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 ~4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale orange.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bright orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic.
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 pale orange, Fourmarierite leaves orange; luster reads vitreous on Spriggite and adamantine to subadamantine on Fourmarierite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Spriggite leaves pale orange, Curite leaves orange; luster reads vitreous 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
- ~4
- Density
- 7.64 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale orange
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic
- Cleavage
- Good on {100}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Secondary mineral from the supergene alteration of U-Nb-REE-bearing hydrothermal hematite breccia
Where rockhounds find spriggite
Classic worldwide localities
- Number 2 workings on Radium Ridge, near Mt. Painter, near Arkaroola, Northern Flinders Ranges, South Australia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Secondary mineral from the supergene alteration of U-Nb-REE-bearing hydrothermal hematite breccia. If you start seeing beta-uranophane, soddyite, kasolite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify spriggite?+
Where is spriggite found?+
Is spriggite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like spriggite?+
What minerals are found with spriggite?+
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Find spriggite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
