Melanite is a titanium-rich variety of the mineral Andradite, easily recognized by its lustrous, jet-black appearance and well-formed dodecahedral crystals. It is most commonly found in alkaline igneous rocks like nepheline syenites and phonolites where titanium is abundant.
Is this melanite?
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 melanite with a known reference. Melanite sits at Mohs 6.5-7, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Melanite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Melanite typically shows a subadamantine to vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, dark brownish-black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: dodecahedral crystals.
Often confused with
Melanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads subadamantine to vitreous on Melanite and vitreous on Schorl.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Melanite leaves white, Magnetite leaves black; luster reads subadamantine to vitreous on Melanite and metallic on Magnetite.
Often found alongside melanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with melanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Ca₃(Fe³⁺,Ti)₂(SiO₄)₃
- Mohs hardness
- 6.5-7
- Density
- 3.7-4.1 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Subadamantine to Vitreous
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Dodecahedral Crystals
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Uncommon
- Uses
- Collector, Jewelry
- Host rock
- Alkaline Igneous Rocks
- Typical price
- $10-100 per specimen
Where rockhounds find melanite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Germany
- Italy
- USA
- Mexico
- Russia
Field-hunting tip
Look in alkaline igneous rocks country, the host setting where melanite typically forms. If you start seeing nepheline, pyroxene, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a dodecahedral crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop. In the U.S., the densest reported localities are in Arkansas. Start trip planning there.
Common questions
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Find melanite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
