Paravauxite is a rare phosphate mineral primarily known for its occurrences in the tin mines of Bolivia. It typically forms as delicate, tabular crystals or radiating sprays in association with other rare phosphate species in hydrothermal tin deposits.
Is this paravauxite?
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 paravauxite with a known reference. Paravauxite sits at Mohs 3, 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, pearly on cleavages.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, greenish white, light greenish white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, radiating aggregates, druzy.
Often confused with
Paravauxite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside paravauxite
Minerals reported to co-occur with paravauxite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe²⁺Al₂P₂O₈(OH)₂·8H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 2.36 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous, pearly on cleavages
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, radiating aggregates, druzy
- Cleavage
- {010}, perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare mineral in hydrothermal tin veins (Llallagua, Bolivia); in complex granite pegmatites
Where rockhounds find paravauxite
Classic worldwide localities
- Foote mine, Kings Mountain, Cleveland Co., North Carolina, USA
- Palermo #1 mine, near North Groton, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, USA
- Llallagua, Potosí, Bolivia
- Santa Eulalia, Chihuahua, Mexico
- Hagendorf, and in the Silbergrube quarry, near Waidhaus, Bavaria, Germany
- Bendada pegmatite, near Guarda, Portugal
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare mineral in hydrothermal tin veins (Llallagua, Bolivia); in complex granite pegmatites. If you start seeing vauxite, metavauxite, wavellite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, radiating aggregates, druzy. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify paravauxite?+
Where is paravauxite found?+
What rocks look like paravauxite?+
What minerals are found with paravauxite?+
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What is paravauxite used for?+
Find paravauxite on the map
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