These crusts tend to be yellowish with a silky or vitreous luster.

[5][8] It was first described in 1956 for an occurrence in Pick's Delta Mine, Delta, San Rafael District (San Rafael Swell), Emery County, Utah, US.

Boltwoodite occurs as secondary silicate alteration crusts surrounding uraninite and as fracture fillings.

It is found in pegmatites and sandstone uranium deposits of the Colorado Plateau-type.

It occurs associated with uraninite, becquerelite, fourmarierite, phosphouranylite, gypsum and fluorite.