Pyroxmangite is a rare manganese silicate that is easily confused with the more common rhodonite. It is typically found in manganese-rich metamorphic deposits, often appearing as pinkish-brown to red granular masses or small, flattened crystals.
Is this pyroxmangite?
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 pyroxmangite with a known reference. Pyroxmangite 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. Streak: white.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: pearly to vitreous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: pink, rose pink, purplish pink, yellowish red brown, brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: massive.
Often confused with
Pyroxmangite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Luster reads pearly to vitreous on Pyroxmangite and vitreous, somewhat pearly on cleavages on Rhodonite.
How to tell apart: Luster reads pearly to vitreous on Pyroxmangite and vitreous on Bustamite.
How to tell apart: Pyroxmangite is noticeably harder (Mohs 5.5-6 vs. 3.5-4); luster reads pearly to vitreous on Pyroxmangite and vitreous, pearly in aggregates on Rhodochrosite.
Often found alongside pyroxmangite
Minerals reported to co-occur with pyroxmangite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- MnSiO₃
- Mohs hardness
- 5.5-6
- Density
- 3.61-3.80 g/cm³
- Streak
- White
- Luster
- Pearly to vitreous
- Transparency
- Semitransparent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Massive
- Cleavage
- Perfect on {110}, {110}, (110) ^ (110) = 92°; poor on {010}, {001}
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- In regionally metamorphosed manganese ore deposits and manganiferous rocks, perhaps with lower temperature history than rhodonite-bearing rocks
Where rockhounds find pyroxmangite
Classic worldwide localities
- American tunnel, Silverton, San Juan Co., the Galena district, Hinsdale Co., and the Idarado mine, Ouray Co, Colorado, USA
- Taguchi and other mines, Shidara, Aichi Prefecture, Japan
- Iwaizumi, Iwate Prefecture, Japan
- Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
- Simsiö, Lapua, Finland
- Fillinge, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: In regionally metamorphosed manganese ore deposits and manganiferous rocks, perhaps with lower temperature history than rhodonite-bearing rocks. If you start seeing spessartine, tephroite, alleghanyite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: massive. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify pyroxmangite?+
Where is pyroxmangite found?+
What rocks look like pyroxmangite?+
What minerals are found with pyroxmangite?+
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Find pyroxmangite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
