Schoonerite is an extremely rare phosphate mineral that typically forms as thin, yellow-brown platy crystals or radial clusters. It is found primarily as a late-stage alteration product within complex phosphate-rich granite pegmatites. Collectors look for its characteristic morphology often occurring on or near weathered triphylite.
Is this schoonerite?
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 schoonerite with a known reference. Schoonerite 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. Streak: pale brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: subvitreous to waxy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bronze, brown, yellow brown, light yellow brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: rosette.
Often confused with
Schoonerite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Schoonerite leaves pale brown, Rockbridgeite leaves greenish gray; luster reads subvitreous to waxy on Schoonerite and vitreous to dull on Rockbridgeite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Schoonerite leaves pale brown, Frondelite leaves brownish gray; luster reads subvitreous to waxy on Schoonerite and vitreous to dull on Frondelite.
Often found alongside schoonerite
Minerals reported to co-occur with schoonerite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- ZnMnFe₂Fe(PO₄)₃(OH)₂(H₂O)₇·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- ~4
- Density
- 2.87-2.92 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Pale brown
- Luster
- Subvitreous to waxy
- Transparency
- Transparent to translucent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Rosette
- Cleavage
- {010}, perfect; {001}, good
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare late-stage low-temperature hydrothermal alteration and weathering product formed from earlier more reduced phases
Where rockhounds find schoonerite
Classic worldwide localities
- Palermo #1 mine, near North Groton, Grafton Co., New Hampshire, and at Newry, Oxford Co., Maine, USA
- Hagendorf, Bavaria, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare late-stage low-temperature hydrothermal alteration and weathering product formed from earlier more reduced phases. If you start seeing mitridatite, laueite, strunzite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: rosette. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify schoonerite?+
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What rocks look like schoonerite?+
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Find schoonerite on the map
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