Chemical Formula: MnO(OH)
Locality: Ilfeld, Harz, Germany
Name Origin: Named after its chemical composition.
Manganite is a mineral. Its composition is manganese oxide-hydroxide, MnO(OH), crystallizing in the monoclinic system (pseudo-orthorhombic). Crystals of manganite are prismatic and deeply striated parallel to their length; they are often grouped together in bundles. The color is dark steel-grey to iron-black, and the luster brilliant and submetallic. The streak is dark reddish-brown. The hardness is 4, and the specific gravity is 4.3. There is a perfect cleavage parallel to the brachypinacoid, and less-perfect cleavage parallel to the prism faces. Twinned crystals are not infrequent.
The mineral contains 89.7% manganese sesquioxide; it dissolves in hydrochloric acid with evolution of chlorine.
Occurrence
Manganite occurs with other manganese oxides in deposits formed by circulating meteoric water in the weathering environment in clay deposits and laterites. It forms by low temperature hydrothermal action in veins in association with calcite, barite, and siderite. Often associated with pyrolusite, braunite, hausmannite and goethite.
Manganite occurs in specimens exhibiting good crystal form at Ilfeld in the Harz Mountains of Germany, where the mineral occurs with calcite and barite in veins traversing porphyry. Crystals have also been found at Ilmenau in Thuringia, Neukirch near Sélestat in Alsace (newkirkite), Granam near Towie in Aberdeenshire, and in Upton Pyne near Exeter, UK and Negaunee, Michigan, United States, and in the Pilbarra of Western Australia. Good crystals have also been found at Atikokan, Ontario and Nova Scotia, Canada. As an ore of manganese it is much less abundant than pyrolusite or psilomelane.
Although described with various other names as early as 1772, the name manganite was first applied in a publication by W. Haidinger in 1827.
History
Discovery date : 1827
Town of Origin : ILFELD,HARZ
Country of Origin: ALLEMAGNE
Optical properties
Optical and misc. Properties : Opaque
Reflective Power : ~17%
Physical Properties
Cleavage: {010} Perfect
Color: Black, Gray, Grayish black.
Density: 4.3 – 4.4, Average = 4.34
Diaphaneity: Opaque
Fracture: Brittle – Generally displayed by glasses and most non-metallic minerals.
Hardness: 4 – Fluorite
Luminescence: Non-fluorescent.
Luster: Sub Metallic
Magnetism: Nonmagnetic
Streak: dark brown
Photos:
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