Svanbergite is a relatively uncommon sulfate-phosphate mineral often found as small, rhombohedral crystals. It is highly valued by collectors for its frequent bright fluorescence under UV light and its presence in metamorphosed sedimentary sequences.
Is this svanbergite?
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 svanbergite with a known reference. Svanbergite sits at Mohs 5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: colorless, yellow, pink, reddish brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: massive, pseudo cubic, rhombohedral crystals.
Often confused with
Svanbergite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Svanbergite leaves white, Beudantite leaves grayish yellow to green.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Svanbergite leaves white, Corkite leaves yellow.
Often found alongside svanbergite
Minerals reported to co-occur with svanbergite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- SrAl₃(PO₄)(SO₄)(OH)₆
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 3.20-3.24 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to adamantine
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Massive, pseudo cubic, rhombohedral crystals
- Cleavage
- On {0001}, distinct
- Fluorescence
- Often orange or yellow under UV light
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In aluminous medium-grade metamorphic deposits; from bauxite deposits; a product of sulphatic argillic wall-rock alteration in hydrothermal vein and disseminated ore deposits, replacing apatite
Where rockhounds find svanbergite
Classic worldwide localities
- Dover andalusite mine, about 20 km northeast of Hawthorne, Mineral Co., Nevada, USA
- Ogilby, Imperial Co., and at the Champion mine, White Mountains, Mono Co., California, USA
- Summitville, Rio Grande Co., Colorado, USA
- Tyrone, Grant Co., New Mexico, USA
- Hålsjöberg (Horrsjöberg), Värmland, and at the Västanå mine, near Näsum, Skåne, Sweden
- Novodmitrievsk Pb–Zn deposit, Donets Basin, Ukraine
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In aluminous medium-grade metamorphic deposits; from bauxite deposits; a product of sulphatic argillic wall-rock alteration in hydrothermal vein and disseminated ore deposits, replacing apatite. If you start seeing pyrophyllite, kyanite, andalusite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, pseudo cubic, rhombohedral crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify svanbergite?+
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Find svanbergite on the map
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