Richetite is an extremely rare lead-uranium oxide mineral typically found as small, dark tabular crystals. It is primarily known from the Shinkolobwe mine in the DRC and is a highly sought-after species for advanced collectors of uranium minerals.
Is this richetite?
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 richetite with a known reference. Richetite sits at Mohs 3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Richetite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Richetite typically shows a subadamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, brownish-black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Richetite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Richetite leaves black, Fourmarierite leaves orange-yellow; luster reads subadamantine on Richetite and adamantine on Fourmarierite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Richetite leaves black, Vandenbrandeite leaves light green; luster reads subadamantine on Richetite and vitreous on Vandenbrandeite.
Often found alongside richetite
Minerals reported to co-occur with richetite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₄U₄O₁₄(OH)₆·30H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 5.6 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Subadamantine
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Uranium-rich Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $100-500 for small thumbnail specimens
Where rockhounds find richetite
Classic worldwide localities
- Shinkolobwe Mine, Democratic Republic of the Congo
Field-hunting tip
Look in uranium-rich hydrothermal veins country — that is the host setting where richetite typically forms. If you start seeing fourmarierite, curite, kasolite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find richetite on the map
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