Wildenauerite is a very rare member of the plumbogummite group, typically found as small, dull, yellowish-brown crusts in hydrothermal environments. It is extremely localized, named for its occurrence in the Wildenau area of Germany. Due to its scarcity and similarity to other phosphate minerals, identification often requires analytical confirmation.
Is this wildenauerite?
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 wildenauerite with a known reference. Wildenauerite sits at Mohs 4.5, 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: pearly.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: crusts.
Often confused with
Wildenauerite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Gorceixite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6 vs. 4.5); luster reads pearly on Wildenauerite and vitreous on Gorceixite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads pearly on Wildenauerite and vitreous, resinous to dull on Plumbogummite.
Often found alongside wildenauerite
Minerals reported to co-occur with wildenauerite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Zn(Fe₀.₅Mn₀.₅)₂MnFe(PO₄)₃(OH)₃(H₂O)₈
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 2.79 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Pearly
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Crusts
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- hydrothermal veins
Where rockhounds find wildenauerite
Classic worldwide localities
- Wildenau, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: hydrothermal veins. If you start seeing sphalerite, goethite, quartz in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crusts. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify wildenauerite?+
Where is wildenauerite found?+
Is wildenauerite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like wildenauerite?+
What minerals are found with wildenauerite?+
What kind of rock does wildenauerite form in?+
What is wildenauerite used for?+
Find wildenauerite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
