Carnotite
A variety of Minerals
What is Carnotite?
Carnotite is a potassium uranium vanadate radioactive mineral with chemical formula K2(UO2)2(VO4)2·3H2O. The water content can vary and small amounts of calcium, barium, magnesium, iron, and sodium are often present.
Uses & Applications
Carnotite is an ore of uranium. At times in the early 20th century, it was mined primarily for radium or vanadium. The mineral was used to produce quack devices involving radioactive substances.
Market Value Factors
Pricing varies for every rock and mineral, so use these universal factors to gauge Carnotite before comparing listings or appraisals.
Size & Weight
Larger, intact specimens usually command higher prices.
Rarity & Demand
Scarce material or popular varieties sell at a premium.
Condition & Finish
Chips, repairs, and heavy wear lower value; clean prep helps.
Treatment & Provenance
Untreated specimens with documented locality are prized.
Carnotite Localities Map
See where Carnotite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.
Key Characteristics
Formation of Carnotite
Carnotite is a bright to greenish-yellow mineral that occurs typically as crusts and flakes in sandstones. Amounts as low as one percent will color the sandstone a bright yellow. The high uranium content makes carnotite an important uranium ore. It is a secondary vanadium and uranium mineral usually found in sedimentary rocks in arid climates. In the United States it is an important ore of uranium in the Colorado Plateau region of the United States where it occurs as disseminations in sandstone and concentrations around petrified logs. It also occurs in the U.S. states of Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. It also occurs incidentally in Grants, New Mexico, and Carbon County, Pennsylvania. Carnotite is reported in Congo (Kinshasa), Morocco, Australia (Radium Hill) and Kazakhstan. In Pakistan carnotite occurs in the Upper Miocene middle Siwaliks sandstone (Dhokpathan Formation), in the vicinity of Takhat Nasrati, Karak District.
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Quick Facts
Physical Properties
- Color
- Bright yellow, yellow, greenish yellow
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 2
- Density
- 4.91 g/cm³
- Streak
- Strontian-yellow
Chemical Properties
- Chemical Formula
- K2(UO2)2(VO4)2 · 3H2O
- Elements
- H, K, O, U, V
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Carnotite FAQs
How do I identify Carnotite?
Carnotite can be identified by its hardness of 2 on the Mohs scale, Bright yellow color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.
What color is Carnotite?
Carnotite typically appears in Bright yellow, yellow, greenish yellow. Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.
How hard is Carnotite?
Carnotite has a hardness of 2 on the Mohs scale. This makes it a soft mineral that can be scratched easily.
What is the formation of carnotite of Carnotite?
Carnotite is a bright to greenish-yellow mineral that occurs typically as crusts and flakes in sandstones. Amounts as low as one percent will color the sandstone a bright yellow. The high uranium content makes carnotite an important uranium ore. It is a secondary vanadium and uranium mineral usually found in sedimentary rocks in arid climates. In the United States it is an important ore of uranium in the Colorado Plateau region of the United States where it occurs as disseminations in sandstone and concentrations around petrified logs. It also occurs in the U.S. states of Wyoming, Colorado, South Dakota, Nevada, Arizona, and Utah. It also occurs incidentally in Grants, New Mexico, and Carbon County, Pennsylvania. Carnotite is reported in Congo (Kinshasa), Morocco, Australia (Radium Hill) and Kazakhstan. In Pakistan carnotite occurs in the Upper Miocene middle Siwaliks sandstone (Dhokpathan Formation), in the vicinity of Takhat Nasrati, Karak District.
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