Uranium is a naturally occurring radioactive metal that is rarely found in its pure elemental form in nature. Collectors generally seek associated secondary uranium minerals like autunite or torbernite, as native uranium is primarily encountered in industrial ore deposits or specialized research environments.
Is this uranium?
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 uranium with a known reference. Uranium sits at Mohs 6 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Uranium leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Uranium typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: silvery-white, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: massive, disseminated grains.
Often confused with
Uranium vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Uranium leaves black, Uraninite leaves brownish-black to greenish-black; luster reads metallic on Uranium and submetallic to dull on Uraninite.
How to tell apart: Uranium is noticeably harder (Mohs 6 vs. 5); streak differs — Uranium leaves black, Coffinite leaves brownish-black; luster reads metallic on Uranium and dull on Coffinite.
Often found alongside uranium
Minerals reported to co-occur with uranium. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- U
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 19.1 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Disseminated Grains
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Nuclear Fuel, Scientific Research, Collector
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites, Hydrothermal Veins, Sandstone Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen size and radioactivity level
Where rockhounds find uranium
4 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Canada
- Australia
- Kazakhstan
- USA
- Namibia
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites, hydrothermal veins, sandstone deposits country — that is the host setting where uranium typically forms. If you start seeing uraninite, autunite, torbernite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, disseminated grains habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Florida, Idaho, Utah — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find uranium on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
