Schoepite is a secondary uranium mineral that forms through the alteration of uraninite in the oxidation zone of uranium-rich deposits. It is frequently found as bright yellow, tabular crystals or crusts that are strongly radioactive and should be handled with care.

Hardness

~2.5

Mohs

Luster

Adamantine

Streak

Yellow

Transparency

Transparent

mineralrare

Schoepite

Hardness: ~2.5
Luster: Adamantine
Streak: Yellow
Transparency: Transparent

Is this schoepite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch schoepite with a known reference. Schoepite sits at Mohs ~2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: yellow.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: yellow, lemon yellow, brownish yellow, amber.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, often as crusts or powdery aggregates.

Often confused with

Schoepite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

How to tell apart: Curite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4-5 vs. ~2.5); streak differs, so Schoepite leaves yellow, Curite leaves orange.

Compare →

Often found alongside schoepite

Minerals reported to co-occur with schoepite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: [(UO₂)₈O₂(OH)₁₂]·12H₂O
Mohs hardness: ~2.5
Density: 4.8-4.96 g/cm³
Colors: Yellow Lemon yellow Brownish yellow Amber
Streak: Yellow
Luster: Adamantine
Transparency: Transparent
Crystal system: Orthorhombic
Crystal habit: Tabular crystals, often as crusts or powdery aggregates
Cleavage: {001}, perfect
Fluorescence: Pale green under SW and LW UV
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: A rare alteration product of uraninite in hydrothermal uranium deposits; may form directly from ianthinite

Where rockhounds find schoepite

Classic worldwide localities

Beryl Mountain, Acworth, Sullivan Co., and in the Ruggles mine, Grafton, and the Palermo mine, near North Groton, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, USA
Consolidated mine, Green Vein Mesa, Emery Co., the Happy Jack mine, White Canyon, and the Frey No. 4 mine, Red Canyon, San Juan Co., and the Oyler Tunnel claim, near Fruita, Wayne Co., Utah, USA
Lookout No. 22 claim, Marshall Pass district, Saguache Co., Colorado, USA
Monument No. 2 mine, Apache Co., the Abe Lincoln mine, northeast of Wickenburg, Yavapai Co., and the Black Point-Murphy mine, near Cameron, Coconino Co., Arizona, USA
Shinkolobwe, Katanga Province, Congo (Shaba Province, Zaire)
Wölsendorf, Bavaria, Germany

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: A rare alteration product of uraninite in hydrothermal uranium deposits; may form directly from ianthinite. If you start seeing uraninite, becquerelite, billietite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, often as crusts or powdery aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify schoepite?+

Mohs hardness is ~2.5. Luster: adamantine. The streak is yellow. Common colors include yellow, lemon yellow, brownish yellow, amber.

Where is schoepite found?+

Notable localities include Beryl Mountain, Acworth, Sullivan Co., and in the Ruggles mine, Grafton, and the Palermo mine, near North Groton, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, USA; Consolidated mine, Green Vein Mesa, Emery Co., the Happy Jack mine, White Canyon, and the Frey No. 4 mine, Red Canyon, San Juan Co., and the Oyler Tunnel claim, near Fruita, Wayne Co., Utah, USA; Lookout No. 22 claim, Marshall Pass district, Saguache Co., Colorado, USA; Monument No. 2 mine, Apache Co., the Abe Lincoln mine, northeast of Wickenburg, Yavapai Co., and the Black Point-Murphy mine, near Cameron, Coconino Co., Arizona, USA; Shinkolobwe, Katanga Province, Congo (Shaba Province, Zaire).

Is schoepite safe to handle?+

Schoepite contains uranium or thorium and calls for real care. Radioactive material. Store in a sealed container, avoid handling with bare hands, and wash hands thoroughly after contact to prevent ingestion or inhalation of radioactive dust.

What rocks look like schoepite?+

Schoepite is most often confused with Becquerelite, Billietite, Curite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with schoepite?+

Schoepite commonly co-occurs with Uraninite, Becquerelite, Billietite, Vandendriesscheite, Fourmarierite, Ianthinite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does schoepite form in?+

Where it forms: A rare alteration product of uraninite in hydrothermal uranium deposits; may form directly from ianthinite. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is schoepite used for?+

Schoepite is used in collector.

Find schoepite on the map

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