Brockite is a rare phosphate mineral characterized by its significant thorium content, which makes it noticeably radioactive. It typically appears as earthy, massive crusts or small radiating acicular aggregates in hydrothermal or alkaline igneous environments.
Is this brockite?
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 brockite with a known reference. Brockite sits at Mohs 3-4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Brockite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Brockite typically shows a dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pink, reddish-brown, white, yellowish-white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: massive, acicular crystals, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Brockite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside brockite
Minerals reported to co-occur with brockite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Ca,Th,Ce)PO₄·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 4.6-4.9 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Acicular Crystals, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Carbonatites, Hydrothermal Veins, Altered Igneous Rocks
- Typical price
- $20-150 for small cabinet specimens
Where rockhounds find brockite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Bastnäs mine, Sweden
- Magnet Cove, Arkansas, USA
- Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Mount Weld, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Look in carbonatites, hydrothermal veins, altered igneous rocks country — that is the host setting where brockite typically forms. If you start seeing apatite, monazite, barite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, acicular crystals, radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Utah — start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify brockite?+
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Find brockite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
