Souzalite is a rare phosphate mineral often found as fibrous, blue-green aggregates within granite pegmatites. It is best identified by its association with other rare phosphate minerals and its distinct acicular habit, which makes it a sought-after species for mineral collectors specializing in pegmatite suites.

Hardness

5.5-6

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

Pale green

Transparency

Semitransparent

mineralrareLazyite-Souzalite Group family

Souzalite

Hardness: 5.5-6
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: Pale green
Transparency: Semitransparent

Is this souzalite?

5-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch souzalite with a known reference. Souzalite sits at Mohs 5.5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale green.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: blue green, dark green.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: crystalline, massive.

Often confused with

Souzalite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

mineral

Gorceixite

Mohs 6

How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Souzalite leaves pale green, Gorceixite leaves white.

How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Souzalite leaves pale green, Wardite leaves white.

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Often found alongside souzalite

Minerals reported to co-occur with souzalite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

Scorzalite
mineral · Mohs 6

All properties

Chemical formula: Mg₃Al₄(PO₄)₄(OH)₆·2H₂O
Mohs hardness: 5.5-6
Density: 3.087 g/cm³
Colors: Blue green Dark green
Streak: Pale green
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Semitransparent
Crystal system: Triclinic
Crystal habit: Crystalline, massive
Cleavage: On {001}, good; a second ⊥ {001}, poor
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: A rare hydrothermal alteration product of scorzalite in complex zoned granite pegmatites, in sedimentary phosphate nodules, and in a high-pressure kyanite deposit

Where rockhounds find souzalite

Classic worldwide localities

Bell Pit, Newry, Oxford Co., Maine, USA
Corrego Frio pegmatite mine, Divino das Laranjeiras, near Linópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil
Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: A rare hydrothermal alteration product of scorzalite in complex zoned granite pegmatites, in sedimentary phosphate nodules, and in a high-pressure kyanite deposit. If you start seeing scorzalite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crystalline, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify souzalite?+

Mohs hardness is 5.5-6. Luster: vitreous. The streak is pale green. Common colors include blue green, dark green.

Where is souzalite found?+

Notable localities include Bell Pit, Newry, Oxford Co., Maine, USA; Corrego Frio pegmatite mine, Divino das Laranjeiras, near Linópolis, Minas Gerais, Brazil; Rapid Creek, Yukon Territory, Canada.

What rocks look like souzalite?+

Souzalite is most often confused with Gorceixite, Wardite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with souzalite?+

Souzalite commonly co-occurs with Scorzalite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does souzalite form in?+

Where it forms: A rare hydrothermal alteration product of scorzalite in complex zoned granite pegmatites, in sedimentary phosphate nodules, and in a high-pressure kyanite deposit. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is souzalite used for?+

Souzalite is used in collector.

Find souzalite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.