Crystalline deep reddish brown mass with a greasy or resinous luster.
Griphite is one of the few phosphates with an isometric structure although originally thought to be metamict. Indeed the name is in reference to the Greek word for "puzzling". Moore (Min. Record, 1973) states that it is in all likelyhood it is a metasomatic product of an early primary phase. It does not seem to form secondary phosphate minerals. It was discovered at the Riverton Load in 1891.