Palmierite is a rare lead-potassium sulfate mineral typically found as a volcanic sublimates in fumarolic environments. Collectors should look for its distinctive pearly luster on small, thin, pseudo-hexagonal tabular crystals found within volcanic vent encrustations.
Is this palmierite?
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 palmierite with a known reference. Palmierite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous, pearly on {0001}.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, sometimes in crusts or granular aggregates.
Often confused with
Palmierite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside palmierite
Minerals reported to co-occur with palmierite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- K₂Pb(SO₄)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 4.363 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous, pearly on {0001}
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, sometimes in crusts or granular aggregates
- Cleavage
- Distinct on {0001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare fumarolic sublimate
Where rockhounds find palmierite
Classic worldwide localities
- Vesuvius, Campania, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare fumarolic sublimate. If you start seeing aphthitalite, ferronatrite, jarosite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, sometimes in crusts or granular aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify palmierite?+
Where is palmierite found?+
Is palmierite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like palmierite?+
What minerals are found with palmierite?+
What kind of rock does palmierite form in?+
What is palmierite used for?+
Find palmierite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
