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. Lithiophilite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Lithiophilite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brownish-yellow, pink, salmon-pink.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: short prismatic crystals, massive, granular.
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
- 3.4-3.5 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Short Prismatic Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- Good in Two Directions
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $20-200 depending on specimen size and clarity
Where rockhounds find lithiophilite
Classic worldwide localities
- Branchville, Connecticut, USA
- Pala, California, USA
- Karibib, Namibia
- Mangualde, Portugal
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country — that is the host setting where lithiophilite typically forms. If you start seeing triphylite, sicklerite, purpurite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a short prismatic crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify lithiophilite?+
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How much is lithiophilite worth?+
What rocks look like lithiophilite?+
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Find lithiophilite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
