Boltwoodite
Boltwoodite is a secondary uranium silicate, that is fairly widely distributed as yellow
crusts in the Colorado Plateau, but it only rarely forms specimens worth having.
Virtually all collectible Boltwoodite comes from Goanikontes, approximately 35 km
from the town of Swakopmund in Namibia. Note, the Namibian Boltwoodite specimens
labeled 'Rssing' are definitely not from Rssing - the World's largest uranium mine -
but from Goanikontes. The Rssing mine does not allow collecting on site, checks that
nothing leaves the mine, and ... doesn't produce anything but sparse yellow powder on
rock anyway.
Goanikontes is a small deposit - too small for commercial uranium production -
and minerals are quite sparse. The Boltwoodite is spectacular, forming tiny needles and
even spherules and tufts in cavities. Very rarely Weeksite occurs with the Boltwoodite at
Goanikontes. Our records indicate Boltwoodite from a range of deposits occurs on
specimens that also carry one or more of the following minerals: Andersonite, Calcite,
Gypsum, Quartz, Weeksite, and Schröckingerite.
Specimen Handling
Boltwoodite is for all practical purposes stable in a normal household environment. It is
not harmed by light, changes in temperature in the normal comfort range, or known to
decompose. Boltwoodite specimens are very fragile and should be handled with care.
Note, Boltwoodite is a secondary uranium mineral and may be a source of appreciable
radioactivity. You may wish to read our information on radioactivity and radioactive minerals.
Bibliography
Anthony, John Williams, Richard A. Bideaux, Kenneth W. Bladh & Monte C.
Nichols. 1995. Handbook of mineralogy, vol. 2.1
Blackburn, William H. & William H. Dennen. 1997. Encyclopedia of mineral
names. Canadian Mineralogist, special publication 1.
Gaines, Richard W., H. Catherine W. Skinner, Eugene E. Foord, Brian Mason,
Abraham Rosenzweig & Vandall T. King. 1997. DanaÕs new mineralogy: the system of
mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, 8th ed.
Jahn, Steffen, Olaf Medenbach, Gerhard Niedermayr & Gabi Schneider. 2000.
Namibia, Zauberwelt edler Steine und Kristalle.
Ramdohr, Paul & Hugo Strunz. 1980. KlockmannÕs Lehrbuch der Mineralogie,
16th ed.
Roberts, Willard Lincoln, Thomas J. Campbell & George Robert Rapp jr. 1990.
Encyclopedia of Minerals 2nd ed.
This page is authored by Claus Hedegaard.
