Henrymeyerite is a very rare barium-iron-titanium oxide belonging to the hollandite group. It typically appears as small, black, prismatic to needle-like crystals occurring within alkaline rock complexes. Collectors primarily find this mineral in the Kovdor Massif of Russia, where it is often associated with magnetite and silicate minerals.
Is this henrymeyerite?
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 henrymeyerite with a known reference. Henrymeyerite sits at Mohs 5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: reddish brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: acicular.
Often confused with
Henrymeyerite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Henrymeyerite leaves reddish brown, Hollandite leaves black; luster reads adamantine on Henrymeyerite and metallic, splendent on Hollandite.
How to tell apart: Priderite is the harder of the two (Mohs 7 vs. 5-6); streak differs, so Henrymeyerite leaves reddish brown, Priderite leaves gray.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Henrymeyerite leaves reddish brown, Manaksite leaves white; luster reads adamantine on Henrymeyerite and vitreous on Manaksite.
Often found alongside henrymeyerite
Minerals reported to co-occur with henrymeyerite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- BaFe²⁺Ti₇O₁₆
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 4.0 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Reddish brown
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Acicular
- Cleavage
- None reported
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector, Scientific research
- Host rock
- In late-stage veins associated with metasomatized phoscorite-carbonatite rocks of an alkaline ultramafic complex (Kovodor, Russia)
Where rockhounds find henrymeyerite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kovodor and Seblyavr Complexes, Kola Peninsula, Russia, Eastern Antarctica
- Oasis Dzetti, Prince Charles Mountains, Eastern Antarctica
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In late-stage veins associated with metasomatized phoscorite-carbonatite rocks of an alkaline ultramafic complex (Kovodor, Russia). If you start seeing dolomite, fluorapatite, niobian anatase in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: acicular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find henrymeyerite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
