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 — Barbosalite leaves greenish black, Tavorite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Barbosalite leaves greenish black, Lipscombite leaves light green.
How to tell apart: Barbosalite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs — 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 — that is 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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