Fluorowardite is a rare phosphate mineral found in complex pegmatite environments. It typically occurs as small, sharp, pyramidal crystals often associated with its fluorine-deficient analogue, wardite. Collectors primarily find this species in highly specialized phosphate localities like the Tip Top mine.
Is this fluorowardite?
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 fluorowardite with a known reference. Fluorowardite 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 pearly.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, white, cream-colored.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: pyramidal crystals.
Often confused with
Fluorowardite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside fluorowardite
Minerals reported to co-occur with fluorowardite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaAl₃(PO₄)₂F₂(OH)₂·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 2.706 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to pearly
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Pyramidal crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A secondary phase, in a F-rich secondary phosphate assemblage
Where rockhounds find fluorowardite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tip Top Mine, South Dakota, USA
- Rapid Creek, Yukon, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A secondary phase, in a F-rich secondary phosphate assemblage. If you start seeing alunite, barite, cacoxenite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: pyramidal crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify fluorowardite?+
Where is fluorowardite found?+
What rocks look like fluorowardite?+
What minerals are found with fluorowardite?+
What kind of rock does fluorowardite form in?+
What is fluorowardite used for?+
Find fluorowardite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
