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 — 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 — 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 — that is 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
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Find mannardite on the map
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