Uranospathite is a very rare secondary uranium phosphate mineral that forms thin, delicate tabular crystals. Due to its high water content, it is unstable and easily dehydrates if exposed to dry air, often transforming into meta-uranospathite.
Is this uranospathite?
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 uranospathite with a known reference. Uranospathite sits at Mohs 2.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Uranospathite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Uranospathite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellow-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Uranospathite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Uranospathite leaves yellow, Autunite leaves pale yellow.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Uranospathite leaves yellow, Torbernite leaves pale green; luster reads pearly on Uranospathite and vitreous on Torbernite.
Often found alongside uranospathite
Minerals reported to co-occur with uranospathite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- H₂[UO₂(PO₄)]₂·20H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 3.5 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect Basal
- Fluorescence
- Bright Green Under UV Light
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins in Granitic Rocks
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find uranospathite
Classic worldwide localities
- Redruth, Cornwall, England
- Johanngeorgenstadt, Saxony, Germany
- Gouré, Niger
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins in granitic rocks country — that is the host setting where uranospathite typically forms. If you start seeing uraninite, autunite, torbernite 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
How do you identify uranospathite?+
Where is uranospathite found?+
How much is uranospathite worth?+
Is uranospathite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like uranospathite?+
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Find uranospathite on the map
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