Varulite is a rare phosphate mineral primarily found in complex granitic pegmatites. It typically occurs as massive or granular material, often showing an olive-green color that can weather to brown or yellow hues.
Is this varulite?
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 varulite with a known reference. Varulite sits at Mohs 4-4.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Varulite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Varulite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: green, yellowish-green, olive-green, brownish-green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: massive, granular, or compact aggregates.
Often confused with
Varulite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside varulite
Minerals reported to co-occur with varulite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaMn²⁺(Mn²⁺,Fe²⁺)₂PO₄
- Mohs hardness
- 4-4.5
- Density
- 3.5-3.6 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Granular, Or Compact Aggregates
- Cleavage
- Good in One Direction
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $20-150 for small specimens
Where rockhounds find varulite
Classic worldwide localities
- Varuträsk, Sweden
- Hagendorf, Germany
- Newry, Maine, USA
- White Elephant Mine, South Dakota, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country, the host setting where varulite typically forms. If you start seeing triphylite, apatite, lithiophilite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, granular, or compact aggregates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find varulite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
