| Parsonsite | |
| Category: | Phosphate mineral |
| Formula: | Pb2(UO2)(PO4)2·2H2O |
| Imasymbol: | Pso[1] |
| Strunz: | 8.EA.10 |
| System: | Triclinic |
| Class: | Pinacoidal (same H-M symbol) |
| Symmetry: | P |
| Color: | Pale citron-yellow |
| Habit: | Elongate and flattened tiny crystals, may resemble laths, crusts, powdery aggregates |
| Cleavage: | None observed |
| Mohs: | 2.5-3 |
| Luster: | Sub-adamantine |
| Diaphaneity: | Transparent to translucent |
| Gravity: | 5.37 |
| Opticalprop: | Pale yellow color |
| Pleochroism: | None |
| Fluorescence: | Does not fluoresce in UV light |
| Solubility: | Soluble in acids |
| Other: | Radioactive |
| References: | [2] |
Parsonsite is a lead uranium phosphate mineral with chemical formula: Pb2(UO2)(PO4)2·2H2O. Parsonsite contains about 45% lead and 25% uranium. It forms elongated lathlike pseudo monoclinic crystals, radial spherulites, encrustations and powdery aggregates. It is of a light yellow colour. It has a Mohs hardness of 2.5-3 and a specific gravity of 5.72 - 6.29.[3] [4]
It was first described in 1923 for an occurrence in the Shinkolobwe mine, Katanga Copper Crescent, Democratic Republic of Congo. It was named for mineralogist Arthur Leonard Parsons (1873–1957) of the University of Toronto, Canada.[4] [5]