Melanostibite is a rare manganese-antimony oxide mineral typically found in metamorphic manganese deposits. It appears as dark black, opaque tabular crystals that exhibit a dull to metallic luster.
Is this melanostibite?
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 melanostibite with a known reference. Melanostibite sits at Mohs 5.5-6 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Melanostibite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Melanostibite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: tabular crystals, massive, granular.
Often confused with
Melanostibite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads metallic on Melanostibite and submetallic on Manaccanite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Melanostibite leaves black, Iron Ore leaves reddish-brown to black; luster reads metallic on Melanostibite and metallic to submetallic on Iron Ore.
Often found alongside melanostibite
Minerals reported to co-occur with melanostibite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Mn₂Sb(Sb,Fe)O₆
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5-6
- Density
- 5.4-5.5 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Massive, Granular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphosed Manganese Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $50-300 per thumbnail or small specimen
Where rockhounds find melanostibite
Classic worldwide localities
- Harstigen Mine, Sweden
- Jakobsberg Mine, Sweden
- Långban, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphosed manganese ore deposits country — that is the host setting where melanostibite typically forms. If you start seeing hausmannite, bixbyite, magnetite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, massive, granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find melanostibite on the map
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