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 3.5-4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Hagendorfite leaves a light green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Hagendorfite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, dark green, dark blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: massive, granular, or interstitial filling.
Often confused with
Hagendorfite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Hagendorfite leaves light green, Triplite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Hagendorfite leaves light green, Alluaudite leaves yellowish white; luster reads vitreous on Hagendorfite and vitreous to resinous on Alluaudite.
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
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 3.85 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Light Green
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Granular, Or Interstitial Filling
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $20-150 thumbnail
Where rockhounds find hagendorfite
Classic worldwide localities
- Hagendorf, Germany
- Mangualde, Portugal
- Tip Top Mine, South Dakota, USA
- Custer, South Dakota, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country — that is the host setting where hagendorfite typically forms. If you start seeing triphylite, sicklerite, phosphosiderite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, granular, or interstitial filling habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find hagendorfite on the map
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