Rosemaryite is a rare phosphate mineral member of the wyllieite group, typically found in complex granite pegmatites. It usually forms as small, brownish, equant crystals or irregular masses associated with other phosphate minerals in hydrothermal alteration zones.
Is this rosemaryite?
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 rosemaryite with a known reference. Rosemaryite 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. Rosemaryite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Rosemaryite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, yellow-brown, red-brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: equant crystals, granular.
Often confused with
Rosemaryite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside rosemaryite
Minerals reported to co-occur with rosemaryite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na(Mn²⁺Fe³⁺)Al(PO₄)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 3.5 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Equant Crystals, Granular
- Cleavage
- Poor in One Direction
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $20-150 for micro to thumbnail specimens
Where rockhounds find rosemaryite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tip Top mine, South Dakota, USA
- Mangualde, Portugal
- Hagendorf-Pleystein, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country — that is the host setting where rosemaryite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, albite, muscovite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a equant crystals, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find rosemaryite on the map
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