Johanngeorgestadt, Germany/johanng260
Previous | Home | NextThis is an authentic sample of pitchblende (UO2) from Johanngeorgenstadt. The correct mineral name is "uraninite." Technically speaking, "pitchblende" is reserved for the amorphous, colliform variety of pitchblende, such as that shown here. The mineral was called "Pech-blende" by the miners which suggested "good for nothing" or "unlucky" because it contained no silver (although the word "Pech" specifically means "pitch" or "wax" it also included a connotation of "uselessness").
