Okruschite is a rare phosphate mineral member of the fillowite group, typically found in complex granite pegmatites. It usually presents as pale pink, vitreous grains or small crystals embedded within phosphate-rich mineral assemblages. Collectors primarily identify it through its association with other secondary phosphates in the Hagendorf-South pegmatite locality.
Is this okruschite?
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 okruschite with a known reference. Okruschite sits at Mohs 4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Okruschite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Okruschite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pink, pale pink.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: equant to prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Okruschite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside okruschite
Minerals reported to co-occur with okruschite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaMn²⁺₃ZnMn²⁺(PO₄)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 3.58 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Equant to Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- Poor
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find okruschite
Classic worldwide localities
- Hagendorf-South pegmatite, Bavaria, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country, the host setting where okruschite typically forms. If you start seeing triplite, apatite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a equant to prismatic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find okruschite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
