Lüneburgite is a rare magnesium borophosphate mineral typically found in saline evaporite deposits. Collectors should look for its characteristic clear, tabular crystals or radial clusters embedded in salt-bearing sediments.

Hardness

Mohs

Luster

Vitreous

Streak

White

Transparency

Translucent

mineralrare

Lüneburgite

Hardness: 2
Luster: Vitreous
Streak: White
Transparency: Translucent

Is this lüneburgite?

5-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 lüneburgite with a known reference. Lüneburgite sits at Mohs 2, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
2
Check the streak
Drag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
3
Read the luster
Hold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
4
Match the color range
Compare against the expected color range: colorless, white, brownish white, green.
5
Look at form & habit
Crystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, radial aggregates, crusts.

Often confused with

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

How to tell apart: Luster reads vitreous on Lüneburgite and subvitreous, pearly on {010} cleavages, silky if fibrous on Gypsum.

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Often found alongside lüneburgite

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

All properties

Chemical formula: Mg₃[B₂(OH)₆(PO₄)₂](H₂O)₆
Mohs hardness: 2
Density: 2.05 g/cm³
Colors: Colorless White Brownish white Green
Streak: White
Luster: Vitreous
Transparency: Translucent
Crystal system: Triclinic
Crystal habit: Tabular crystals, radial aggregates, crusts
Cleavage: On {010}, fair
Rarity: Rare
Uses: Collector
Host rock: In marine evaporite sequences

Where rockhounds find lüneburgite

Classic worldwide localities

Permian Basin, around Carlsbad, Eddy Co., New Mexico and into Culbertson Co., Texas, USA
Liineburg, 40 km south-southeast of Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany
Bela Stena, Serbia
Kerch, Crimean Peninsula, Ukraine
Kara-Bogaz-Gol and Uzun-Su, Turkmenistan
Mejillones, Tarapaca, Chile

Field-hunting tip

Where it forms: In marine evaporite sequences. If you start seeing boracite, gypsum, colemanite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular crystals, radial aggregates, crusts. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.

Common questions

How do you identify lüneburgite?+

Mohs hardness is 2. Luster: vitreous. The streak is white. Common colors include colorless, white, brownish white, green.

Where is lüneburgite found?+

Notable localities include Permian Basin, around Carlsbad, Eddy Co., New Mexico and into Culbertson Co., Texas, USA; Liineburg, 40 km south-southeast of Hannover, Lower Saxony, Germany; Bela Stena, Serbia; Kerch, Crimean Peninsula, Ukraine; Kara-Bogaz-Gol and Uzun-Su, Turkmenistan.

What rocks look like lüneburgite?+

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

What minerals are found with lüneburgite?+

Lüneburgite commonly co-occurs with Boracite, Gypsum, Colemanite, Howlite, Searlesite, Magnesite. Spotting any of these in float or country rock is a useful trip signal.

What kind of rock does lüneburgite form in?+

Where it forms: In marine evaporite sequences. Working float back to the host body is the standard way to chase a fresh occurrence.

What is lüneburgite used for?+

Lüneburgite is used in collector.

Find lüneburgite on the map

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