Quenselite is a rare lead manganese hydroxide mineral typically found as small, thin, black tabular crystals. It is primarily known from the historic manganese mines of Långban, Sweden, where it occurs within high-grade metamorphic ore bodies.
Is this quenselite?
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 quenselite with a known reference. Quenselite sits at Mohs 2.5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Quenselite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Quenselite typically shows a submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, dark gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: tabular crystals, thin plates.
Often confused with
Quenselite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Hausmannite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-5.5 vs. 2.5); streak differs, so Quenselite leaves black, Hausmannite leaves brownish-red.
How to tell apart: Manganite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4 vs. 2.5); streak differs, so Quenselite leaves black, Manganite leaves dark reddish-brown.
Often found alongside quenselite
Minerals reported to co-occur with quenselite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- PbMn³⁺O₂(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 2.5
- Density
- 6.8 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Tabular Crystals, Thin Plates
- Cleavage
- Perfect in One Direction
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphosed Manganese Ore Deposits
- Typical price
- $100-500 thumbnail size
Where rockhounds find quenselite
Classic worldwide localities
- Långban, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphosed manganese ore deposits country, the host setting where quenselite typically forms. If you start seeing hausmannite, braunite, calcite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a tabular crystals, thin plates habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify quenselite?+
Where is quenselite found?+
How much is quenselite worth?+
Is quenselite safe to handle?+
What rocks look like quenselite?+
What minerals are found with quenselite?+
What kind of rock does quenselite form in?+
What is quenselite used for?+
Find quenselite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
