Horákite is an extremely rare phosphate mineral known primarily from pegmatites in the Czech Republic. Collectors should look for small, transparent yellow or greenish prismatic crystals associated with other phosphate minerals in granitic environments.
Is this horákite?
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 horákite with a known reference. Horákite sits at Mohs 3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Horákite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Horákite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellow-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: prismatic to tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Horákite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside horákite
Minerals reported to co-occur with horákite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Mn²⁺,Zn,Fe²⁺)₅(PO₄)₂(OH,F)₄·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 3.31 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic to Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- Distinct On {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find horákite
Classic worldwide localities
- Czech Republic (Otov pegmatite)
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country — that is the host setting where horákite typically forms. If you start seeing triplite, fluorapatite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic to tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find horákite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
