Manganotychite is a rare manganese-dominant member of the tychite group, primarily known from unique alkaline rock environments. Collectors typically look for small, sharp, yellow pseudo-octahedral crystals that often appear in cavities within intrusive rocks.
Is this manganotychite?
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 manganotychite with a known reference. Manganotychite sits at Mohs 4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Manganotychite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Manganotychite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow, yellowish-brown, colorless.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: equant pseudo-octahedral crystals.
Often confused with
Manganotychite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside manganotychite
Minerals reported to co-occur with manganotychite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₆Mn₂(SO₄)(CO₃)₄
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 2.81 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Equant Pseudo-octahedral Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Alkaline Igneous Pegmatites and Carbonatites
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find manganotychite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kovdor Massif (Kola Peninsula, Russia)
- Mont Saint-Hilaire (Quebec, Canada)
Field-hunting tip
Look in alkaline igneous pegmatites and carbonatites country — that is the host setting where manganotychite typically forms. If you start seeing eitelite, shortite, kovdorskite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a equant pseudo-octahedral crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify manganotychite?+
Where is manganotychite found?+
How much is manganotychite worth?+
What rocks look like manganotychite?+
What minerals are found with manganotychite?+
What kind of rock does manganotychite form in?+
What is manganotychite used for?+
Find manganotychite on the map
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