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 — Phuralumite leaves pale yellow, Phosphuranylite leaves yellow; luster reads pearly on Phuralumite and earthy on Phosphuranylite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — 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 — that is 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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