Blatterite is an uncommon manganese-antimony oxide mineral that primarily appears as dark, metallic-looking tabular crystals. It is most famously associated with the skarn deposits of the Långban mining district in Sweden, where it formed under high-grade metamorphic conditions.
Is this blatterite?
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 blatterite with a known reference. Blatterite sits at Mohs 6 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Blatterite leaves a brownish-black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Blatterite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, brownish-black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive.
Often confused with
Blatterite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Blatterite leaves brownish-black, Braunite leaves black; luster reads metallic on Blatterite and submetallic on Braunite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Blatterite leaves brownish-black, Hausmannite leaves brownish-red; luster reads metallic on Blatterite and submetallic on Hausmannite.
Often found alongside blatterite
Minerals reported to co-occur with blatterite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Mn,Mg)₁₉(Sb,Fe)₃O₃₂(BO₃)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 4.9-5.1 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Brownish-black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphosed Manganese Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find blatterite
Classic worldwide localities
- Nordmark, Värmland, Sweden
- Långban, Värmland, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphosed manganese ore deposits country — that is the host setting where blatterite typically forms. If you start seeing hausmannite, braunite, jacobsite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find blatterite on the map
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