Struvite is a phosphate mineral commonly found in bat guano deposits and human environments like sewage pipes. It forms distinct, orthorhombic crystals that are usually transparent to translucent, but the mineral is prone to dehydration when exposed to air.
Is this struvite?
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 struvite with a known reference. Struvite 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. Struvite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Struvite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, colorless, yellowish-white, brownish.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: prismatic crystals, pyramidal, tabular.
Often confused with
Struvite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside struvite
Minerals reported to co-occur with struvite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NH₄MgPO₄·6H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2
- Density
- 1.7 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals, Pyramidal, Tabular
- Cleavage
- Distinct On {001}
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific Research
- Host rock
- Bat Guano Deposits, Sewage Sludge Environments
- Typical price
- $10-50 per specimen
Where rockhounds find struvite
Classic worldwide localities
- Hamburg, Germany
- Skipton Caves, Australia
- Mono Lake, USA
- Various bat guano deposits globally
Field-hunting tip
Look in bat guano deposits, sewage sludge environments country — that is the host setting where struvite typically forms. If you start seeing newberyite, brushite, vivianite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals, pyramidal, tabular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify struvite?+
Where is struvite found?+
How much is struvite worth?+
What rocks look like struvite?+
What minerals are found with struvite?+
What kind of rock does struvite form in?+
What is struvite used for?+
Find struvite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
