Qingheiite is a rare phosphate mineral first discovered in the pegmatites of China. It typically forms as yellowish to brownish crystalline aggregates within complex granitic systems, often associated with other phosphate minerals like lithiophilite.
Is this qingheiite?
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 qingheiite with a known reference. Qingheiite sits at Mohs 5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Qingheiite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Qingheiite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellowish green, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Qingheiite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside qingheiite
Minerals reported to co-occur with qingheiite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaMn²⁺MgAl(PO₄)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 3.84 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals, Anhedral Grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find qingheiite
Classic worldwide localities
- Qinghe County, Xinjiang, China
- Mangnai, Qinghai, China
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country — that is the host setting where qingheiite typically forms. If you start seeing albite, quartz, muscovite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals, anhedral grains habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find qingheiite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
