Its formation is probably from the alteration of granitic phosphates like lithiophilite and triphylite. It occurs associated with whitlockite, vivianite, triploidite, triplite, triphylite, siderite, phosphoferrite, fairfieldite and apatite. It is often found in association with the minerals chalcopyrite and triphylite. At the type locality it occurs in a zone of altered triphylite, LiMnPO, in pegmatite. Associated minerals include souzalite, triphylite, wyllieite, trolleite, apatite, lacroixite, berlinite, tourmaline, muscovite, feldspar and quartz.