Tschaunerite is an extremely rare iron-chromium-titanium oxide mineral discovered within the shock-melt veins of the Suizhou meteorite. It is a high-pressure spinel-group mineral that forms through the solid-state reaction of chromite and ilmenite under extreme impact conditions.
Is this tschaunerite?
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 tschaunerite with a known reference. Tschaunerite sits at Mohs 8 — softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Tschaunerite leaves a black streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Tschaunerite typically shows a metallic luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: cubic. Typical habit: anhedral grains.
Often confused with
Tschaunerite vs. its common look-alikes — and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Tschaunerite is noticeably harder (Mohs 8 vs. 5.5); streak differs — Tschaunerite leaves black, Chromite leaves dark brown; luster reads metallic on Tschaunerite and submetallic on Chromite.
How to tell apart: Tschaunerite is noticeably harder (Mohs 8 vs. 5.5-6.5).
Often found alongside tschaunerite
Minerals reported to co-occur with tschaunerite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- Fe(Fe,Cr,Ti)₂O₄
- Mohs hardness
- 8
- Density
- 4.82 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Cubic
- Crystal habit
- Anhedral Grains
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- L6-type Ordinary Chondrite Meteorites
- Typical price
- n/a (research grade only)
Where rockhounds find tschaunerite
Classic worldwide localities
- Suizhou meteorite, Hubei, China
Field-hunting tip
Look in l6-type ordinary chondrite meteorites country — that is the host setting where tschaunerite typically forms. If you start seeing chromite, kamacite, troilite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a anhedral grains habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find tschaunerite on the map
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