Radioactive minerals represent a diverse group of species containing uranium or thorium, such as Uraninite and Autunite. Collectors should use a Geiger counter to identify these specimens and implement strict storage protocols to minimize radiation exposure.
Is this radioactive minerals?
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 radioactive minerals with a known reference. Radioactive Minerals sits at Mohs 1-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Radioactive Minerals leaves a variable streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Radioactive Minerals typically shows a variable luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, green, black, orange, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: variable. Typical habit: variable.
Often confused with
Radioactive Minerals vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Radioactive Minerals leaves variable, Uraninite leaves brownish-black to greenish-black; luster reads variable on Radioactive Minerals and submetallic to dull on Uraninite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Radioactive Minerals leaves variable, Autunite leaves pale yellow; luster reads variable on Radioactive Minerals and pearly on Autunite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Radioactive Minerals leaves variable, Torbernite leaves pale green; luster reads variable on Radioactive Minerals and vitreous on Torbernite.
Often found alongside radioactive minerals
Minerals reported to co-occur with radioactive minerals. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Mohs hardness
- 1-6
- Density
- 3.5-10.0 g/cm³
- Streak
- Variable
- Luster
- Variable
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Variable
- Crystal habit
- Variable
- Cleavage
- Variable
- Fluorescence
- Often Fluorescent
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites, Hydrothermal Veins, Sedimentary Uranium Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-500 per specimen depending on size and species
Where rockhounds find radioactive minerals
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Canada
- USA
- Czech Republic
- France
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, sedimentary uranium deposits country, the host setting where radioactive minerals typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, feldspar, mica in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a variable habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in New Mexico. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find radioactive minerals on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
