Chopinite is an extremely rare phosphate mineral discovered in the Big Fish River area of the Yukon. It is typically found as small, colorless, or pale yellow crystals associated with complex phosphate assemblages in iron-rich sedimentary environments.
Is this chopinite?
3-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 chopinite with a known reference. Chopinite sits at Mohs 4.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless.
- 3Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Chopinite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside chopinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with chopinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mg₃□(PO₄)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 3.34 g/cm³
- Colors
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral grains
- Cleavage
- Good on {001} and {100}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a granulite facies paragneiss (East Antarctica)
Where rockhounds find chopinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Fгоm Brattnevet, Larsemann Hills, Prydz Bay, East Antarctica (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a granulite facies paragneiss (East Antarctica). If you start seeing fluorapatite, quartz, xenotime- in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify chopinite?+
Where is chopinite found?+
What rocks look like chopinite?+
What minerals are found with chopinite?+
What kind of rock does chopinite form in?+
What is chopinite used for?+
Find chopinite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
