Phosphohedyphane is a rare lead-calcium phosphate member of the apatite supergroup. It typically occurs as small, glassy, hexagonal prismatic crystals in metamorphic skarn environments, often associated with manganese deposits.
Is this phosphohedyphane?
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 phosphohedyphane with a known reference. Phosphohedyphane 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. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to greasy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: coloress, yellow, yellowish green, orange, greenish blue.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: hexagonal, prismatic.
Often confused with
Phosphohedyphane vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous to greasy on Phosphohedyphane and resinous to subadamantine on Mimetite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous to greasy on Phosphohedyphane and resinous to subadamantine on Pyromorphite.
How to tell apart: Phosphohedyphane is noticeably harder (Mohs ~4 vs. 2.5-3); luster reads vitreous to greasy on Phosphohedyphane and subresinous to subadamantine on Vanadinite.
Often found alongside phosphohedyphane
Minerals reported to co-occur with phosphohedyphane. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₂Pb₃(PO₄)₃Cl
- Mohs hardness
- ~4
- Density
- 5.92 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Hexagonal, prismatic
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of a Cu-Pb-Ag quartz-baryte vein deposit
Where rockhounds find phosphohedyphane
Classic worldwide localities
- Root mine, Goodsprings district, Clark Co. and the Silver Coin mine, Iron Point district, Humboldt Co., Nevada, USA
- Great Eastern mine, Cochise Co., the Hardshell mine, Patagonia Mts., the Mammoth mine, Tiger, and the Tonopah-Belmont mine, Tonopah, Arizona, USA
- Capitana mine, Copiapó, Atacama Province, Chile (type locality)
- USA from the Argentena, Mobile, and Monte Cristo mines, Goodsprings district, Nevada
- Broken Hill mine, New South Wales and at Tennant Creek, Northern Territory, Australia
- Laurium Attica, Greece and the Berezovskoye mines, Urals, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A secondary mineral in the oxidized zone of a Cu-Pb-Ag quartz-baryte vein deposit. If you start seeing quartz, duftite, bayldonite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: hexagonal, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify phosphohedyphane?+
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What rocks look like phosphohedyphane?+
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Find phosphohedyphane on the map
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