Uranium salt

[chris rizin]

Had these specimens identified as uranium salt today.. Anyone have any tips, thoughts or concerns to share? Storage.. Disposal.. Display?

 

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[mamabear]

First question is, why does this person think it's uranium salt? Was it found in an area where uranium is present? googled it & am hard pressed to find info on naturally occurring uranium salt. Background info on where you found it etc would help. Are you sure it isn't sulpher?

 

[chris rizin]

Well kind of a long story.. Lol..

My wife's grandfather before he passed was a rock hound for decades. Over thirty years ago a barn he stored part of his collection in burned down. He was devastated (actually an understatement from what I hear). So after salvaging some material he decided to dump the rest in part of the property. Thirty years later I stumbled across some shiny rocks and started digging around finding stuff like benitoite, neptunite, gold in quartz, cave formed minerals, fossils etc.. This "uranium salt" was some of the stuff I took out to try and clean up and identify. I recently took the material to Consolidated Rocks and Gems in Vacaville CA, also known as The Rock Shop. Amazing inventory in over 15000sq feet. Anyway.. I took some stuff I have identified 100% and this uranium salt.. He took out his loop gave it a look and quickly put it down and told me it was "uranium salt". I trust him and it has absolutely no smell or anything close to smelling like sulphur. I read your question today and took the material to another local rock shop and jeweler. They also confirmed it as uranium salt so i feel fairly confident in the identification now.

The uranium salt is natural occurring in places around the world. Including Utah and Colorado I believe.

From wiki- Uranium is the 51st element in order of abundance in the Earth's crust

http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Uranium

http://geology.utah.gov/surveynotes/energy_news/pdf/uranium_news_2010_42-3.pdf

 

[Fullpan]

Yes, Chris - that looks like carnotite to me. I've seen some specimens at the Mackay School of Mines, Univ. of Nevada, here in Reno. There was a few tons
of ore shipped from local mines/prospects during the first uranium rush. You are lucky to have found a stash, saving lots of gas money on dusty roads! Is
the Benitoite in crystal form? Neptunite? If so, its worth something on the collectible markets. Keep digging - you never know what'll turn up. P.S. - A crystal
cluster of Stibnite was recently stolen from the museum at Mackay School of Mines. Guess what the est. value was? 30,000 dollars!

 

[mamabear]

Yes, you are very lucky to have that stash of rocks right there. I bet Grampa was heart broken. I would be. Will look through my books & see if it says anything about uranium salts. All I could find was info about processed uranium. Post pix of the other rocks you have found.

 

[Rawhide]

From what I learned about uranium in the military. You may want to not handle that piece if it contains any radioactivity. Even alpha waves can hurt you if digested or enters a opens cut. If its just a name and not radioactive, then you have a great rock there.

 

[Fullpan]

Yes, Chris - that looks like carnotite to me. I've seen some specimens at the Mackay School of Mines, Univ. of Nevada, here in Reno. There was a few tons
of ore shipped from local mines/prospects during the first uranium rush. You are lucky to have found a stash, saving lots of gas money on dusty roads! Is
the Benitoite in crystal form? Neptunite? If so, its worth something on the collectible markets. Keep digging - you never know what'll turn up. P.S. - A crystal
cluster of Stibnite was recently stolen from the museum at Mackay School of Mines. Guess what the est. value was? 30,000 dollars!

Update and pic of stibnite theft:http://www.rgj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2013130430022&nclick_check=1

 

[Alex Burke]

Ha, they got scared and brought it back thankfully thanks for posting update Full, yeah that things beautiful and def one of a kind I'm glad the thieves didn't break it. I've heard that too Casca I think it's 3000 ppm or something on a Geiger counter and you shouldn't handle don't quote me tho.

 

[chris rizin]

That's a crazy story! Glad it was returned undamaged! I have serious disliking for thieves and I hope they find out who did it!

Thanks for all responses! I'm really appreciating this forum community. Lots to learn from and good people here it seems.

The benitoite is a special piece. I had it looked at and was told that it has jewel grade gems and was valued at 2k! Though after doing some research and looking at specimens and display pieces for sale online and at rock shops I'm not sure if that appraisal is right. The specimen I have is pretty beat up but don't get me wrong it's gorgeous in my opinion. The strange thing though is it has some green crystal growing on it and in or on some of the benitoite and naturalite. It seems no one can identify it.. So the rarity of it might have an impact on the value. I think it was being etched and after exposing the green mineralization they stopped. I have been looking at demantoid and djurleite as possibilities but just not really any photos anywhere online to compare it to. I got a name of a benitoite specialist to get into contact with for help that I will be contacting in the near future.

The neptunite has tons of crystals but is pretty beat up so no real monetary value but I really think its pretty anyway..

As for pics of stuff I pulled out of the dump site I will take some and post them up in the near future.. Minds will be blown! Lol..

Also on the uranium after doing some research and your comments I now feel it important to go dig the rest of the material out of the dump area and do a thorough search around the property to make sure I get it all out of the earth to stop anymore leeching, erosion, contamination etc of the area.. I really don't feel comfortable knowing what it is now with the fact it's probably able to effect the local water table or possibly contaminate local water wells.. I will post pics of what I find for that as well though it may be a little while before I'm able to do that..

Anyway thanks everyone hope you all told your mothers, sisters, wife's etc happy Mother's Day!

Chris

 

[Fullpan]

Chris - congrats on taking the effort to have your finds looked at by pros. Yes, evaluations, in most cases do not reflect the true market of simple supply
and demand, however if you can tap into world-wide geologist collecting markets, you'll do much better than ebay. And there's always Tuscon, the "Academy
Awards" of rocks/gems every year in Jan/Feb.

 

[chris rizin]

Chris - congrats on taking the effort to have your finds looked at by pros. Yes, evaluations, in most cases do not reflect the true market of simple supply
and demand, however if you can tap into world-wide geologist collecting markets, you'll do much better than ebay. And there's always Tuscon, the "Academy
Awards" of rocks/gems every year in Jan/Feb.

thanks fullpan.. you know the identification and how to identify is more important to me than the cash value of this. it's fun to know how much something could be worth but i'm more into learning, displaying, sharing material with friends kids and family as well as supporting local shops and depleting their inventory for my display! lol..

one of these days i'm going to have to hit that tuscon show... will give a reason to visit some friends as well!

 

[chris rizin]

Yes, you are very lucky to have that stash of rocks right there. I bet Grampa was heart broken. I would be. Will look through my books & see if it says anything about uranium salts. All I could find was info about processed uranium. Post pix of the other rocks you have found.

very lucky! in an odd way the loss of a grandfather and the barn fire of the past has fueled my interest in all things geology... i'm really enjoying every aspect of it!

here's a link to the thread i started to post pics of the finds on.. the next set will have the benitoite, neptunite and some malechite before azurite etc.. enjoy!

http://www.treasurenet.com/forums/rocks-gems/354301-rocks-minerals-story.html#post3368558