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 — 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 — 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 — that is 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
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Find quenselite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
