Uricite is a rare organic mineral that forms as an alteration product of guano in arid environments. Collectors typically find it as small, delicate, tabular crystals or fine efflorescent coatings associated with phosphate minerals.
Is this uricite?
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 uricite with a known reference. Uricite sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Uricite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Uricite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, crusts, efflorescent coatings.
Often confused with
Uricite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside uricite
Minerals reported to co-occur with uricite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- C₅H₄N₄O₃
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 1.83 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Crusts, Efflorescent Coatings
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Guano Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find uricite
Classic worldwide localities
- Koh-i-Sultan, Pakistan
- Pavlodar, Kazakhstan
- Guanuape Islands, Peru
Field-hunting tip
Look in guano deposits country — that is the host setting where uricite typically forms. If you start seeing gypsum, aphthitalite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, crusts, efflorescent coatings habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify uricite?+
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Find uricite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
