Lithiophilite is a phosphate mineral commonly found in evolved granite pegmatites. It is often prized by collectors for its warm yellow to salmon-pink hues, though it frequently alters to dark, manganese-rich products like purpurite and sicklerite upon exposure to weathering.
Is this lithiophilite?
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 lithiophilite with a known reference. Lithiophilite sits at Mohs 4-5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white to grayish white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to subresinous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, yellowish brown, salmon, brownish, blackish.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: prismatic.
Often confused with
Lithiophilite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside lithiophilite
Minerals reported to co-occur with lithiophilite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- LiMnPO₄
- Mohs hardness
- 4-5
- Density
- 3.445-3.50 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White to grayish white
- Luster
- Vitreous to subresinous
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic
- Cleavage
- On {100}, perfect; on {010}, good
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- A late-stage mineral in some complex granite pegmatites; usually primary but rarely secondary
Where rockhounds find lithiophilite
Classic worldwide localities
- Branchville, Fairfield Co., and in the Strickland quarry, Portland, Middlesex Co., Connecticut, USA
- Custer Mountain mine, in Custer Co., South Dakota, USA
- Foote mine, near Kings Mountain, Cleveland Co., North Carolina, USA
- Harding mine, Dixon, Taos Co., New Mexico, USA
- Tanco mine, Bernic Lake, Manitoba, Canada
- Mangualde pegmatite, near Mesquitela, and the Bendada pegmatite, near Guarda, Portugal
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A late-stage mineral in some complex granite pegmatites; usually primary but rarely secondary. If you start seeing sicklerite, purpurite, huréaulite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify lithiophilite?+
Where is lithiophilite found?+
What rocks look like lithiophilite?+
What minerals are found with lithiophilite?+
What kind of rock does lithiophilite form in?+
What is lithiophilite used for?+
Find lithiophilite on the map
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