Vernadite is a manganese iron calcium hydroxide, typically black. It was approved as a distinct mineral species in 1944. It was first described from the Kusimovskoye manganese deposit, Southern Ural Mountains, Russia.
Is this vernadite?
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 vernadite with a known reference. Vernadite 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. Streak: chocolate brown.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: dull.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black, chocolate brown.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: hexagonal. Typical habit: platy.
Often confused with
Vernadite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Vernadite leaves chocolate brown, Pyrolusite leaves black, bluish black; luster reads dull on Vernadite and metallic on Pyrolusite.
How to tell apart: Manganite is the harder of the two (Mohs 4 vs. 1-2); streak differs, so Vernadite leaves chocolate brown, Manganite leaves reddish brown to nearly black; luster reads dull on Vernadite and submetallic on Manganite.
How to tell apart: Psilomelane is the harder of the two (Mohs 5-6 vs. 1-2); streak differs, so Vernadite leaves chocolate brown, Psilomelane leaves brownish black; luster reads dull on Vernadite and submetallic on Psilomelane.
Often found alongside vernadite
Minerals reported to co-occur with vernadite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- (Mn,Fe,Ca,Na)(O,OH)₂·nH₂O
- Mohs hardness
- 1-2
- Density
- 2.9-3.0 g/cm³
- Colors
- BlackChocolate brown
- Streak
- Chocolate brown
- Luster
- Dull
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Hexagonal
- Crystal habit
- Platy
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Common
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A weathering product of other manganese oxides, carbonates, and silicates; easily formed by the action of Fe, Mn-oxidizing bacteria
Where rockhounds find vernadite
Classic worldwide localities
- Kusimovskoye manganese deposit, 25 km west-northwest of Magnitogorsk, Southern Ural Mountains, Russia
- Mt. Zarod, Sikhote-Alin Mountains, Primorskiy Territory, Russia
- Lepkhe-Nelm, Lovozero massif, Kola Peninsula, Russia
- Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory, Australia
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A weathering product of other manganese oxides, carbonates, and silicates; easily formed by the action of Fe, Mn-oxidizing bacteria. If you start seeing todorokite, pyrolusite, romanèchite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find vernadite on the map
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