Lindbergite is a rare manganese oxalate mineral that typically occurs as thin, powdery crusts or microscopic crystalline aggregates. It is most commonly found as a secondary mineral in granite pegmatites, often forming through the reaction of manganese-bearing minerals with organic acids. Due to its solubility and sensitive nature, it is primarily sought by advanced micromount collectors.
Is this lindbergite?
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 lindbergite with a known reference. Lindbergite sits at Mohs 2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: white, grayish white.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: prismatic, pseudomorphous.
Often confused with
Lindbergite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside lindbergite
Minerals reported to co-occur with lindbergite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mn(C₂O₄)·2H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 2.10 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic, pseudomorphous
- Cleavage
- On {010}, perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A secondary mineral in granite pegmatites
Where rockhounds find lindbergite
Classic worldwide localities
- Boca Rica mine, Sapucaia do Norte, Galiléia Co., Minas Gerais, Brazil (type locality), from Parsettens, Grisons, Switzerland, the Lecht Mines, Banffshire, Scotland, and the Morefield Pegmatite, Amelia, Virginia, USA
- Black Forest, Germany, at the Clara Mine, Oberwolfach, Wolfach Valley, Baden-Württemberg
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A secondary mineral in granite pegmatites. If you start seeing triphylite, phosphosiderite, frondelite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: prismatic, pseudomorphous. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify lindbergite?+
Where is lindbergite found?+
What rocks look like lindbergite?+
What minerals are found with lindbergite?+
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Find lindbergite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
