Braunite is a manganese silicate mineral often occurring in metamorphosed manganese deposits. Collectors look for its characteristic submetallic luster and sharp, tetragonal pyramidal crystals, though it is more frequently found in massive or granular forms.
Is this braunite?
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 braunite with a known reference. Braunite sits at Mohs 6-6.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Braunite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Braunite typically shows a submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, brownish-black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: pyramidal crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Braunite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Braunite leaves black, Hausmannite leaves brownish-red.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Braunite leaves black, Romanèchite leaves shiny brownish black; luster reads submetallic on Braunite and submetallic to dull on Romanèchite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads submetallic on Braunite and metallic on Pyrolusite.
Often found alongside braunite
Minerals reported to co-occur with braunite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mn²⁺Mn³⁺₆SiO₁₂
- Mohs hardness
- 6-6.5
- Density
- 4.7-4.8 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Pyramidal Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {112}
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Ore of Manganese, Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphosed Manganese Deposits
- Typical price
- $10-60 for small to cabinet specimens
Where rockhounds find braunite
2 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Ilfeld, Germany
- Langban, Sweden
- Kalahari Manganese Field, South Africa
- Nagpur, India
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphosed manganese deposits country — that is the host setting where braunite typically forms. If you start seeing hausmannite, pyrolusite, hematite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a pyramidal crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in New Jersey, Wisconsin — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find braunite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
