Marokite is an uncommon manganese oxide mineral primarily known from the Tachgagalt mine in Morocco. It typically occurs as dark, submetallic tabular crystals embedded within manganese-rich host rocks alongside other manganese minerals.
Is this marokite?
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 marokite with a known reference. Marokite sits at Mohs 6.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: reddish brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: adamantine.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: fibrous, prismatic.
Often confused with
Marokite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Marokite leaves reddish brown, Braunite leaves brownish black to steel-gray; luster reads adamantine on Marokite and submetallic on Braunite.
How to tell apart: Marokite is noticeably harder (Mohs 6.5 vs. 5.5); streak differs, so Marokite leaves reddish brown, Hausmannite leaves dark reddish brown; luster reads adamantine on Marokite and submetallic on Hausmannite.
Often found alongside marokite
Minerals reported to co-occur with marokite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaMn₂O₄
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5
- Density
- 4.64 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Reddish brown
- Luster
- Adamantine
- Transparency
- Opaque, translucent through thin edges
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous, prismatic
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {100}; good on {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In hydrothermal manganese oxide deposits
Where rockhounds find marokite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tachgagalt, 17 km south of Ouarzazate, Anti-Atlas Mountains, Morocco
- Black Rock mine, near Kuruman, Cape Province, South Africa
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In hydrothermal manganese oxide deposits. If you start seeing jouravskite, hausmannite, braunite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: fibrous, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify marokite?+
Where is marokite found?+
What rocks look like marokite?+
What minerals are found with marokite?+
What kind of rock does marokite form in?+
What is marokite used for?+
Find marokite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
