Alabandite is a manganese sulfide mineral typically found in low-temperature hydrothermal veins. Collectors can identify it by its characteristic dark olive-green streak and perfect cubic cleavage, distinguishing it from visually similar metallic sulfides.
Is this alabandite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch alabandite with a known reference. Alabandite sits at Mohs 3.5-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Alabandite leaves a dark green to olive-green streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Alabandite typically shows a submetallic to dull luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, iron-black, brownish-black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: massive, granular, or rare cubic crystals.
Often confused with
Alabandite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Alabandite leaves dark green to olive-green, Sphalerite leaves white to yellow-brown; luster reads submetallic to dull on Alabandite and resinous to submetallic on Sphalerite.
How to tell apart: Alabandite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 2.5); streak differs, so Alabandite leaves dark green to olive-green, Galena leaves lead-gray; luster reads submetallic to dull on Alabandite and metallic on Galena.
How to tell apart: Magnetite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5-6.5 vs. 3.5-4); streak differs, so Alabandite leaves dark green to olive-green, Magnetite leaves black; luster reads submetallic to dull on Alabandite and metallic on Magnetite.
Often found alongside alabandite
Minerals reported to co-occur with alabandite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- MnS
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5-4
- Density
- 3.95-4.05 g/cm³
- Streak
- Dark Green to Olive-green
- Luster
- Submetallic to Dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, Granular, Or Rare Cubic Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect Cubic
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Ore of Manganese
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins, Skarns
- Typical price
- $10-100 per specimen
Where rockhounds find alabandite
Classic worldwide localities
- Nagybánya, Romania
- Franklin, New Jersey, USA
- Trepca, Kosovo
- Chihuahua, Mexico
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins, skarns country, the host setting where alabandite typically forms. If you start seeing rhodochrosite, galena, sphalerite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a massive, granular, or rare cubic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find alabandite on the map
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