Wicksite is a rare phosphate mineral typically found as small, deep blue to greenish tabular crystals. It is best known from the phosphate-rich environments of the Rapid Creek area in the Yukon, where it occurs alongside a variety of other rare secondary phosphate species.
Is this wicksite?
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 wicksite with a known reference. Wicksite sits at Mohs 4.5-5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: green.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: submetallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: bluish black, dark blue, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Wicksite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Wicksite leaves green, Siderite leaves white; luster reads submetallic on Wicksite and vitreous, may be pearly or silky on Siderite.
How to tell apart: Wicksite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4.5-5 vs. 1.5-2); streak differs, so Wicksite leaves green, Vivianite leaves white, altering to dark blue, brown; luster reads submetallic on Wicksite and vitreous, pearly on the cleavage, dull when earthy on Vivianite.
Often found alongside wicksite
Minerals reported to co-occur with wicksite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaCa₂Fe₂(Fe,Mn,Fe)₄(PO₄)₆·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5-5
- Density
- 3.54 g/cm³
- Streak
- Green
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque, transparent in thin fragments
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular crystals, massive, granular
- Cleavage
- Good on {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In nodules in shale beds in an iron formation
Where rockhounds find wicksite
Classic worldwide localities
- Big Bend, on the Big Fish River, Big Fish River–Blow River area, Yukon Territory, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In nodules in shale beds in an iron formation. If you start seeing wolfeite, satterlyite, marićite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find wicksite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
