Griphite is a complex phosphate mineral found primarily in granite pegmatites. It typically appears as massive, brownish-yellow aggregates, making it difficult to distinguish from other phosphate minerals without chemical analysis.
Is this griphite?
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 griphite with a known reference. Griphite 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. Griphite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Griphite typically shows a resinous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, yellowish-brown, dark brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: massive, granular, or rarely as indistinct pseudo-octahedral crystals.
Often confused with
Griphite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Amblygonite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5-6 vs. 4.5); luster reads resinous on Griphite and vitreous on Amblygonite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads resinous on Griphite and vitreous on Triplite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads resinous on Griphite and vitreous on Phosphosiderite.
Often found alongside griphite
Minerals reported to co-occur with griphite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Na,Al,Ca,Fe,Mn)₄(PO₄)₂(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 3.4 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Granular, Or Rarely as Indistinct Pseudo-octahedral Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $20-150 per specimen depending on size and provenance
Where rockhounds find griphite
Classic worldwide localities
- Black Hills, South Dakota, USA
- Upper Arno River Valley, Italy
- Sapo Mine, Brazil
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country, the host setting where griphite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, albite, muscovite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, granular, or rarely as indistinct pseudo-octahedral crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify griphite?+
Where is griphite found?+
How much is griphite worth?+
What rocks look like griphite?+
What minerals are found with griphite?+
What kind of rock does griphite form in?+
What is griphite used for?+
Find griphite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
