Pyrophanite is a rare manganese titanium oxide known for its distinct dark red to reddish-brown color. It typically forms thin, translucent, tabular crystals in metamorphic manganese deposits and is highly prized by mineral collectors for its rarity and chemical composition.
Is this pyrophanite?
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 pyrophanite with a known reference. Pyrophanite sits at Mohs 5-6, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: ocher-yellow, with greenish tinge.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: metallic to submetallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: blood red, green yellow, dark red.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: trigonal. Typical habit: platy, scaly.
Often confused with
Pyrophanite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Pyrophanite leaves ocher-yellow, with greenish tinge, Ilmenite leaves black to reddish brown.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Pyrophanite leaves ocher-yellow, with greenish tinge, Geikielite leaves purplish brown; luster reads metallic to submetallic on Pyrophanite and submetallic on Geikielite.
Often found alongside pyrophanite
Minerals reported to co-occur with pyrophanite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- MnTiO₃
- Mohs hardness
- 5-6
- Density
- 4.537 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Ocher-yellow, with greenish tinge
- Luster
- Metallic to submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque, translucent in thin fragments
- Crystal system
- Trigonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy, scaly
- Cleavage
- {0221}, perfect; {1012}, less perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Principally in metamorphosed manganese deposits; less commonly as an accessory mineral in granite, amphibolite, serpentinite; a very rare component in chondritic meteorites
Where rockhounds find pyrophanite
Classic worldwide localities
- Sterling Hill, Ogdensburg, Sussex Co., New Jersey, USA
- Bald Knob, near Galax, Alleghany Co., North Carolina, USA
- Granite Mountain, near Little Rock, Pulaski Co., Arkansas, USA
- Harstigen mine, near Persberg, Värmland, Sweden
- Ensila, Finland
- Bratthagen, near Larvik, Norway
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: Principally in metamorphosed manganese deposits; less commonly as an accessory mineral in granite, amphibolite, serpentinite; a very rare component in chondritic meteorites. If you start seeing ilmenite, geikielite, hematite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy, scaly. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify pyrophanite?+
Where is pyrophanite found?+
What rocks look like pyrophanite?+
What minerals are found with pyrophanite?+
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Find pyrophanite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
