Nuragheite is a rare thorium-bearing molybdate mineral primarily found in oxidized hydrothermal deposits. It typically occurs as small, delicate colorless tabular crystals forming crusts on host rock matrix.
Is this nuragheite?
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 nuragheite with a known reference. Nuragheite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Nuragheite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Nuragheite typically shows a pearly to adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, crusts.
Often confused with
Nuragheite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Molybdite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3-4 vs. 2); streak differs, so Nuragheite leaves yellow, Molybdite leaves white; luster reads pearly to adamantine on Nuragheite and adamantine on Molybdite.
How to tell apart: Powellite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5 vs. 2); streak differs, so Nuragheite leaves yellow, Powellite leaves light yellow; luster reads pearly to adamantine on Nuragheite and subadamantine to resinous to pearly on Powellite.
Often found alongside nuragheite
Minerals reported to co-occur with nuragheite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Th(MoO₄)₂·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 4.57 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Pearly to Adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Crusts
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Hydrothermal Molybdenite Deposits
Where rockhounds find nuragheite
Classic worldwide localities
- Su Senzu mine, Sardinia, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of hydrothermal molybdenite deposits country, the host setting where nuragheite typically forms. If you start seeing molybdenite, ferrimolybdite, goethite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify nuragheite?+
Where is nuragheite found?+
Is nuragheite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like nuragheite?+
What minerals are found with nuragheite?+
What kind of rock does nuragheite form in?+
What is nuragheite used for?+
Find nuragheite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
