pearly on {001} on Autunite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Przhevalskite leaves light yellow, Torbernite leaves pale green; luster reads adamantine, vitreous to pearly on Przhevalskite and vitreous, subadamantine, waxy, pearly on cleavages; becoming dull on dehydration to metatorbernite on Torbernite.
Often found alongside przhevalskite
Minerals reported to co-occur with przhevalskite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 3.38 g/cm³
- Colors
- YellowBright greenish yellow
- Streak
- Light yellow
- Luster
- Adamantine, vitreous to pearly
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Aggregates, foliated
- Cleavage
- On {001}, good
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of a uranium deposit
Where rockhounds find przhevalskite
Classic worldwide localities
- Dzherkamar uranium deposit, ten km southeast of Adraman, Karamazar Mountains, Tajikistan
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of a uranium deposit. If you start seeing torbernite, autunite, dumontite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: aggregates, foliated. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify przhevalskite?+
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What rocks look like przhevalskite?+
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Find przhevalskite on the map
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