Saléeite is a bright, yellow secondary uranium mineral that often forms flat, square-shaped tabular crystals or micaceous flakes. It is a member of the autunite group and is highly sought after by radioactive mineral collectors for its intense green fluorescence under UV lighting. It typically forms in the oxidation zones of uranium deposits as a result of weathering.
Is this saléeite?
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 saléeite with a known reference. Saléeite 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: yellow white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine to waxy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellow green, olive green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: aggregates, tabular.
Often confused with
Saléeite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Saléeite leaves yellow white, Autunite leaves pale yellow; luster reads adamantine to waxy on Saléeite and vitreous, pearly on {001} on Autunite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Saléeite leaves yellow white, Torbernite leaves pale green; luster reads adamantine to waxy on Saléeite and vitreous, subadamantine, waxy, pearly on cleavages; becoming dull on dehydration to metatorbernite on Torbernite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads adamantine to waxy on Saléeite and pearly to dull on Meta-autunite.
Often found alongside saléeite
Minerals reported to co-occur with saléeite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mg(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₂·10H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 3.27 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow white
- Luster
- Adamantine to waxy
- Transparency
- Transparent to opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Aggregates, tabular
- Cleavage
- On {001}, perfect; on {010}, {110}, indistinct (pseudotetragonal indices)
- Fluorescence
- Brilliant yellow green under SW and LW UV
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In the oxidized zone of uranium-bearing polymetallic hydrothermal and sedimentary mineral deposits
Where rockhounds find saléeite
Classic worldwide localities
- Sue mine, Cherry Creek area, Gila Co., Arizona, USA
- High Park claims, Teller Co., Colorado, USA
- Shinkolobwe, Katanga Province, Congo (Shaba Province, Zaire)
- Schneeberg, Saxony, Germany
- Caridid mine, Villavieja de Yeltes, Salamanca Province, Spain
- Cunha Baixa and Quarta Feira mines, Sabugal, Portugal
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In the oxidized zone of uranium-bearing polymetallic hydrothermal and sedimentary mineral deposits. If you start seeing torbernite, autunite, zeunerite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: aggregates, tabular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find saléeite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
