Barbosalite is a rare iron phosphate mineral typically found as a secondary mineral in complex granitic pegmatites. It usually forms as dark, fine-grained masses or fibrous aggregates replacing triphylite, and is prized by serious collectors of phosphate mineral species.
Is this barbosalite?
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 barbosalite with a known reference. Barbosalite 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. Barbosalite leaves a greenish black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Barbosalite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark green, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: massive, crusts, radial aggregates of acicular crystals.
Often confused with
Barbosalite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Tavorite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5 vs. 4); streak differs, so Barbosalite leaves greenish black, Tavorite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Barbosalite leaves greenish black, Lipscombite leaves light green.
How to tell apart: Barbosalite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs, so Barbosalite leaves greenish black, Vivianite leaves white to light blue.
Often found alongside barbosalite
Minerals reported to co-occur with barbosalite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe²⁺Fe³⁺₂(PO₄)₂(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 3.59 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Greenish Black
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Crusts, Radial Aggregates of Acicular Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $20-150 thumbnail
Where rockhounds find barbosalite
Classic worldwide localities
- Sapucaia pegmatite, Brazil
- Mangualde pegmatite, Portugal
- Tip Top mine, USA
- Bull Moose mine, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country, the host setting where barbosalite typically forms. If you start seeing tavorite, triphylite, laueite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, crusts, radial aggregates of acicular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find barbosalite on the map
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