Beusite is a relatively rare manganese-dominant phosphate mineral belonging to the triphylite group. It is primarily found as massive or granular aggregates within granite pegmatites and is often difficult to distinguish from associated triphylite without chemical analysis.
Is this beusite?
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 beusite with a known reference. Beusite sits at Mohs 4.5-5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Beusite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Beusite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, yellow-brown, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: granular, massive, rare prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Beusite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside beusite
Minerals reported to co-occur with beusite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Mn²⁺,Fe²⁺,Ca,Mg)₃(PO₄)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5-5
- Density
- 3.55-3.65 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Granular, Massive, Rare Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $20-150 thumbnail
Where rockhounds find beusite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tip Top Mine, South Dakota, USA
- Brazlândia, Brazil
- Mangualde, Portugal
- Skellefteå, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country — that is the host setting where beusite typically forms. If you start seeing triphylite, quartz, albite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a granular, massive, rare prismatic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify beusite?+
Where is beusite found?+
How much is beusite worth?+
What rocks look like beusite?+
What minerals are found with beusite?+
What kind of rock does beusite form in?+
What is beusite used for?+
Find beusite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
