Huttonite is a rare thorium silicate mineral that is the monoclinic polymorph of thorite. It is typically found as a minor constituent in heavy mineral sands and requires sophisticated laboratory analysis to distinguish from similar radioactive minerals.
Is this huttonite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch huttonite with a known reference. Huttonite sits at Mohs 4.5-5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Huttonite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Huttonite typically shows a adamantine luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, yellowish, brownish.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: equant to prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Huttonite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Huttonite leaves white, Thorite leaves dark brown; luster reads adamantine on Huttonite and resinous on Thorite.
How to tell apart: Zircon is the harder of the two (Mohs 7.5 vs. 4.5-5).
How to tell apart: Luster reads adamantine on Huttonite and resinous on Monazite.
Often found alongside huttonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with huttonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- ThSiO₄
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5-5
- Density
- 7.15 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Equant to Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- Distinct On {100}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Beach Sands, Alluvial Deposits
- Typical price
- $100-500 per specimen
Where rockhounds find huttonite
Classic worldwide localities
- New Zealand
- USA
- Russia
- Madagascar
Field-hunting tip
Look in beach sands, alluvial deposits country — that is the host setting where huttonite typically forms. If you start seeing monazite, zircon, ilmenite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a equant to prismatic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find huttonite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
