Dixenite is a rare arsenosilicate mineral typically found in metamorphic manganese deposits. It is best identified by its deep red color, perfect basal cleavage, and close association with other manganese minerals from the classic Långban mining district.
Is this dixenite?
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 dixenite with a known reference. Dixenite 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. Dixenite leaves a brownish-red streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Dixenite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark red, brownish-red, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Dixenite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Iron Ore is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-6.5 vs. 3-4); streak differs — Dixenite leaves brownish-red, Iron Ore leaves reddish-brown to black; luster reads vitreous on Dixenite and metallic to submetallic on Iron Ore.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Dixenite leaves brownish-red, Cinnabar leaves scarlet; luster reads vitreous on Dixenite and adamantine on Cinnabar.
Often found alongside dixenite
Minerals reported to co-occur with dixenite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Cu₄Mn₇(AsO₃)(AsO₄)(SiO₄)₂(OH)₆
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 3.93 g/cm³
- Streak
- Brownish-red
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {0001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphosed Manganese-iron Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen size and quality
Where rockhounds find dixenite
Classic worldwide localities
- Långban, Sweden
- Jakobsberg, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphosed manganese-iron ore deposits country — that is the host setting where dixenite typically forms. If you start seeing hausmannite, barite, manganosite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find dixenite on the map
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