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, so 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, 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.
