Paragonite is a sodium-rich mica that is often difficult to distinguish from muscovite in the field without analytical testing. It typically occurs as fine-grained, scaly aggregates in metamorphic rocks like greenschist and blueschist facies.
Is this paragonite?
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 paragonite with a known reference. Paragonite sits at Mohs 2.5-3, 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: pearly.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: massive, scaly.
Often confused with
Paragonite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside paragonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with paragonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaAl₂(Si₃Al)O₁₀(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 2.85 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, scaly
- Cleavage
- {001}, perfect
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific study
- Host rock
- Uncommon, but may be in large amounts, in low- to medium-grade metamorphic schists and phyllites, in muscovite-biotite gneisses, quartz veins, fine-grained sediments, and glaucophane-bearing rocks
Where rockhounds find paragonite
Classic worldwide localities
- Corundum Hill, Chester Co., Pennsylvania, USA
- Leadville district, Lake Co., Colorado, USA
- Pizzo Forno, Ticino, and in Val Täsch, Zermatt, Valais, Switzerland
- Prägraten, Tirol, Austria
- Ochsenkopf, Schwarzenberg, Saxony, Germany
- Borgofrance, near Ivrea, Piedmont, and in the Pfitschtal, Trentino-Alto Adige, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Uncommon, but may be in large amounts, in low- to medium-grade metamorphic schists and phyllites, in muscovite-biotite gneisses, quartz veins, fine-grained sediments, and glaucophane-bearing rocks. If you start seeing kyanite, staurolite, muscovite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, scaly. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify paragonite?+
Where is paragonite found?+
What rocks look like paragonite?+
What minerals are found with paragonite?+
What kind of rock does paragonite form in?+
What is paragonite used for?+
Find paragonite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
