Landauite is an extremely rare oxide mineral belonging to the crichtonite group, typically occurring as small, black, rhombohedral crystals. It is primarily identified through analytical methods like X-ray diffraction due to its visual similarity to more common black oxides like ilmenite. It is found in specific igneous environments, notably associated with carbonatites and related alkaline intrusive complexes.
Is this landauite?
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 landauite with a known reference. Landauite sits at Mohs 7.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: gray.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: submetallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: aggregates, irregular grains, prismatic.
Often confused with
Landauite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Landauite is noticeably harder (Mohs 7.5 vs. 5-6); streak differs, so Landauite leaves gray, Ilmenite leaves black to reddish brown; luster reads submetallic on Landauite and metallic to submetallic on Ilmenite.
How to tell apart: Landauite is noticeably harder (Mohs 7.5 vs. 5-6); streak differs, so Landauite leaves gray, Hematite leaves cherry-red or reddish brown; luster reads submetallic on Landauite and metallic or submetallic to dull on Hematite.
Often found alongside landauite
Minerals reported to co-occur with landauite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Na,Pb)(Mn²⁺,Y)(Zn,Fe)₂(Ti,Fe³⁺,Nb)₁₈(O,OH,F)O₃₈
- Mohs hardness
- 7.5
- Density
- 4.42 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Gray
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque, translucent through thin edges
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Aggregates, irregular grains, prismatic
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- An accessory mineral in albite veins cutting syenite pegmatite associated with an alkalic pluton
Where rockhounds find landauite
Classic worldwide localities
- Burpala massif, 120 km north of Lake Baikal, eastern Siberia, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: An accessory mineral in albite veins cutting syenite pegmatite associated with an alkalic pluton. If you start seeing albite, polylithionite, brookite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: aggregates, irregular grains, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find landauite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
