Spriggite is an extremely rare lead uranyl oxide mineral discovered in the Mount Painter region of South Australia. It typically occurs as delicate, platy, orange-colored crystal aggregates within oxidized uranium ore zones and requires professional handling due to its significant radioactivity.
Is this spriggite?
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 spriggite with a known reference. Spriggite sits at Mohs 2-3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Spriggite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Spriggite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: orange, yellow-orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, crusts.
Often confused with
Spriggite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Spriggite leaves yellow, Fourmarierite leaves orange-yellow; luster reads pearly on Spriggite and adamantine on Fourmarierite.
How to tell apart: Curite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4-5 vs. 2-3); streak differs, so Spriggite leaves yellow, Curite leaves orange; luster reads pearly on Spriggite and adamantine on Curite.
Often found alongside spriggite
Minerals reported to co-occur with spriggite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Pb₃(UO₂)₆O₈(OH)₂·3H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 6.3 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Crusts
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Oxidized Uranium Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen size and radioactivity
Where rockhounds find spriggite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mount Painter, South Australia
Field-hunting tip
Look in oxidized uranium deposits country, the host setting where spriggite typically forms. If you start seeing uraninite, gummite, becquerelite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify spriggite?+
Where is spriggite found?+
How much is spriggite worth?+
Is spriggite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like spriggite?+
What minerals are found with spriggite?+
What kind of rock does spriggite form in?+
What is spriggite used for?+
Find spriggite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
