Långbanite is a rare manganese antimonate mineral typically found as tabular crystals or in massive form. It is highly sought after by collectors for its type locality in the Långban mines of Sweden, known for its unique mineral assemblage.
Is this långbanite?
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 långbanite with a known reference. Långbanite sits at Mohs 6.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: dark reddish brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic, brilliant.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: iron black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: crystalline, prismatic.
Often confused with
Långbanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Långbanite is noticeably harder (Mohs 6.5 vs. 5.5); luster reads metallic, brilliant on Långbanite and submetallic on Hausmannite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Långbanite leaves dark reddish brown, Braunite leaves brownish black to steel-gray; luster reads metallic, brilliant on Långbanite and submetallic on Braunite.
Often found alongside långbanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with långbanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mn₄Mn₉SbO₁₆(SiO₄)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5
- Density
- 4.92-4.94 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Dark reddish brown
- Luster
- Metallic, brilliant
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Crystalline, prismatic
- Cleavage
- Good cleavage or parting on {0001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In crystalline limestones and manganese-rich skarns in metamorphosed manganese deposits
Where rockhounds find långbanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Långban, Värmland, and the Sjö mine, near Grythyttan, Örebro, Sweden
- Gozaisho mine, Fukushima Prefecture, Japan
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In crystalline limestones and manganese-rich skarns in metamorphosed manganese deposits. If you start seeing manganoan aegirine, richterite, braunite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: crystalline, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find långbanite on the map
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