Tavorite is a rare phosphate mineral primarily found in the alteration zones of lithium-rich pegmatites. It typically appears as yellowish-green masses or small crystalline aggregates associated with the oxidation of primary phosphate minerals like triphylite.
Is this tavorite?
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 tavorite with a known reference. Tavorite 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. Tavorite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Tavorite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow-green, olive-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: massive, rounded grains, or fine-grained aggregates.
Often confused with
Tavorite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside tavorite
Minerals reported to co-occur with tavorite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- LiFe³⁺(PO₄)(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 3.29 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Rounded Grains, Or Fine-grained Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $50-300 per small specimen
Where rockhounds find tavorite
Classic worldwide localities
- Sapucaia pegmatite, Brazil
- Mangualde, Portugal
- Tip Top mine, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country, the host setting where tavorite typically forms. If you start seeing triphylite, lithiophilite, apatite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, rounded grains, or fine-grained aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify tavorite?+
Where is tavorite found?+
How much is tavorite worth?+
What rocks look like tavorite?+
What minerals are found with tavorite?+
What kind of rock does tavorite form in?+
What is tavorite used for?+
Find tavorite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
