Manganotychite is a rare manganese-dominant member of the tychite group, primarily known from unique alkaline rock environments. Collectors typically look for small, sharp, pale pink to white 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. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to dull.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, white, pink.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. 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
- 2.70 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Equant pseudo-octahedral crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- An uncommon mineral formed in pegmatite veins in a differentiated alkalic massif (Mt. Alluaiv, Kola Peninsula, Russia)
Where rockhounds find manganotychite
Classic worldwide localities
- Mt. Alluaiv, Lovozero massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Mont Saint-Hilaire, Quebec, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: An uncommon mineral formed in pegmatite veins in a differentiated alkalic massif (Mt. Alluaiv, Kola Peninsula, Russia). If you start seeing shortite, pirssonite, sidorenkite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: equant pseudo-octahedral crystals. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify manganotychite?+
Where is manganotychite found?+
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
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
