Cirrolite is a rare phosphate mineral often appearing as yellowish massive or granular aggregates. It is primarily found in association with other phosphate minerals in metamorphic terrains and is highly sought after by systematic mineral collectors due to its scarcity.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Translucent

mineralrareWardite Group family

Cirrolite

Hardness: 5
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Translucent

No image

Is this cirrolite?

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 cirrolite with a known reference. Cirrolite 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: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: yellow, brownish-yellow, white.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: massive, granular, or crusts.

Often confused with

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

Often found alongside cirrolite

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

All properties

Chemical formula: Ca₃Al₂(PO₄)₃(OH)₃
Mohs hardness: 5
Colors: Yellow Brownish-yellow White
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Translucent
Crystal system: Tetragonal
Crystal habit: Massive, granular, or crusts
Cleavage: Perfect
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: metamorphic rocks

Where rockhounds find cirrolite

Classic worldwide localities

Västanå, Sweden
Mount Apatite, USA

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: metamorphic rocks. If you start seeing quartz, amblygonite, lazulite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, granular, or crusts. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify cirrolite?+

Mohs hardness is 5. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include yellow, brownish-yellow, white.

Where is cirrolite found?+

Notable localities include Västanå, Sweden; Mount Apatite, USA.

What rocks look like cirrolite?+

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

What minerals are found with cirrolite?+

Cirrolite commonly co-occurs with Quartz, Amblygonite, Lazulite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does cirrolite form in?+

Where it forms: metamorphic rocks. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is cirrolite used for?+

Cirrolite is used in collector.

Find cirrolite on the map

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