Zincoberaunite is a rare secondary phosphate mineral found primarily in granitic pegmatites. It typically forms as delicate, radiating sprays or crusts of acicular pale gray to silvery white crystals associated with other phosphate minerals.

Hardness

3.5-4

Mohs

Luster

Silky

Transparency

Translucent

mineralrareBeraunite Group family

Zincoberaunite

Hardness: 3.5-4
Luster: Silky
Transparency: Translucent

Is this zincoberaunite?

4-step field check

Run through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.

1
Test the hardness
Try to scratch zincoberaunite with a known reference. Zincoberaunite sits at Mohs 3.5-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: silky.
3
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: pale gray, silvery white.
4
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: radial aggregates of acicular crystals.

Often confused with

Zincoberaunite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.

mineral

Beraunite

Mohs 3-4

How to tell apart: Luster reads silky on Zincoberaunite and vitreous, pearly on cleavages, resinous on fractures on Beraunite.

How to tell apart: Luster reads silky on Zincoberaunite and vitreous to dull on Rockbridgeite.

Compare →

Often found alongside zincoberaunite

Minerals reported to co-occur with zincoberaunite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.

All properties

Chemical formula: ZnFe₅(PO₄)₄(OH)₅·6H₂O
Mohs hardness: 3.5-4
Density: 2.92 g/cm³
Colors: Pale gray Silvery white
Luster: Silky
Transparency: Translucent
Crystal system: Monoclinic
Crystal habit: Radial aggregates of acicular crystals
Cleavage: {100}, good
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: In a zoned phosphatic granitic pegmatite

Where rockhounds find zincoberaunite

Classic worldwide localities

Cornelia Mine Open Cut, Hagendorf South pegmatite, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: In a zoned phosphatic granitic pegmatite. If you start seeing potassium feldspar, quartz, jungite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: radial aggregates of acicular crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify zincoberaunite?+

Mohs hardness is 3.5-4. Luster: silky. Common colors include pale gray, silvery white.

Where is zincoberaunite found?+

Notable localities include Cornelia Mine Open Cut, Hagendorf South pegmatite, Upper Palatinate, Bavaria, Germany.

What rocks look like zincoberaunite?+

Zincoberaunite is most often confused with Beraunite, Rockbridgeite. A quick hardness test and a streak check separate the look-alikes faster than color alone.

What minerals are found with zincoberaunite?+

Zincoberaunite commonly co-occurs with Potassium feldspar, Quartz, Jungite, Phosphophyllite, Mitridatite, Flurlite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does zincoberaunite form in?+

Where it forms: In a zoned phosphatic granitic pegmatite. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is zincoberaunite used for?+

Zincoberaunite is used in collector.

Find zincoberaunite on the map

RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.