Phylloretine is a rare organic mineraloid derived from the transformation of plant resins found in ancient lignite deposits. It typically appears as yellowish to brownish resinous masses and is structurally related to fossilized pine resins, often requiring specialized chemical analysis to distinguish from other fossil resins.
Is this phylloretine?
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 phylloretine with a known reference. Phylloretine sits at Mohs 2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Phylloretine leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Phylloretine typically shows a resinous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brown, white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: amorphous. Typical habit: massive, earthy, resinous nodules.
Often confused with
Phylloretine vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside phylloretine
Minerals reported to co-occur with phylloretine. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- C₂₀H₃₄O₂
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 1.06 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Amorphous
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Earthy, Resinous Nodules
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Fossiliferous Brown Coal (lignite) Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-100 for small samples
Where rockhounds find phylloretine
Classic worldwide localities
- Denmark
- Germany
Field-hunting tip
Look in fossiliferous brown coal (lignite) deposits country — that is the host setting where phylloretine typically forms. If you start seeing lignite, peat in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, earthy, resinous nodules habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find phylloretine on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
