Uvanite is a rare secondary uranium vanadate mineral typically found as earthy yellow coatings on sandstone. It forms in the oxidized zones of uranium-vanadium deposits and is highly prized by specialists in radioactive mineral species.
Is this uvanite?
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 uvanite with a known reference. Uvanite sits at Mohs 1.5-2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: light yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: earthy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brownish yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: granular.
Often confused with
Uvanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Uvanite leaves light yellow, Carnotite leaves strontian-yellow; luster reads earthy on Uvanite and dull, earthy; silky when crystalline on Carnotite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads earthy on Uvanite and adamantine, pearly on {001}, may be dull to waxy if massive on Tyuyamunite.
Often found alongside uvanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with uvanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- U₂V₆O₂₁·15H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 1.5-2
- Density
- 3.5-4.0 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Light yellow
- Luster
- Earthy
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Granular
- Cleavage
- Two directions, pinacoidal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a Colorado Plateau-type uranium deposit in asphaltic sandstone
Where rockhounds find uvanite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Temple Rock, about 70 km southwest of Green River, San Rafael district, Emery Co., Utah, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a Colorado Plateau-type uranium deposit in asphaltic sandstone. If you start seeing carnotite, rauvite, hewettite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Utah. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find uvanite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
