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.
Is this burangaite?
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 burangaite with a known reference. Burangaite sits at Mohs 4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Burangaite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Burangaite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blue, sky-blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic to tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Burangaite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
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
- (Na,Ca)₂Fe²⁺₂Al₅(PO₄)₄(OH,F)₇·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 3.31 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic to Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- Distinct On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $50-500 thumbnail depending on crystal quality
Where rockhounds find burangaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Buranga pegmatite, Rwanda
- Mangualde, Portugal
- Big Fish River, Yukon, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country — that is the host setting where burangaite typically forms. If you start seeing amblygonite, lazulite, wardite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic to tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find burangaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
