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?
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 chopinite with a known reference. Chopinite sits at Mohs 4.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Chopinite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Chopinite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, pale yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: equant to subhedral crystals.
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
- (Mg,Fe²⁺)₃(PO₄)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 3.58 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Equant to Subhedral Crystals
- Cleavage
- None Observed
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Phosphate Nodules in Iron-formation
- Typical price
- $100-500 for small crystals
Where rockhounds find chopinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Big Fish River, Yukon Territory, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in phosphate nodules in iron-formation country — that is the host setting where chopinite typically forms. If you start seeing gormanite, souzalite, ludlamite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a equant to subhedral crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find chopinite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
