Natropalermoite is a very rare phosphate mineral typically found as small, colorless to white prismatic crystals. It is primarily known from phosphate-rich granite pegmatites and is often studied for its structural relationship to other rare phosphate species.
Is this natropalermoite?
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 natropalermoite with a known reference. Natropalermoite sits at Mohs 5.5, 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: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: prismatic to acicular crystals.
Often confused with
Natropalermoite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside natropalermoite
Minerals reported to co-occur with natropalermoite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₂SrAl₄(PO₄)₄(OH)₄
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5
- Density
- 3.502 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic to acicular crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {001}; fair on {100}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In a complex, phosphate-bearing granitic pegmatite, formed by hydrothermal alteration of primary triphylite pods in the core-margin zone of the pegmatite
Where rockhounds find natropalermoite
Classic worldwide localities
- Found at the Palermo No. 1 mine, Groton, Grafton County, New Hampshire, USA
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In a complex, phosphate-bearing granitic pegmatite, formed by hydrothermal alteration of primary triphylite pods in the core-margin zone of the pegmatite. If you start seeing palermoite, eosphorite, childrenite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic to acicular crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify natropalermoite?+
Where is natropalermoite found?+
What rocks look like natropalermoite?+
What minerals are found with natropalermoite?+
What kind of rock does natropalermoite form in?+
What is natropalermoite used for?+
Find natropalermoite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
