Childrenite is an iron-rich phosphate mineral often found in complex granite pegmatites. It typically forms attractive, honey-brown to reddish-brown prismatic crystals that are highly sought after by systematic mineral collectors.
Is this childrenite?
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 childrenite with a known reference. Childrenite sits at Mohs 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 to resinous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, yellowish brown, brownish black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: platy, prismatic, tabular.
Often confused with
Childrenite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside childrenite
Minerals reported to co-occur with childrenite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- FeAlPO₄(OH)₂·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 3.11-3.19 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to resinous
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Platy, prismatic, tabular
- Cleavage
- {100}, poor
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In some complex granite pegmatites, typically a low-temperature hydrothermal alteration product of primary phosphate minerals
Where rockhounds find childrenite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Palermo #1 mine, near North Groton, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, USA
- Devon, near Tavistock, at Wheal Crebor, the George and Charlotte mine, Russell United mines, Wheal Betsy, England
- Cornwall, in the Crinnis and Carlyon mine, Wheal Jane, England
- Cobalt mine, Scar Crag, Causey Pike, Keswick, Cumbria, England
- Greifensteine, near Ehrenfriedersdorf, Saxony, and Hagendorf, Bavaria
- Stari Trg mine (Trepča), Kosovo, Serbia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In some complex granite pegmatites, typically a low-temperature hydrothermal alteration product of primary phosphate minerals. If you start seeing siderite, pyrite, apatite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy, prismatic, tabular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in New Hampshire. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
How do you identify childrenite?+
Where is childrenite found?+
Can I find childrenite in the United States?+
What rocks look like childrenite?+
What minerals are found with childrenite?+
What kind of rock does childrenite form in?+
What is childrenite used for?+
Find childrenite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
