Hauerite is a manganese sulfide mineral typically found as well-formed, octahedral crystals in sedimentary sulfur deposits. It is best known for its distinct reddish-brown streak, which helps distinguish it from other metallic-looking sulfides. Collectors highly prize specimens from the classic localities in Slovakia and Sicily due to the sharpness of the crystal habit.
Is this hauerite?
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 hauerite with a known reference. Hauerite sits at Mohs 4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Hauerite leaves a cherry-red to brownish-red streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Hauerite typically shows a metallic to submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: reddish-brown, dark brownish-black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: octahedral crystals, massive.
Often confused with
Hauerite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Pyrite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 4); streak differs, so Hauerite leaves cherry-red to brownish-red, Pyrite leaves greenish-black to brownish-black; luster reads metallic to submetallic on Hauerite and metallic on Pyrite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Hauerite leaves cherry-red to brownish-red, Sphalerite leaves white to yellow-brown; luster reads metallic to submetallic on Hauerite and resinous to submetallic on Sphalerite.
Often found alongside hauerite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hauerite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- MnS₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 3.46 g/cm³
- Streak
- Cherry-red to Brownish-red
- Luster
- Metallic to Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Octahedral Crystals, Massive
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {111}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Deposits, Particularly Sulfur Mines
- Typical price
- $20-150 for thumbnail to small cabinet specimens
Where rockhounds find hauerite
Classic worldwide localities
- Detva, Slovakia
- Raddusa, Sicily, Italy
- Tunaberg, Sweden
- Långban, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary deposits, particularly sulfur mines country, the host setting where hauerite typically forms. If you start seeing sulfur, gypsum, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a octahedral crystals, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find hauerite on the map
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