Burangaite is a rare phosphate mineral typically found as small, vibrant blue tabular crystals within phosphate-rich pegmatites. It is highly sought after by micromount collectors due to its intense color and limited number of global localities.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

Pale blue

Transparency

Semitransparent

mineralrare

Burangaite

Hardness: 5
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: Pale blue
Transparency: Semitransparent

Is this burangaite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch burangaite with a known reference. Burangaite sits at Mohs 5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale blue.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: blue, greenish blue.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: bladed, prismatic.

Often confused with

Burangaite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

mineral

Vauxite

Mohs 3.5

How to tell apart: Burangaite is noticeably harder (Mohs 5 vs. 3.5); streak differs, so Burangaite leaves pale blue, Vauxite leaves white.

Often found alongside burangaite

Minerals reported to co-occur with burangaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: NaFeAl₅(PO₄)₄(OH)₆·2H₂O
Mohs hardness: 5
Density: 3.05 g/cm³
Colors: Blue Greenish blue
Streak: Pale blue
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Semitransparent
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Crystal habit: Bladed, prismatic
Cleavage: On {100}, perfect
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: In corroded aggregates of other phosphates in a zoned granite pegmatite (Buranga pegmatite, Rwanda)

Where rockhounds find burangaite

Classic worldwide localities

Gold Quarry mine, near Carlin, Maggie Creek district, Eureka Co., Nevada, USA
Buranga pegmatite, near Gatumba, Rwanda
Hålsjöberg, Värmland, Sweden

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: In corroded aggregates of other phosphates in a zoned granite pegmatite (Buranga pegmatite, Rwanda). If you start seeing scorzalite, bjarebyite, bertossaite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: bladed, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify burangaite?+

Mohs hardness is 5. Luster: vitreous. The streak is pale blue. Common colors include blue, greenish blue.

Where is burangaite found?+

Notable localities include Gold Quarry mine, near Carlin, Maggie Creek district, Eureka Co., Nevada, USA; Buranga pegmatite, near Gatumba, Rwanda; Hålsjöberg, Värmland, Sweden.

What rocks look like burangaite?+

Burangaite is most often confused with Vauxite, Gormanite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with burangaite?+

Burangaite commonly co-occurs with Scorzalite, Bjarebyite, Bertossaite, Trolleite, Samuelsonite, Gatumbaite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does burangaite form in?+

Where it forms: In corroded aggregates of other phosphates in a zoned granite pegmatite (Buranga pegmatite, Rwanda). Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is burangaite used for?+

Burangaite is used in collector.

Find burangaite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.