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. Streak: brownish red.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic-adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blackish gray, brownish gray, brownish black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: euhedral 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 brownish red, Pyrite leaves greenish black to brownish black; luster reads metallic-adamantine on Hauerite and metallic, splendent on Pyrite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Hauerite leaves brownish red, Sphalerite leaves pale brown to pale yellow and white; luster reads metallic-adamantine on Hauerite and resinous to adamantine 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
- 3.463 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Brownish red
- Luster
- Metallic-adamantine
- Transparency
- Opaque to subtranslucent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Euhedral crystals, massive
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A low-temperature mineral commonly associated with solfataric waters, in clay deposits rich in sulfur, and from decomposed extrusive rocks
Where rockhounds find hauerite
Classic worldwide localities
- Gulf and Big Hill salt domes, Matagorda Co., Texas, USA
- High Island salt dome, Galveston Co., Texas, USA
- Boling salt dome, Wharton Co., Texas, USA
- Fannett salt dome, Jefferson Co, Texas, USA
- Kalinka, near Banská Bystrica (Neusohl) (type locality), and at Banská Štiavnica (Schemnitz), Slovakia
- Jeziorko and Grzybow, and in the Machow mine, Tarnobrzeg, Poland
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A low-temperature mineral commonly associated with solfataric waters, in clay deposits rich in sulfur, and from decomposed extrusive rocks. If you start seeing sulfur, realgar, gypsum in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: euhedral crystals, massive. 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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