Vashegyite is a rare secondary aluminum phosphate mineral typically found as earthy, white to pale-yellow crusts or massive aggregates. It is often identified by its distinct association with other phosphate minerals in weathered environments and requires X-ray diffraction or chemical analysis for positive confirmation.
Is this vashegyite?
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 vashegyite with a known reference. Vashegyite sits at Mohs 2-3, 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: dull to waxy.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, brownish, brownish yellow, yellow, light green.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: compact, fibrous, massive.
Often confused with
Vashegyite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Variscite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4.5 vs. 2-3); luster reads dull to waxy on Vashegyite and vitreous to waxy on Variscite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads dull to waxy on Vashegyite and vitreous to resinous, pearly on Wavellite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads dull to waxy on Vashegyite and vitreous on Strengite.
Often found alongside vashegyite
Minerals reported to co-occur with vashegyite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Al₄(PO₄)₃(OH)₃·11-13H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2-3
- Density
- 1.93-1.99 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Dull to waxy
- Transparency
- Translucent to opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Compact, fibrous, massive
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Filling cavities in boxwork “limonite” from an iron mine (Železník, Slovakia)
Where rockhounds find vashegyite
Classic worldwide localities
- Van-Nav-Sand claim group, Fish Creek Range, 48 km south of Eureka, Eureka Co., and at the Train prospect, Manhattan district, Nye Co., Nevada, USA
- Zelezník (Vashegy), Slovakia
- Chvaletice, Czech Republic
- Haut-le-Wastia, Belgium
- Feengrotten (Cave), near Saalfeld, Thuringia, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Filling cavities in boxwork “limonite” from an iron mine (Železník, Slovakia). If you start seeing variscite, wavellite, evansite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: compact, fibrous, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify vashegyite?+
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What rocks look like vashegyite?+
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Find vashegyite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
