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, so 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, 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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