Nambulite is a rare manganese silicate mineral typically found in metamorphic manganese ore deposits. It is most easily identified by its distinct reddish-brown color and triclinic crystal habit, often occurring alongside other manganese-rich minerals like rhodochrosite.
Is this nambulite?
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 nambulite with a known reference. Nambulite sits at Mohs 6 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Nambulite leaves a white streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Nambulite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: red, reddish-brown, orange-red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: prismatic to tabular crystals, sometimes massive or granular.
Often confused with
Nambulite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside nambulite
Minerals reported to co-occur with nambulite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- LiNaMn₄Si₅O₁₄(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 6
- Density
- 3.55 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Prismatic to Tabular Crystals, Sometimes Massive or Granular
- Cleavage
- Perfect On {010}, Good On {100}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Manganese Deposits, Metamorphic Rocks
- Typical price
- $50-500 depending on crystal size and quality
Where rockhounds find nambulite
Classic worldwide localities
- Tanohata mine, Iwate Prefecture, Japan
- Cerchiara mine, Liguria, Italy
- Kombat mine, Namibia
Field-hunting tip
Look in manganese deposits, metamorphic rocks country — that is the host setting where nambulite typically forms. If you start seeing rhodochrosite, quartz, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a prismatic to tabular crystals, sometimes massive or granular habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify nambulite?+
Where is nambulite found?+
How much is nambulite worth?+
What rocks look like nambulite?+
What minerals are found with nambulite?+
What kind of rock does nambulite form in?+
What is nambulite used for?+
Find nambulite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
