Parkinsonite is a rare lead-copper-molybdenum halide mineral primarily known from the Mammoth-Saint Anthony Mine in Arizona. It typically forms thin, brownish-black tabular crystals that are often found in association with other rare lead minerals in oxidized ore zones.
Is this parkinsonite?
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 parkinsonite with a known reference. Parkinsonite sits at Mohs 2-2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: scarlet to grenadine-red.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine, pearly to resinous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: carmine red, purple red, brownish red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: platy.
Often confused with
Parkinsonite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Parkinsonite leaves scarlet to grenadine-red, Wulfenite leaves white; luster reads adamantine, pearly to resinous on Parkinsonite and resinous, subadamantine to adamantine on Wulfenite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Parkinsonite leaves scarlet to grenadine-red, Diaboleite leaves pale blue.
Often found alongside parkinsonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with parkinsonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₇MoO₉Cl₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2-2.5
- Density
- 7.32 g/cm³
- Streak
- Scarlet to grenadine-red
- Luster
- Adamantine, pearly to resinous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy
- Cleavage
- {001}, perfect; {100}, possible, fair
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A very rare mineral in nodules in manganese oxide ores in veins, fissures, and pockets in limestone
Where rockhounds find parkinsonite
Classic worldwide localities
- Merehead quarry, Cranmore, and from the Wesley mine, Didsbury, near Bristol, Somerset, England
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A very rare mineral in nodules in manganese oxide ores in veins, fissures, and pockets in limestone. If you start seeing mendipite, chloroxiphite, diaboleite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify parkinsonite?+
Where is parkinsonite found?+
Is parkinsonite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like parkinsonite?+
What minerals are found with parkinsonite?+
What kind of rock does parkinsonite form in?+
What is parkinsonite used for?+
Find parkinsonite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
