Parsonsite is a rare secondary uranium phosphate mineral that typically forms as minute, vibrant yellow crusts or tufts. It is primarily found in the oxidized zones of uranium-rich hydrothermal veins. Due to its radioactive and lead content, it is strictly a mineral for advanced collectors practicing appropriate safety protocols.
Is this parsonsite?
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 parsonsite with a known reference. Parsonsite 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: subadamantine to slightly greasy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brown, greenish brown, yellow brown, light yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: microscopic crystals, platy, pseudo hexagonal.
Often confused with
Parsonsite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Parsonsite leaves white, Autunite leaves pale yellow; luster reads subadamantine to slightly greasy on Parsonsite and vitreous, pearly on {001} on Autunite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Parsonsite leaves white, Torbernite leaves pale green; luster reads subadamantine to slightly greasy on Parsonsite and vitreous, subadamantine, waxy, pearly on cleavages; becoming dull on dehydration to metatorbernite on Torbernite.
Often found alongside parsonsite
Minerals reported to co-occur with parsonsite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₂(UO₂)(PO₄)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3
- Density
- 5.72-5.75 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Subadamantine to slightly greasy
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Microscopic crystals, platy, pseudo hexagonal
- Cleavage
- Indistinct on {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of some hydrothermal uranium deposits
Where rockhounds find parsonsite
Classic worldwide localities
- Ruggles mine, near Grafton, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, USA
- Eight Mile Park pegmatite district, Fremont Co., and on the Big Red No. 39 and 22 claims, Tomichi-Whitepine district, Gunnison Co., Colorado, USA
- Shinkolobwe, Katanga Province, Congo (Shaba Province, Zaire)
- Wölsendorf, Bavaria, Gemany
- Gourniaud, Reliez, Rophin, around Lachaux, Puy-de-Dôme, the principal ore of uranium, France
- La Faye, near Grury, Saône-et-Loire, France
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of some hydrothermal uranium deposits. If you start seeing torbernite, kasolite, dewindtite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: microscopic crystals, platy, pseudo hexagonal. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify parsonsite?+
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Find parsonsite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
