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, so 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, 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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