Lakebogaite is a rare phosphate mineral primarily known from the granite quarries at Lake Boga, Australia. It typically occurs as small, tabular, yellow to brownish-orange crystals or radiating sprays found in oxidized cavities of pegmatites.
Is this lakebogaite?
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 lakebogaite with a known reference. Lakebogaite sits at Mohs 3-4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Lakebogaite leaves a yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Lakebogaite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellow-orange, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, radiating aggregates, clusters.
Often confused with
Lakebogaite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Lakebogaite leaves yellow, Autunite leaves pale yellow; luster reads vitreous on Lakebogaite and pearly on Autunite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Lakebogaite leaves yellow, Torbernite leaves pale green.
Often found alongside lakebogaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with lakebogaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaNa₂Fe₂³⁺(UO₂)₂(PO₄)₄(OH)₂·8H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 3.3 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Radiating Aggregates, Clusters
- Cleavage
- Distinct On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Phosphate-rich Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find lakebogaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Lake Boga, Victoria, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Look in phosphate-rich granite pegmatites country — that is the host setting where lakebogaite typically forms. If you start seeing turquoise, variscite, kidwellite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, radiating aggregates, clusters habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find lakebogaite on the map
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