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 — that is 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
How do you identify varulite?+
Where is varulite found?+
How much is varulite worth?+
What rocks look like varulite?+
What minerals are found with varulite?+
What kind of rock does varulite form in?+
What is varulite used for?+
Find varulite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
