Juonniite is a very rare phosphate mineral typically found as small, bright orange to pale yellow bladed crystals within granite pegmatites. It is primarily known from the Viitaniemi pegmatite in Finland, occurring in association with other phosphate species. Due to its extreme rarity, it is almost exclusively sought after by advanced systematic mineral collectors.
Is this juonniite?
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 juonniite with a known reference. Juonniite sits at Mohs 4-4.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bright orange, colorless, light yellow, yellowish brown, gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: platy, spherical.
Often confused with
Juonniite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside juonniite
Minerals reported to co-occur with juonniite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaMgSc(PO₄)₂(OH)·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 4-4.5
- Density
- 2.43 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Platy, spherical
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare mineral in cavities and contacts with ore minerals in a metasomatized carbonatite stockwork
Where rockhounds find juonniite
Classic worldwide localities
- Zheleznyi iron mine, Kovdor alkalic massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare mineral in cavities and contacts with ore minerals in a metasomatized carbonatite stockwork. If you start seeing dolomite, magnesite, bobierrite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy, spherical. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find juonniite on the map
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