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 — 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 — 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 — that is 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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