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. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: subadamantine to vitreous.
- 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 to resinous on Schorl.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Melanite leaves white, Magnetite leaves black; luster reads subadamantine to vitreous on Melanite and metallic to submetallic, may be dull 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
- BlackDark brownish-black
- 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
Where rockhounds find melanite
1 mapped spotsClassic worldwide localities
- Germany
- Italy
- USA
- Mexico
- Russia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: alkaline igneous rocks. If you start seeing nepheline, pyroxene, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: dodecahedral crystals. 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.
