[5] In 1993 it was named "brianyoungite" after Brian Young (born 1947), a field geologist with the British Geological Survey, who provided the first specimens.

[4][7] The mineral occurs as tiny rosettes less than 100 μm across, composed of thin blades just one or two micrometers across, elongated parallel to the b crystal axis, and tapering to a sharp point.

[3] The mineral is biaxial, with refractive indices nω = 1.635 and nε = 1.650 and maximum birefringence δ = 1.635.

[3] The type locality is the Bloomsberry Horse level of the Brownley Hill mine, Nenthead, Alston Moor District, North Pennines, North and Western Region (Cumberland), Cumbria, England.

[6][4] At the type locality it is associated with gypsum, smithsonite, pyrite and goethite.