Strontiomelane is a rare manganese oxide mineral belonging to the hollandite group, typically occurring as fine acicular or fibrous aggregates. It is best identified through professional analytical techniques due to its strong structural resemblance to other cryptomelane-group minerals found in manganese-rich hydrothermal veins.
Is this strontiomelane?
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 strontiomelane with a known reference. Strontiomelane sits at Mohs 3-4 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Strontiomelane leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Strontiomelane typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, dark gray.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: monoclinic. Typical habit: acicular crystals, fibrous, massive.
Often confused with
Strontiomelane vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Hollandite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6 vs. 3-4).
How to tell apart: Cryptomelane is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. 3-4); streak differs — Strontiomelane leaves black, Cryptomelane leaves brownish black; luster reads metallic on Strontiomelane and submetallic on Cryptomelane.
How to tell apart: Romanèchite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-6 vs. 3-4); streak differs — Strontiomelane leaves black, Romanèchite leaves shiny brownish black; luster reads metallic on Strontiomelane and submetallic to dull on Romanèchite.
Often found alongside strontiomelane
Minerals reported to co-occur with strontiomelane. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- SrMn₈O₁₆
- Mohs hardness
- 3-4
- Density
- 4.15 g/cm³
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Monoclinic
- Crystal habit
- Acicular Crystals, Fibrous, Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Hydrothermal Manganese Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-150 for micro-mounts and small cabinet specimens
Where rockhounds find strontiomelane
Classic worldwide localities
- Mistra mine, Greece
- Maderanertal, Switzerland
- Sterling Hill, New Jersey, USA
Field-hunting tip
Look in hydrothermal manganese deposits country — that is the host setting where strontiomelane typically forms. If you start seeing braunite, bixbyite, hausmannite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a acicular crystals, fibrous, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find strontiomelane on the map
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