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. Uvanite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Uvanite typically shows a earthy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brownish-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: massive, powdery, or earthy coatings.
Often confused with
Uvanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
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
- Yellow
- Luster
- Earthy
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Powdery, Or Earthy Coatings
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Sandstone
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find uvanite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Utah (USA)
- Colorado (USA)
Field-hunting tip
Look in sandstone country, the host setting where uvanite typically forms. If you start seeing carnotite, tyuyamunite, pascoite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, powdery, or earthy coatings habit, so 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.
