Lipscombite is a rare phosphate mineral often found as dark green, pseudocubic crystals within phosphate-rich pegmatites. It is typically a secondary mineral formed by the alteration of primary phosphate species like triphylite. Collectors typically prize it for its association with other rare secondary phosphates in vugs.
Is this lipscombite?
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 lipscombite with a known reference. Lipscombite 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. Streak: light green.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green gray, olive green, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: pseudocubic crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Lipscombite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Lipscombite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.5 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs, so Lipscombite leaves light green, Vivianite leaves white, altering to dark blue, brown.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Lipscombite leaves light green, Ludlamite leaves pale greenish white.
Often found alongside lipscombite
Minerals reported to co-occur with lipscombite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe²⁺Fe³⁺₂(PO₄)₂(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 3.66 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Light green
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent to opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Pseudocubic crystals, massive, granular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a hydrothermally altered phosphate zone of a complex granite pegmatite (Sapucaia mine, Brazil)
Where rockhounds find lipscombite
Classic worldwide localities
- Fodderstack Mountain, Montgomery Co., Arkansas, USA
- Silver Coin mine, near Valmy, Iron Point district, Humboldt Co., and in the Rain mine, Carlin district, Elko Co., Nevada, USA
- Sapucaia pegmatite mine, about 50 km east-southeast of Governador Valadares, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- El Criollo pegmatite, Cerro Blanco, Tanti district, 45 km west of Córdoba, Córdoba Province, Argentina
- Tsaobismund pegmatite, 60 km south of Karibib, Namibia
- Anloua, near Ngaoundéré, Cameroon
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a hydrothermally altered phosphate zone of a complex granite pegmatite (Sapucaia mine, Brazil). If you start seeing cyrilovite, leucophosphite, phosphosiderite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: pseudocubic crystals, massive, granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify lipscombite?+
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What rocks look like lipscombite?+
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Find lipscombite on the map
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