Leucophoenicite is a rare manganese silicate mineral typically found in metamorphosed zinc-manganese ore bodies. It is most famous from the Franklin and Sterling Hill mines in New Jersey, where it appears as small, reddish-pink crystals or compact masses associated with other rare zinc minerals.
Is this leucophoenicite?
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 leucophoenicite with a known reference. Leucophoenicite sits at Mohs 5.5-6, 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: brown, violet red, light red, dark pink.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: massive, striated.
Often confused with
Leucophoenicite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside leucophoenicite
Minerals reported to co-occur with leucophoenicite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mn₇(SiO₄)₃(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5-6
- Density
- 3.848 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, striated
- Cleavage
- {001}, imperfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Mineralogical research
- Host rock
- A late-stage hydrothermal or contact zone mineral in veins and skarns in a metamorphosed stratiform Zn-Mn orebody (Franklin, New Jersey, USA)
Where rockhounds find leucophoenicite
Classic worldwide localities
- Franklin, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
- Pajsberg, Värmland, Sweden
- Valsesia-Valtournanche area, Val d'Aosta, Italy
- Kombat mine, 49 km south of Tsumeb, Namibia
- Hotazel, near Kuruman, Cape Province, South Africa
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A late-stage hydrothermal or contact zone mineral in veins and skarns in a metamorphosed stratiform Zn-Mn orebody (Franklin, New Jersey, USA). If you start seeing willemite, franklinite, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, striated. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify leucophoenicite?+
Where is leucophoenicite found?+
What rocks look like leucophoenicite?+
What minerals are found with leucophoenicite?+
What kind of rock does leucophoenicite form in?+
What is leucophoenicite used for?+
Find leucophoenicite on the map
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