Saneroite is a rare manganese silicate mineral typically identified by its vibrant orange, fibrous, or radiating needle-like crystal clusters. It is highly sought after by collectors for its limited locality occurrences, most notably in the manganese mines of the Val Graveglia region in Italy.
Is this saneroite?
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 saneroite with a known reference. Saneroite 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. Saneroite leaves a yellowish-orange streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Saneroite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: orange, reddish-orange.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: triclinic. Typical habit: fibrous aggregates, radiating needles, tabular crystals.
Often confused with
Saneroite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
Often found alongside saneroite
Minerals reported to co-occur with saneroite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Na₂Mn₁₀Si₁₀O₂₈(OH)₂
- Mohs hardness
- 4
- Density
- 3.5 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Yellowish-orange
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Translucent
- Crystal system
- Triclinic
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous Aggregates, Radiating Needles, Tabular Crystals
- Cleavage
- Perfect
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Manganese Deposits in Chert and Shale
- Typical price
- $50-300 per specimen
Where rockhounds find saneroite
Classic worldwide localities
- Val Graveglia, Liguria, Italy
Field-hunting tip
Look in manganese deposits in chert and shale country — that is the host setting where saneroite typically forms. If you start seeing braunite, quartz, inesite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a fibrous aggregates, radiating needles, tabular crystals habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find saneroite on the map
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