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.
Is this souzalite?
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 souzalite with a known reference. Souzalite sits at Mohs 6 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Souzalite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Souzalite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, blue-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: fibrous masses, acicular crystals.
Often confused with
Souzalite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
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.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Mg,Fe²⁺)₃(Al,Fe³⁺)₄(PO₄)₄(OH,F)₆
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 3.31 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous Masses, Acicular Crystals
- Cleavage
- Good On {110}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Phosphate-rich Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $20-150 for small specimens
Where rockhounds find souzalite
Classic worldwide localities
- Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Custer County, South Dakota, USA
- Finland
Field-hunting tip
Look in phosphate-rich pegmatites country — that is the host setting where souzalite typically forms. If you start seeing trolleite, scorzalite, lazulite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a fibrous masses, acicular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify souzalite?+
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How much is souzalite worth?+
What rocks look like souzalite?+
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Find souzalite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
