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 — 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 — 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 — that is 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
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Find spriggite on the map
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