Rambergite is a rare polymorph of manganese sulfide, occurring primarily in metamorphic manganese deposits. Collectors typically find it as small, pinkish-brown platy crystals or granular masses associated with other manganese minerals.
Is this rambergite?
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 rambergite with a known reference. Rambergite sits at Mohs 4, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: vitreous to resinous.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: brown, black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: hexagonal, prismatic.
Often confused with
Rambergite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Rambergite leaves brown, Alabandite leaves dark green; luster reads vitreous to resinous on Rambergite and submetallic on Alabandite.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Rambergite leaves brown, Sphalerite leaves pale brown to pale yellow and white; luster reads vitreous to resinous on Rambergite and resinous to adamantine on Sphalerite.
Often found alongside rambergite
Minerals reported to co-occur with rambergite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- MnS
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 3.27 g/cm³
- Streak
- Brown
- Luster
- Vitreous to resinous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Hexagonal, prismatic
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- From tremolite skarn, likely a later stage hydrothermal mineral under low temperature conditions (Sweden)
Where rockhounds find rambergite
Classic worldwide localities
- Garpenberg Norra, Dalarna, Sweden
- Hirogawara mine, Urayama, Chichibu City, Saitama Prefecture, Japan
- Sediment of the central Gotland Deep, Baltic Sea
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: From tremolite skarn, likely a later stage hydrothermal mineral under low temperature conditions (Sweden). If you start seeing hausmannite, braunite, bementite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: hexagonal, prismatic. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify rambergite?+
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What rocks look like rambergite?+
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Find rambergite on the map
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