Satterlyite is a rare iron phosphate mineral typically found as small, deep blue to greenish-pale yellow to pale brown crystals or crystalline masses. It is most famous for its occurrence in the phosphate-rich nodules of the Yukon Territory in Canada, often sought after by advanced mineral collectors specializing in rare phosphates.
Is this satterlyite?
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 satterlyite with a known reference. Satterlyite sits at Mohs 4.5-5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: light brown, light yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: aggregates, nodular, radial.
Often confused with
Satterlyite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Satterlyite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4.5-5 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs, so Satterlyite leaves pale yellow, Vivianite leaves white, altering to dark blue, brown.
How to tell apart: Satterlyite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4.5-5 vs. 3.5).
Often found alongside satterlyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with satterlyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Fe²⁺,Mg,Fe³⁺)₂(PO₄)(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5-5
- Density
- 3.68 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Aggregates, nodular, radial
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In nodules in shales
Where rockhounds find satterlyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Big Fish River area, Yukon Territory, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In nodules in shales. If you start seeing quartz, pyrite, wolfeite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: aggregates, nodular, radial. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify satterlyite?+
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What rocks look like satterlyite?+
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Find satterlyite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
