Landesite is a very rare secondary phosphate mineral found primarily in complex granite pegmatites. It typically forms as a weathering product of manganese-rich phosphates, often appearing as yellowish-brown platy crystals or as micaceous crusts.
Is this landesite?
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 landesite with a known reference. Landesite 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. Landesite leaves a yellowish-white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Landesite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellowish-brown, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: platy or micaceous aggregates.
Often confused with
Landesite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside landesite
Minerals reported to co-occur with landesite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mn²⁺₅(PO₄)₂(OH)₄·8H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 3.1 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellowish-white
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Platy or Micaceous Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect in One Direction
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find landesite
Classic worldwide localities
- Poland Mine, Maine, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country, the host setting where landesite typically forms. If you start seeing dickinsonite, eosphorite, fairfieldite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy or micaceous aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find landesite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
