Zodacite is a rare phosphate mineral typically found as small, straw-yellow acicular crystals or radial sprays within phosphate-rich pegmatites. Collectors look for its distinctive yellow hue and radiating habit, usually associated with other rare secondary phosphates in vugs.
Is this zodacite?
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 zodacite with a known reference. Zodacite sits at Mohs 3-4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Zodacite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Zodacite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brownish-yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular to prismatic crystals, often as radial sprays or crusts.
Often confused with
Zodacite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside zodacite
Minerals reported to co-occur with zodacite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₄Fe³⁺(PO₄)₃(OH)₃·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 3.16 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular to Prismatic Crystals, Often as Radial Sprays or Crusts
- Cleavage
- Good On {010}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Phosphate-rich Granitic Pegmatites
- Typical price
- $20-150 for rare specimen thumbnails
Where rockhounds find zodacite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tip Top mine, Custer, South Dakota, USA
- Hagendorf, Bavaria, Germany
- Mangualde, Portugal
Field-hunting tip
Look in phosphate-rich granitic pegmatites country — that is the host setting where zodacite typically forms. If you start seeing rockbridgeite, stewartite, triphylite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular to prismatic crystals, often as radial sprays or crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify zodacite?+
Where is zodacite found?+
How much is zodacite worth?+
What rocks look like zodacite?+
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Find zodacite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
