Manaccanite is an older synonym for ilmenite, named after its type locality in Manaccan, Cornwall. It is a major ore of titanium, typically occurring as black, heavy, submetallic masses or crystals within igneous and metamorphic rocks.
Is this manaccanite?
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 manaccanite with a known reference. Manaccanite 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. Manaccanite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Manaccanite typically shows a submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, iron-black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Manaccanite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Manaccanite leaves black, Iron Ore leaves reddish-brown to black; luster reads submetallic on Manaccanite and metallic to submetallic on Iron Ore.
How to tell apart: Luster reads submetallic on Manaccanite and metallic on Magnetite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Manaccanite leaves black, Chromite leaves dark brown.
Often found alongside manaccanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with manaccanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- FeTiO₃
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 4.7-4.8 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Industrial, Collector
- Host rock
- Igneous Rocks
- Typical price
- $5-50 for typical specimens
Where rockhounds find manaccanite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Manaccan, Cornwall, UK
- Norway
- Quebec, Canada
- Russia
- Australia
Field-hunting tip
Look in igneous rocks country — that is the host setting where manaccanite typically forms. If you start seeing magnetite, hematite, rutile in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in North Carolina — start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find manaccanite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
