The Mineral, Carnotite is a uranium ore, one of the major ores or uranium, and in the US is found primarily in the Southwest. It is a vanadate of potassium and uranium, containing small amounts of uranium. It occurs as a powdery incrustation in loosely cohering masses (like the specimen in the photo), or as an impregnation in sand or sandstone. The carnotite is the yellow portion of the ore. It has a hardness of 1-2, is canary yellow to lemon yellow in color and has a dull luster. It has an orthorhombic crystalline structure. Radium present is typically 1/3 mg radium per Kg uranium. Some uses for uranium are as a nuclear fuel conversion into plutonium in "breeder" reactors used in nuclear fuels to generate electrical power; synthesis of isotopes; nuclear explosive; X-ray targets for production of high-energy X-rays; the nitrate has been used as photographic toner; and the acetate is used in analytical chemistry.