Hagendorfite is a rare phosphate mineral primarily found as a late-stage alteration product in phosphate-rich granite pegmatites. It typically appears as dark, massive, or granular crusts associated with other complex iron-manganese phosphates.
Is this hagendorfite?
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 hagendorfite with a known reference. Hagendorfite 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. Streak: gray green.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: greenish black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Hagendorfite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside hagendorfite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hagendorfite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na(Fe²⁺,Mn²⁺)Fe³⁺₂(PO₄)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 3.71 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Gray green
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- Good on {001}; poor on {110}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- In complex granite pegmatites; in phosphatic nodules in shale
Where rockhounds find hagendorfite
Classic worldwide localities
- Palermo #1 mine, near North Groton, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, USA
- Hagendorf, Bavaria, Germany
- Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In complex granite pegmatites; in phosphatic nodules in shale. If you start seeing triphylite, wolfeite, hematite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify hagendorfite?+
Where is hagendorfite found?+
What rocks look like hagendorfite?+
What minerals are found with hagendorfite?+
What kind of rock does hagendorfite form in?+
What is hagendorfite used for?+
Find hagendorfite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
