Wernerkrauseite is a rare manganese oxide mineral primarily identified in the Kalahari Manganese Field. It typically appears as dark brown to black platy crystals and is often found associated with other manganese-rich minerals in metamorphosed sedimentary sequences.
Is this wernerkrauseite?
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 wernerkrauseite with a known reference. Wernerkrauseite sits at Mohs ~3, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Streak: black.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Luster: sub-metallic.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: black.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: platy crystals, granular.
Often confused with
Wernerkrauseite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Hausmannite is the harder of the two (Mohs 5.5 vs. ~3); streak differs, so Wernerkrauseite leaves black, Hausmannite leaves dark reddish brown; luster reads sub-metallic on Wernerkrauseite and submetallic on Hausmannite.
How to tell apart: Bixbyite is the harder of the two (Mohs 6-6.5 vs. ~3); luster reads sub-metallic on Wernerkrauseite and metallic on Bixbyite.
Often found alongside wernerkrauseite
Minerals reported to co-occur with wernerkrauseite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- CaFe₂MnO₆
- Mohs hardness
- ~3
- Density
- 4.66 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Black
- Luster
- Sub-metallic
- Transparency
- Opaque
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Platy crystals, granular
- Cleavage
- None
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- A late-stage mineral formed during retrograde metamorphism of strongly altered xenoliths within alkaline basalt
Where rockhounds find wernerkrauseite
Classic worldwide localities
- Bellerberg volcano (Caspar quarry), Ettringen near Mayen, Eifel, Rhineland-Palatinate, Germany
Field-hunting tip
Where it forms: A late-stage mineral formed during retrograde metamorphism of strongly altered xenoliths within alkaline basalt. If you start seeing ettringite-thaumasite, hydrocalumite, jennite in float, you are in the right ground. Typical habit: platy crystals, granular. Train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
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Find wernerkrauseite on the map
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