Sklodowskite
10 in the gallery
Sklodowskite is a uranium-bearing silicate mineral that forms as secondary crystals in oxidized uranium-rich environments. It typically presents as yellow to greenish-yellow, translucent to opaque crystals with a vitreous to resinous luster. Crystallographic habit is often needle-like or prismatic, occurring in fine sprays or fans that can be fragile but highly distinctive when well-formed.
- Formula
- Mg(UO2)2(SiO3OH)2 · 6H2O
- Rarity
- Rare
- Stability
- Moderately Stable
- Collector interest
- Moderate Interest
Where Sklodowskite is found
Top localities
- Musonoi Mine5 specimens
- Santa Eulalia Mining District3 specimens
- Animas Mine1 specimen
- Brumado1 specimen
About Sklodowskite
Notable specimens come from oxidized zones in uranium-bearing deposits, with historical and contemporary occurrences reported in DR Congo and Mexico, among other locales. Specimens may occur alongside related uranyl minerals and can occur in association with altered host rocks or secondary alteration halos, where fluid activity concentrates uranium and silicate components.
Collectors seek sklodowskite for its striking color, delicate crystal shapes, and the challenge of isolating sharp, aesthetic sprays from matrix. The mineral’s relative rarity and specific paragenesis add to its appeal, particularly when pristine or gemmy crystals are recovered from classic localities that reveal the mineral’s characteristic sculptural form and glow under appropriate lighting.