Phurcalite is a rare secondary uranium phosphate mineral that typically forms as striking, bright yellow, radiating clusters of needle-like or platy crystals. It is highly prized by collectors for its intense green-yellow fluorescence under ultraviolet light and is most commonly found in the weathered zones of uranium-rich hydrothermal veins.
Is this phurcalite?
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 phurcalite with a known reference. Phurcalite sits at Mohs 3-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Phurcalite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Phurcalite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, bright yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: acicular or radiating clusters of platy crystals.
Often confused with
Phurcalite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Phurcalite leaves yellow, Autunite leaves pale yellow.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Phurcalite leaves yellow, Torbernite leaves pale green; luster reads pearly on Phurcalite and vitreous on Torbernite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads pearly on Phurcalite and earthy on Phosphuranylite.
Often found alongside phurcalite
Minerals reported to co-occur with phurcalite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₂[(UO₂)₃(PO₄)₂](OH)₄·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 4.1 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular or Radiating Clusters of Platy Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {010}
- Fluorescence
- Bright Yellow-green Under UV Light
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Zones of Uranium Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen depending on size and crystal quality
Where rockhounds find phurcalite
Classic worldwide localities
- Wölsendorf, Bavaria, Germany
- Königstein, Saxony, Germany
- Giveti, France
- Jachymov, Czech Republic
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized zones of uranium deposits country, the host setting where phurcalite typically forms. If you start seeing uraninite, autunite, torbernite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular or radiating clusters of platy crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find phurcalite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
