The composition of carphosiderite has been given as H₂O.Fe₃(SO₄)₂(OH)₅H₂O and like the jarosites is characterized by a ferric iron to sulphate ratio of 3:2. It is significant not only that this formula was worked out on artificial material but also that none of the analyses so far made supports it. The present investigation shows that there is little or no evidence for the existence of a mineral with the above composition and that carphosiderites are in reality either jarosite or natrojarosite. It has long been thought that certain other minerals, namely borgströmite, utahite, cyprusite, pastréite, raimondite, apatelite, and planoferrite, were similar to, if not identical with, carphosiderite and six of these are listed with carphosiderite in Dana, Syst. Min., 7th edn. These minerals with the exception of planoferrite and the possible exception of apatelite are also jarosite or natrojarosite.