Lulzacite is a rare strontium iron phosphate mineral typically found as small, reddish-grayish green to yellowish green tabular crystals. It was first described from phosphate-rich deposits in France, where it occurs within secondary mineralization zones in pegmatites.
Is this lulzacite?
4-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 lulzacite with a known reference. Lulzacite sits at Mohs 5.5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 3Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: grayish green, dark yellow green.
- 4Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Lulzacite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside lulzacite
Minerals reported to co-occur with lulzacite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Sr₂Fe₃Al₄(PO₄)₄(OH)₁₀
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5-6
- Density
- 3.55 g/cm³
- Colors
- Grayish greenDark yellow green
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In hydrothermal veinlets associated with metamorphism at the contact between quartzite and ironstone
Where rockhounds find lulzacite
Classic worldwide localities
- Saint-Aubin-des-Châteaux quarry, ~8 km west of Châteaubriant, Loire-Atlantique, France
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In hydrothermal veinlets associated with metamorphism at the contact between quartzite and ironstone. If you start seeing siderite, pyrite, goyazite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: anhedral grains. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify lulzacite?+
Where is lulzacite found?+
What rocks look like lulzacite?+
What minerals are found with lulzacite?+
What kind of rock does lulzacite form in?+
What is lulzacite used for?+
Find lulzacite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
