Carnotita
Carnotita is a mineral with formula K₂(UO₂)₂(VO₄)₂·3H₂O, in the Vanadatos group. This specimen comes from Vanadium Queen Mine, La Sal, San Juan County, Utah, Estados Unidos and joined the Terrium collection in 2025.
Description
Aggregates of intense yellow carnotite and tyuyamunite with radial habit and spheroidal aspect. They coat planes and cavities of the quartzose matrix, concentrated on one face. Silky lustre visible under the loupe. Measured radiation: 3.80 µSv/h.
About Carnotita
NEOFORMATION. Carnotite and tyuyamunite commonly occur together; the former is potassic and the latter calcic. They are secondary uranium-vanadium minerals, noted for their bright yellow colour and botryoidal or rosette habits. They show weak fluorescence under UV light and moderate radioactivity.
About the locality
The Vanadium Queen Mine is part of the La Sal uranium district. Here uranyl vanadates formed by oxidation of primary uraniferous ores, coating rock fractures with characteristic yellow crusts.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0377
- Composition
- K₂(UO₂)₂(VO₄)₂·3H₂O
- Name
- Carnotita
- Group
- Vanadatos
- Category
- Núcleus Ardens
- Matrix
- Matriz silícea
- Associations
- Tyuyamunita
- Mine
- Vanadium Queen Mine
- District / Municipality
- La Sal
- Province
- San Juan County
- Region
- Utah
- Country
- Estados Unidos
- Size (cm)
- 4 x 3 x 2.5
- Acquired
- 2025
- Etymology
- From "Carnot", a French engineer and physicist; and "Tyuya-Muyun", the type locality in Kyrgyzstan.
- Quality
- Muy buena
- Value trend
- Al alza
Related specimens
- Analcima — Estados Unidos
- Auricalcita — Estados Unidos
- Boltwoodita — Estados Unidos
- Calcita (Ahumada) — Estados Unidos
- Calcita — Estados Unidos
- Calcita — Estados Unidos
- Coffinita — Estados Unidos
- Cristobalita — Estados Unidos