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, so Blatterite leaves brownish-black, Braunite leaves black; luster reads metallic on Blatterite and submetallic on Braunite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so 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, 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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