Parwanite is an extremely rare phosphate mineral first discovered in the Parwan Valley of Victoria, Australia. It typically occurs as small, delicate, radiating clusters or crusts within sedimentary phosphatic environments. Due to its extreme rarity, it is highly sought after by systematic mineral collectors.

Hardness

3.5-4

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Translucent

mineralrare

Parwanite

Hardness: 3.5-4
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Translucent

Is this parwanite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch parwanite with a known reference. Parwanite sits at Mohs 3.5-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: yellow, yellow-brown.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: bladed or radiating clusters.

Often confused with

Parwanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

Often found alongside parwanite

Minerals reported to co-occur with parwanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: NaMg₄Al₈(PO₄)₈(CO₃)(OH)₇·30H₂O
Mohs hardness: 3.5-4
Density: 2.5 g/cm³
Colors: Yellow Yellow-brown
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Translucent
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Crystal habit: Bladed or radiating clusters
Cleavage: Good
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: sedimentary phosphate deposits

Where rockhounds find parwanite

Classic worldwide localities

Parwan lava cave, 45 km WNW of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (type locality)

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: sedimentary phosphate deposits. If you start seeing wavellite, goethite, kaolinite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: bladed or radiating clusters. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify parwanite?+

Mohs hardness is 3.5-4. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include yellow, yellow-brown.

Where is parwanite found?+

Notable localities include Parwan lava cave, 45 km WNW of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia (type locality).

What rocks look like parwanite?+

Parwanite is most often confused with Wavellite, Variscite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with parwanite?+

Parwanite commonly co-occurs with wavellite, goethite, kaolinite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does parwanite form in?+

Where it forms: sedimentary phosphate deposits. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is parwanite used for?+

Parwanite is used in collector.

Find parwanite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.