Leucophosphite is a rare hydrated potassium iron phosphate mineral that typically forms as a secondary mineral in phosphate-rich pegmatites. It is often found as small, platy, or chalky coatings and aggregates, frequently appearing in shades of white to yellowish-brown. Collectors generally look for it in associations with other iron-phosphate minerals like rockbridgeite and triphylite.
Is this leucophosphite?
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 leucophosphite with a known reference. Leucophosphite 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. Leucophosphite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Leucophosphite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless, yellow, brown, greenish.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, granular aggregates, coatings.
Often confused with
Leucophosphite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside leucophosphite
Minerals reported to co-occur with leucophosphite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- KFe₂³⁺(PO₄)₂(OH)·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 2.98 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Granular Aggregates, Coatings
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Phosphate-rich Pegmatites, Hydrothermal Veins
- Typical price
- $20-150 for micro-mounts or small cabinet specimens
Where rockhounds find leucophosphite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tip Top Mine, South Dakota, USA
- Big Fish River, Yukon, Canada
- Hagendorf, Bavaria, Germany
- Pala, California, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in phosphate-rich pegmatites, hydrothermal veins country, the host setting where leucophosphite typically forms. If you start seeing rockbridgeite, triphylite, variscite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, granular aggregates, coatings habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find leucophosphite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
