Rabejacite is an extremely rare secondary uranium mineral found primarily at the Rabejac mine in France. It typically forms as thin, bright yellow crystalline crusts or aggregates associated with other uranium-bearing minerals in sedimentary deposits.
Is this rabejacite?
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 rabejacite with a known reference. Rabejacite sits at Mohs 2.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Rabejacite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Rabejacite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, bright yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts.
Often confused with
Rabejacite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Rabejacite leaves yellow, Autunite leaves pale yellow; luster reads vitreous on Rabejacite and pearly on Autunite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Rabejacite leaves yellow, Uranopilite leaves pale yellow; luster reads vitreous on Rabejacite and pearly on Uranopilite.
Often found alongside rabejacite
Minerals reported to co-occur with rabejacite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca(UO₂)₄(SO₄)₂(OH)₆·16H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 4.2 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Crusts
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Uranium Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find rabejacite
Classic worldwide localities
- Rabejac Mine, Lodeve, France
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary uranium deposits country — that is the host setting where rabejacite typically forms. If you start seeing uraninite, coffinite, gypsum in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find rabejacite on the map
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