Schoderite is an exceptionally rare aluminum phosphate mineral typically found as thin, platy orange-to-yellow crystals. It is primarily known from phosphate-rich nodules in the sedimentary deposits of Eden Valley, Wyoming, where it often forms delicate radial clusters.
Is this schoderite?
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 schoderite with a known reference. Schoderite 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. Streak: yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: pearly.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: orange, yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: microscopic crystals, platy.
Often confused with
Schoderite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Vauxite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5 vs. ~2); streak differs, so Schoderite leaves yellow, Vauxite leaves white; luster reads pearly on Schoderite and vitreous on Vauxite.
How to tell apart: Paravauxite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3 vs. ~2); streak differs, so Schoderite leaves yellow, Paravauxite leaves white; luster reads pearly on Schoderite and vitreous, pearly on cleavages on Paravauxite.
Often found alongside schoderite
Minerals reported to co-occur with schoderite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Al₂(PO₄)(VO₄)·8H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- ~2
- Density
- 1.92 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellow
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Microscopic crystals, platy
- Cleavage
- On {010}, perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare mineral formed from amorphous phosphatic gels or by crystallization from meteoric solution in fractures in phosphatic chert (Fish Creek Range, Nevada, USA)
Where rockhounds find schoderite
Classic worldwide localities
- Fish Creek Range, near Eureka, Nevada, USA (type locality)
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare mineral formed from amorphous phosphatic gels or by crystallization from meteoric solution in fractures in phosphatic chert (Fish Creek Range, Nevada, USA). If you start seeing vashegyite, wavellite, metahewettite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: microscopic crystals, platy. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify schoderite?+
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What rocks look like schoderite?+
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Find schoderite on the map
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