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. Streak: dark green.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: submetallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, lead gray, brownish gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: disseminated, granular, massive.
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, Sphalerite leaves pale brown to pale yellow and white; luster reads submetallic on Alabandite and resinous to adamantine on Sphalerite.
How to tell apart: Alabandite is noticeably harder (Mohs 3.5-4 vs. 2.5-2.75); streak differs, so Alabandite leaves dark green, Galena leaves lead-gray; luster reads submetallic 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, Magnetite leaves black; luster reads submetallic on Alabandite and metallic to submetallic, may be dull 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
- 3.95-4.04 g/cm³
- Streak
- Dark green
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque, but translucent in very thin fragments
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Disseminated, granular, massive
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {001}
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Ore of manganese
- Host rock
- May be in large quantities in epithermal polymetallic sulfide vein and especially in low-temperature manganese deposits
Where rockhounds find alabandite
Classic worldwide localities
- Lucky Cuss mine, Tombstone, Cochise Co., Arizona, USA
- Queen of the West mine, Summit Co., Colorado, USA
- Schellbourne, White Pine Co., Nevada, USA
- Butte, Silver Bow Co., Montana, USA
- Alabanda, 30 km south-southeast of Aydın, Aydın Province, Turkey (type locality)
- Baia-de-Arieş (Offenbánya), Săcărı̂mb (Nagyág), and Cavnic (Kapnikbánya), Romania
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: May be in large quantities in epithermal polymetallic sulfide vein and especially in low-temperature manganese deposits. If you start seeing galena, chalcopyrite, sphalerite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: disseminated, granular, massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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