Xanthoxenite is a rare secondary phosphate mineral found primarily in weathered granite pegmatites. Collectors usually search for its characteristic yellow, radiating, or platy crystal habit, which forms as an alteration product of primary phosphate minerals like triphylite.
Is this xanthoxenite?
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 xanthoxenite with a known reference. Xanthoxenite sits at Mohs 2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Xanthoxenite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Xanthoxenite typically shows a dull to waxy luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, brownish-yellow, yellowish-brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: platy crystals, radial aggregates, crusts.
Often confused with
Xanthoxenite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Rockbridgeite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4.5 vs. 2.5); streak differs, so Xanthoxenite leaves white, Rockbridgeite leaves greenish-brown; luster reads dull to waxy on Xanthoxenite and vitreous on Rockbridgeite.
How to tell apart: Phosphosiderite is the harder of the two (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 2.5); luster reads dull to waxy on Xanthoxenite and vitreous on Phosphosiderite.
Often found alongside xanthoxenite
Minerals reported to co-occur with xanthoxenite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₄Fe³⁺₂(PO₄)₄(OH)₂·3H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 2.8 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Dull to Waxy
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Platy Crystals, Radial Aggregates, Crusts
- Cleavage
- Perfect in One Direction
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Granite Pegmatites
Where rockhounds find xanthoxenite
Classic worldwide localities
- Hagendorf, Germany
- Mangualde, Portugal
- Tip Top mine, South Dakota, USA
- Palermo No. 1 mine, New Hampshire, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in granite pegmatites country, the host setting where xanthoxenite typically forms. If you start seeing triphylite, hureaulite, fairfieldite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a platy crystals, radial aggregates, crusts habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify xanthoxenite?+
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What rocks look like xanthoxenite?+
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Find xanthoxenite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
