Metaswitzerite is a rare phosphate mineral formed as an alteration product in phosphate-rich granite pegmatites. It is typically found as small, fragile, pearly platy crystals or granular masses, often associated with other rare phosphate minerals in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Is this metaswitzerite?
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 metaswitzerite with a known reference. Metaswitzerite sits at Mohs ~2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine to pearly.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, golden brown, light yellow brown, light pink.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, granular aggregates.
Often confused with
Metaswitzerite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads adamantine to pearly on Metaswitzerite and vitreous, pearly on {001} on Switzerite.
How to tell apart: Fairfieldite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5 vs. ~2.5); luster reads adamantine to pearly on Metaswitzerite and pearly to subadamantine, vitreous on the {001} cleavage on Fairfieldite.
Often found alongside metaswitzerite
Minerals reported to co-occur with metaswitzerite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mn₃(PO₄)₂·4H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- ~2.5
- Density
- 2.95 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Adamantine to pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals, granular aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {100}; fair on {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Forms by irreversible dehydration of switzerite on exposure to air
Where rockhounds find metaswitzerite
Classic worldwide localities
- Foote Mine, Kings Mountain, Cleveland Co., North Carolina, USA
- Reaphook Hill, near Blinman, from the Spring Creek mine, near Wilmington, Flinders Ranges, and in the Iron Monarch quarry, Iron Knob, South Australia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Forms by irreversible dehydration of switzerite on exposure to air. If you start seeing switzerite, vivianite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals, granular aggregates. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify metaswitzerite?+
Where is metaswitzerite found?+
What rocks look like metaswitzerite?+
What minerals are found with metaswitzerite?+
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Find metaswitzerite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
