Berlinite is a rare phosphate mineral that is structurally isomorphous with quartz, often leading to confusion between the two. It typically occurs as white or colorless massive aggregates, though rare distinct crystals can be found in specialized hydrothermal environments or phosphate-rich pegmatites.
Is this berlinite?
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 berlinite with a known reference. Berlinite sits at Mohs 6.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Berlinite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Berlinite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, gray, pale pink.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: massive, granular, or rare hexagonal prisms.
Often confused with
Berlinite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside berlinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with berlinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- AlPO₄
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5
- Density
- 2.64 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Granular, Or Rare Hexagonal Prisms
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins and Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $20-200 depending on specimen quality and size
Where rockhounds find berlinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Werfen, Austria
- Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
- Mount Ida, Arkansas, USA
- Mangualde, Portugal
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins and pegmatites country — that is the host setting where berlinite typically forms. If you start seeing augelite, variscite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, granular, or rare hexagonal prisms habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find berlinite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
