Hematolite is a rare manganese arsenate mineral typically found as small, tabular red to brown crystals. It is most famously associated with the metamorphosed manganese deposits of the Langban mining district in Sweden, where it occurs in complex mineral assemblages.
Is this hematolite?
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 hematolite with a known reference. Hematolite sits at Mohs 3.5 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Hematolite leaves a yellowish brown streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Hematolite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: dark red, brownish red, yellowish brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Hematolite 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. 3.5); streak differs — Hematolite leaves yellowish brown, Iron Ore leaves reddish-brown to black; luster reads vitreous on Hematolite and metallic to submetallic on Iron Ore.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Hematolite leaves yellowish brown, Allactite leaves light brown.
Often found alongside hematolite
Minerals reported to co-occur with hematolite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mn₆Al(AsO₄)₂(OH)₈
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 3.37 g/cm³
- Streak
- Yellowish Brown
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- Perfect Basal
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Manganese Skarn Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on specimen quality and size
Where rockhounds find hematolite
Classic worldwide localities
- Jakobsberg Mine, Nordmark, Sweden
- Langban, Filipstad, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Look in manganese skarn deposits country — that is the host setting where hematolite typically forms. If you start seeing hausmannite, barite, magnetite 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 hematolite on the map
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