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 — that is 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
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Find griphite on the map
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