Roscherite is a rare phosphate mineral typically found as small, elongated prismatic crystals or attractive radiating sprays in granitic pegmatites. Collectors look for its characteristic green to brownish hues and delicate habit when examining vugs in phosphate-rich zones. It is a highly sought-after species for micromount and cabinet collectors due to its aesthetic crystal formations.
Is this roscherite?
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 roscherite with a known reference. Roscherite sits at Mohs 4.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: light brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: light brown, dark brown, olive green, orange red, red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: pistolitic.
Often confused with
Roscherite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Roscherite leaves light brown, Eosphorite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Roscherite leaves light brown, Childrenite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Roscherite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4.5 vs. 3.5); streak differs, so Roscherite leaves light brown, Vauxite leaves white.
Often found alongside roscherite
Minerals reported to co-occur with roscherite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₂Mn₅Be₄(PO₄)₆(OH)₄·6H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 2.90-2.97 g/cm³
- Streak
- Light brown
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Pistolitic
- Cleavage
- On {001}, good; on {010}, distinct
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In cavities in granite or complex zoned granite pegmatites
Where rockhounds find roscherite
Classic worldwide localities
- Davis mine, North Groton, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, USA
- Dunton quarry, Newry and the Black Mountain quarry, Rumford, Oxford Co., Maine, USA
- Tip Top mine, 8.5 km southwest of Custer, Custer Co., South Dakota, USA
- Foote mine, Kings Mountain, Cleveland Co., North Carolina, USA
- Greifensteine, near Ehrenfriedersdorf, Saxony, Germany
- Gunnislake Clitters mine, Calstock, Cornwall, England
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In cavities in granite or complex zoned granite pegmatites. If you start seeing morinite, lacroixite, eosphorite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: pistolitic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify roscherite?+
Where is roscherite found?+
Is roscherite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like roscherite?+
What minerals are found with roscherite?+
What kind of rock does roscherite form in?+
What is roscherite used for?+
Find roscherite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
