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 — 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 — 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 — 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 — that is 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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