Phuralumite is a rare secondary uranium mineral that typically forms as delicate, sulfur-yellow platy crystal aggregates. It is primarily found as an oxidation product in uranium-rich pegmatites and is highly prized by collectors of radioactive minerals due to its intense yellow-green fluorescence.
Is this phuralumite?
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 phuralumite with a known reference. Phuralumite sits at Mohs 3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Phuralumite leaves a pale yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Phuralumite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, pale yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts, or radiating aggregates.
Often confused with
Phuralumite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Phuralumite leaves pale yellow, Phosphuranylite leaves yellow; luster reads pearly on Phuralumite and earthy on Phosphuranylite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Phuralumite leaves pale yellow, Upalite leaves yellow; luster reads pearly on Phuralumite and dull on Upalite.
Often found alongside phuralumite
Minerals reported to co-occur with phuralumite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Al₂(UO₂)₃(PO₄)₂(OH)₆·10H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 3.5 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale Yellow
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Crusts, Or Radiating Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Fluorescence
- Bright Yellow-green Under UV
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Uranium-bearing Pegmatites and Oxidized Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $50-300 per thumbnail specimen
Where rockhounds find phuralumite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kobokobo pegmatite, DR Congo
- Margnac mine, France
- Lachaux, France
Field-hunting tip
Look in uranium-bearing pegmatites and oxidized hydrothermal veins country, the host setting where phuralumite typically forms. If you start seeing phosphuranylite, upalite, furongite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, crusts, or radiating aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find phuralumite on the map
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