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. Streak: pale chocolate-brown to reddish brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous, pearly to submetallic on cleavages.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blood red, brown red, black, black red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular.
Often confused with
Hematolite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Hematite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-6 vs. 3.5); streak differs, so Hematolite leaves pale chocolate-brown to reddish brown, Hematite leaves cherry-red or reddish brown; luster reads vitreous, pearly to submetallic on cleavages on Hematolite and metallic or submetallic to dull on Hematite.
How to tell apart: Allactite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4.5 vs. 3.5); streak differs, so Hematolite leaves pale chocolate-brown to reddish brown, Allactite leaves gray to faint 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
- (Mn,Mg,Al)₁₅(AsO₃)(AsO₄)₂(OH)₂₃
- Mohs hardness
- 3.5
- Density
- 3.44-3.49 g/cm³
- Streak
- Pale chocolate-brown to reddish brown
- Luster
- Vitreous, pearly to submetallic on cleavages
- Transparency
- Translucent to nearly opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {0001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In fissures in metamorphosed limestone in metamorphosed Fe–Mn orebodies
Where rockhounds find hematolite
Classic worldwide localities
- Moss mine, Nordmark, and from Långban, Värmland, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In fissures in metamorphosed limestone in metamorphosed Fe–Mn orebodies. If you start seeing manganosite, pyrochroite, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: tabular. 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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