Mannardite is a rare barium-vanadium titanium oxide belonging to the hollandite group. It typically appears as small, black, vertically striated prismatic crystals often associated with quartz and anatase in hydrothermal deposits.
Is this mannardite?
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 mannardite with a known reference. Mannardite sits at Mohs 3-4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Mannardite leaves a brownish-black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Mannardite typically shows a submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, brownish-black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: tetragonal. Typical habit: prismatic crystals.
Often confused with
Mannardite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Hollandite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6 vs. 3-4); streak differs, so Mannardite leaves brownish-black, Hollandite leaves black; luster reads submetallic on Mannardite and metallic on Hollandite.
How to tell apart: Cryptomelane is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 3-4); streak differs, so Mannardite leaves brownish-black, Cryptomelane leaves brownish black.
Often found alongside mannardite
Minerals reported to co-occur with mannardite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ba(Ti₆V₂₊₂O₁₆)·H₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 4.67 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Brownish-black
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Tetragonal
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Veins in Sedimentary Rocks
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find mannardite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kamloops, British Columbia, Canada
- Hemlo, Ontario, Canada
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal veins in sedimentary rocks country, the host setting where mannardite typically forms. If you start seeing quartz, pyrite, anatase in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify mannardite?+
Where is mannardite found?+
How much is mannardite worth?+
What rocks look like mannardite?+
What minerals are found with mannardite?+
What kind of rock does mannardite form in?+
What is mannardite used for?+
Find mannardite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
