Wycheproofite is a rare phosphate mineral first discovered in the granite pegmatites near Wycheproof, Victoria. It typically occurs as small, delicate, pale yellow rhombohedral crystals found in cavities of weathered granite boulders. Due to its extreme rarity and very limited type locality, it is highly sought after by advanced micromount collectors.
Is this wycheproofite?
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 wycheproofite with a known reference. Wycheproofite 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: vitreous to pearly.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pale pinkish orange, pale brownish orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: fibrous, massive.
Often confused with
Wycheproofite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside wycheproofite
Minerals reported to co-occur with wycheproofite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaAlZr(PO₄)₂(OH)₂·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 4-5
- Density
- 2.83 g/cm³
- Colors
- Pale pinkish orangePale brownish orange
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to pearly
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous, massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Filling cavities in pegmatitic veins in a granite quarry
Where rockhounds find wycheproofite
Classic worldwide localities
- Wycheproof, Victoria, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Filling cavities in pegmatitic veins in a granite quarry. If you start seeing kosnarite, eosphorite, cyrilovite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: fibrous, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify wycheproofite?+
Where is wycheproofite found?+
What rocks look like wycheproofite?+
What minerals are found with wycheproofite?+
What kind of rock does wycheproofite form in?+
What is wycheproofite used for?+
Find wycheproofite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
