Manganbelyankinite is a rare hydrated manganese titanium-niobium oxide found in alkaline pegmatite complexes. Collectors look for its characteristic yellowish-brown tabular crystals often embedded within nepheline-rich rocks. It is chemically complex and typically identified through advanced mineralogical testing due to its close similarity to other members of the Belyankinite group.
Is this manganbelyankinite?
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 manganbelyankinite with a known reference. Manganbelyankinite sits at Mohs 2-2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: light brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: resinous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brownish black, pink brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: amorphous. Typical habit: amorphous, massive, metamict.
Often confused with
Manganbelyankinite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Manganbelyankinite leaves light brown, Belyankinite leaves white; luster reads resinous on Manganbelyankinite and vitreous to oily, pearly on cleavage surfaces on Belyankinite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Manganbelyankinite leaves light brown, Gerasimovskite leaves yellowish-white; luster reads resinous on Manganbelyankinite and pearly on Gerasimovskite.
Often found alongside manganbelyankinite
Minerals reported to co-occur with manganbelyankinite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mn²⁺(Ti,Nb)₅O₁₂·9H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 2-2.5
- Density
- 2.54 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Light brown
- Luster
- Resinous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Amorphous
- Crystal habit
- Amorphous, massive, metamict
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In pegmatite
Where rockhounds find manganbelyankinite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mts. Kedykverpakhk and Punkaruaiv, Lovozero massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In pegmatite. If you start seeing aegirine, nepheline, microcline in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: amorphous, massive, metamict. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find manganbelyankinite on the map
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