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 2-2.5, 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: pearly.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, bluish green, light green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: bladed.
Often confused with
Uranospathite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Uranospathite leaves yellow white, Autunite leaves pale yellow; luster reads pearly on Uranospathite and vitreous, pearly on {001} on Autunite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Uranospathite leaves yellow white, Torbernite leaves pale green; luster reads pearly on Uranospathite and vitreous, subadamantine, waxy, pearly on cleavages; becoming dull on dehydration to metatorbernite 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
- (Al,☐)(UO₂)₂F(PO₄)₂·20H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2-2.5
- Density
- 2.50 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow white
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Bladed
- Cleavage
- On {001}, perfect; on {100} and {010}, good
- Fluorescence
- Yellow green under LW UV
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of uranium-bearing hydrothermal mineral deposits
Where rockhounds find uranospathite
Classic worldwide localities
- Basset group of mines, Illogan, Cornwall, England
- La Crouzille and Sagnes mines, Haute-Vienne, France
- Pedro Alvaro vanadium mine, Salamanca Province, and at El Padregal, Badajoz Province, Spain
- Weisser Hirsch mine, Neustädtel-Schneeberg, Saxony, and at Menzenschwand, Black Forest, Germany
- Radium Hill, Olary, South Australia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of uranium-bearing hydrothermal mineral deposits. If you start seeing bassetite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: bladed. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify uranospathite?+
Where is uranospathite found?+
Is uranospathite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like uranospathite?+
What minerals are found with uranospathite?+
What kind of rock does uranospathite form in?+
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Find uranospathite on the map
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