Ericssonite is an extremely rare barium manganese silicate mineral typically found in metamorphic manganese deposits. It usually appears as dark brown to black tabular crystals, often forming thin, platy clusters in association with other manganese minerals.
Is this ericssonite?
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 ericssonite with a known reference. Ericssonite sits at Mohs 4.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: rich brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: submetallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: reddish black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: massive, platy.
Often confused with
Ericssonite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Ericssonite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4.5 vs. 2-3); streak differs, so Ericssonite leaves rich brown, Lamprophyllite leaves pale yellow, may have an orange tint.
How to tell apart: Ericssonite is noticeably harder (Mohs 4.5 vs. 2-3); streak differs, so Ericssonite leaves rich brown, Barytolamprophyllite leaves light brown; luster reads submetallic on Ericssonite and vitreous on Barytolamprophyllite.
Often found alongside ericssonite
Minerals reported to co-occur with ericssonite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- BaMn₂Fe³⁺Si₂O₇(OH,O)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4.5
- Density
- 4.21 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Rich brown
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive, platy
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {100}, fair on {011}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A rare mineral, embedded in a fine-grained manganoan aegirine zone in well-banded tephroite-rhodonite-manganoan aegirine skarn, in a metamorphosed Fe{Mn orebody
Where rockhounds find ericssonite
Classic worldwide localities
- Långban, Värmland, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A rare mineral, embedded in a fine-grained manganoan aegirine zone in well-banded tephroite-rhodonite-manganoan aegirine skarn, in a metamorphosed Fe{Mn orebody. If you start seeing orthoericssonite, tephroite, rhodonite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive, platy. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find ericssonite on the map
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