Sasaite is a very rare aluminum phosphate mineral found as delicate, pearly white radial aggregates or platy crystals. It typically occurs as a secondary mineral in hydrothermal lead-zinc deposits, often forming within cavities of altered ore.
Is this sasaite?
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 sasaite with a known reference. Sasaite 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. Sasaite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Sasaite typically shows a pearly luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: platy crystals, radial aggregates.
Often confused with
Sasaite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Variscite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4.5 vs. 2); luster reads pearly on Sasaite and waxy on Variscite.
How to tell apart: Wavellite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 2); luster reads pearly on Sasaite and vitreous on Wavellite.
Often found alongside sasaite
Minerals reported to co-occur with sasaite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Al₁₄(PO₄)₄(HPO₄)₆(OH)₄·87H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 2.11 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Radial Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins in Lead-zinc Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-100 thumbnail
Where rockhounds find sasaite
Classic worldwide localities
- Sasa lead-zinc mine, Macedonia
- Sapucaia pegmatite, Brazil
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins in lead-zinc ore deposits country — that is the host setting where sasaite typically forms. If you start seeing sphalerite, galena, pyrite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, radial aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find sasaite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
