Ternovite is a rare manganese oxide mineral belonging to the todorokite group, typically occurring as fibrous or powdery masses within sedimentary manganese ore bodies. It is primarily identified through mineralogical analysis of its association with other black manganese minerals in oxidation zones, as macro-identification is difficult.
Is this ternovite?
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 ternovite with a known reference. Ternovite sits at Mohs 1-2 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Ternovite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Ternovite typically shows a submetallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, brownish-black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: fibrous aggregates, crusts, massive.
Often confused with
Ternovite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs — Ternovite leaves black, Birnessite leaves brownish-black; luster reads submetallic on Ternovite and dull on Birnessite.
How to tell apart: Romanèchite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-6 vs. 1-2); streak differs — Ternovite leaves black, Romanèchite leaves shiny brownish black; luster reads submetallic on Ternovite and submetallic to dull on Romanèchite.
Often found alongside ternovite
Minerals reported to co-occur with ternovite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Mg,Ca)Mn⁴⁺₃O₇·nH₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 1-2
- Density
- 3.5-3.8 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Submetallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Fibrous Aggregates, Crusts, Massive
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Sedimentary Manganese Deposits
- Typical price
- $20-100 per specimen
Where rockhounds find ternovite
Classic worldwide localities
- Ternovskoye deposit, Ukraine
- Nikopol manganese basin, Ukraine
Field-hunting tip
Look in sedimentary manganese deposits country — that is the host setting where ternovite typically forms. If you start seeing pyrolusite, goethite, manganite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a fibrous aggregates, crusts, massive habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find ternovite on the map
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