Pseudolaueite is a rare phosphate mineral that occurs as a secondary mineral in complex granite pegmatites. It is typically found as small, tabular crystals or drusy coatings associated with the alteration of primary triphylite.
Is this pseudolaueite?
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 pseudolaueite with a known reference. Pseudolaueite 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.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, drusy coatings.
Often confused with
Pseudolaueite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside pseudolaueite
Minerals reported to co-occur with pseudolaueite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mn²⁺Fe³⁺₂(PO₄)₂(OH)₂·8H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3
- Density
- 2.463 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, drusy coatings
- Cleavage
- Good on {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- As incrustations and replacements of stewartite crystals in a complex zoned granite pegmatite (Hagendorf, Germany)
Where rockhounds find pseudolaueite
Classic worldwide localities
- Palermo #1 mine, near North Groton, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, USA
- White Elephant mine, near Pringle, Custer Co., South Dakota, USA
- Hagendorf, Bavaria, Germany
- Mangualde pegmatite, near Mesquitela, and in the Bendada pegmatite, near Guarda, Portugal
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: As incrustations and replacements of stewartite crystals in a complex zoned granite pegmatite (Hagendorf, Germany). If you start seeing stewartite, laueite, strunzite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, drusy coatings. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify pseudolaueite?+
Where is pseudolaueite found?+
What rocks look like pseudolaueite?+
What minerals are found with pseudolaueite?+
What kind of rock does pseudolaueite form in?+
What is pseudolaueite used for?+
Find pseudolaueite on the map
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