Autunite from China is popular with mineral collectors because of its vivid yellow-green tabular crystals and strong fluorescence under UV light. Many Chinese specimens entered the market in the last couple decades and are known for bright color, aesthetic crystal groupings, and relatively affordable pricing compared to some classic European localities.
Common characteristics:
- Color: neon yellow to greenish yellow
- Fluorescence: typically glows bright green under longwave UV (365 nm)
- Composition: hydrated calcium uranium phosphate
- Crystal habit: thin square or rectangular plates
- Radioactivity: mildly to moderately radioactive depending on size and richness
Well-known Chinese localities often include uranium mining regions in provinces such as:
- Guangxi
- Guangdong
- Hunan
- Jiangxi
Collector notes:
- Chinese autunite can dehydrate over time if stored in very dry conditions.
- Many specimens are best stored away from prolonged heat and direct sunlight.
- UV photography can make the fluorescence especially dramatic.
- Matrix material is often granite or altered uranium ore.