Bolivarite is a rare, amorphous aluminum phosphate mineral often found in the weathered zones of granite pegmatites. It typically appears as dull, massive crusts or nodules and is primarily valued by mineral collectors for its chemical rarity.
Is this bolivarite?
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 bolivarite with a known reference. Bolivarite sits at Mohs 2.5-3.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: greenish white, yellow green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: amorphous. Typical habit: massive, encrusting.
Often confused with
Bolivarite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside bolivarite
Minerals reported to co-occur with bolivarite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Al₂(PO₄)(OH)₃·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5-3.5
- Density
- 1.97-2.05 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Amorphous
- Crystal habit
- Massive, encrusting
- Cleavage
- None
- Fluorescence
- Bright green under SW UV
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Found in crevices in granite
Where rockhounds find bolivarite
Classic worldwide localities
- Pontevedra, Spain (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Found in crevices in granite. If you start seeing quartz, mica, feldspar in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, encrusting. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify bolivarite?+
Where is bolivarite found?+
What rocks look like bolivarite?+
What minerals are found with bolivarite?+
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What is bolivarite used for?+
Find bolivarite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
