Browneite is an extremely rare manganese sulfide mineral that was first identified in the Kaidun meteorite. It occurs as microscopic grains within extraterrestrial chondritic material and is of great interest to planetary scientists and mineralogists studying meteorite composition.
Is this browneite?
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 browneite with a known reference. Browneite sits at Mohs 3-4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Browneite leaves a brownish streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Browneite typically shows a submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellowish-brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Browneite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Browneite leaves brownish, Alabandite leaves dark green to olive-green; luster reads submetallic on Browneite and submetallic to dull on Alabandite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Browneite leaves brownish, Sphalerite leaves white to yellow-brown; luster reads submetallic on Browneite and resinous to submetallic on Sphalerite.
Often found alongside browneite
Minerals reported to co-occur with browneite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- MnS
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 4.00 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Brownish
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral Grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Enstatite Chondrite Meteorites
- Typical price
- n/a
Where rockhounds find browneite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kaidun meteorite
Field-hunting tip
Look in enstatite chondrite meteorites country — that is the host setting where browneite typically forms. If you start seeing enstatite, forsterite, troilite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a anhedral grains habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find browneite on the map
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