Phosphoinnelite is an extremely rare barium-sodium-titanium silicate phosphate occurring in hyperalkaline pegmatite complexes. It typically appears as yellowish-brown lamellar or platy crystals often associated with other rare titanium minerals in the Kola Peninsula. Collectors value it for its complex chemical structure and scarcity in global mineral markets.
Is this phosphoinnelite?
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 phosphoinnelite with a known reference. Phosphoinnelite sits at Mohs 4.5-5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: pale yellow.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous, greasy on broken surfaces.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellowbrown, honey, occasionally brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: lath, rosette, wheat sheaf.
Often confused with
Phosphoinnelite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Phosphoinnelite leaves pale yellow, Innelite leaves yellowish-white.
How to tell apart: Phosphoinnelite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4.5-5 vs. 2-3); luster reads vitreous, greasy on broken surfaces on Phosphoinnelite and submetallic on cleavages on Lamprophyllite.
Often found alongside phosphoinnelite
Minerals reported to co-occur with phosphoinnelite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₃Ba₄Ti₃Si₄O₁₄(PO₄)₂O₂F
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5-5
- Density
- 3.82 g/cm³
- Colors
- YellowbrownHoneyOccasionally brown
- Streak
- Pale yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous, greasy on broken surfaces
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Lath, rosette, wheat sheaf
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {010}, good on {100}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A late stage mineral in a hydrothermally altered peralkaline pegmatite that crosscuts calcite carbonatite associated with an ultramafic alkaline pluton
Where rockhounds find phosphoinnelite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kovdor massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A late stage mineral in a hydrothermally altered peralkaline pegmatite that crosscuts calcite carbonatite associated with an ultramafic alkaline pluton. If you start seeing thompsonite-ca, golyshevite, pectolite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: lath, rosette, wheat sheaf. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify phosphoinnelite?+
Where is phosphoinnelite found?+
What rocks look like phosphoinnelite?+
What minerals are found with phosphoinnelite?+
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What is phosphoinnelite used for?+
Find phosphoinnelite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
