Jungite is a rare phosphate mineral typically forming delicate, radial, or fan-shaped sprays of pale yellow acicular crystals. It is primarily found in complex granitic pegmatites where phosphate minerals have undergone secondary alteration. Collectors should look for its distinctive bright yellow hue and fibrous, radiating habit often nestled in cavities with other secondary phosphate species.
Is this jungite?
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 jungite with a known reference. Jungite sits at Mohs 3 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Jungite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Jungite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, pale yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: radial aggregates of fine needle-like crystals.
Often confused with
Jungite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Jungite leaves yellow, Strengite leaves white; luster reads pearly on Jungite and vitreous on Strengite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Jungite leaves yellow, Phosphosiderite leaves white; luster reads pearly on Jungite and vitreous on Phosphosiderite.
Often found alongside jungite
Minerals reported to co-occur with jungite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₂Zn₄Fe³⁺(PO₄)₄(OH)₃·12H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 2.88 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Radial Aggregates of Fine Needle-like Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Phosphate-rich Granitic Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find jungite
Classic worldwide localities
- Hagendorf-Sud Pegmatite, Germany
- Mangualde, Portugal
Field-hunting tip
Look in phosphate-rich granitic pegmatites country — that is the host setting where jungite typically forms. If you start seeing phosphophyllite, hureaulite, rockbridgeite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a radial aggregates of fine needle-like crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find jungite on the map
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