AbstractThe two minerals diadochite and destinezite of formula Fe2(PO4,SO4)2(OH)· 6H2O have been characterised by Raman spectroscopy and complemented with infrared spectroscopy. Both these minerals are found in soils and are identical except for their morphology. Diadochite is amorphous whereas destinezite is highly crystalline. The spectra of diadochite are broad and ill defined, whereas the spectra of destinezite are intense and well defined. Bands are assigned to phosphate and sulfate stretching and bending modes. Two symmetric stretching modes for both phosphate and sulfate support the concept of non‐equivalent phosphate and sulfate units in the mineral structure. Multiple water bending and stretching modes imply that non‐equivalent water molecules in the structure exist with different hydrogen‐bond strengths. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.