The facts
What manganite actually is
The species behind manganite is manganite, MnO(OH); it forms in the monoclinic system.
Mn³⁺ oxyhydroxide; steel-grey to black with a reddish-brown streak is responsible for the colour — and the chromophore, not the name, is what decides whether a colour is stable.
On the instruments it reads a specific gravity of about 4.29–4.34, with perfect {010}, good {110} and {001} cleavage.
Where manganite comes from
Commercial material comes from Ilfeld, Harz Mountains, Germany, N'Chwaning Mines, Kalahari, South Africa and Cornwall (Botallack), England.
Different localities give different colour and different clarity, and the trade prices them differently. We state which one.
How manganite is treated
Untreated. Prismatic striated crystals from Ilfeld are the historic benchmark; specimens tarnish and should not be washed with acid.
We state the treatment on every stone, including when the honest answer is that it cannot be determined. A treatment disclosed is a fact; a treatment discovered later is a refund.
What manganite is confused with
Watch for Pyrolusite, Goethite, Stibnite and Enargite — these are what turn up sold under this name.
Because the material is opaque, refractive index is no help. Specific gravity around 4.29–4.34, hardness of 4, streak and magnification do the work instead.
What manganite is used for
The trades that buy manganite are mineral collecting and heavy industry. They do not want the same thing, and they do not pay in the same unit.
We quote each application in the unit that trade actually buys in, by the specimen or by the tonne.
Durability and care
Manganite is 4 on the Mohs scale, with perfect {010}, good {110} and {001} cleavage.
Below about 5.5 a stone will be scratched by ordinary household dust, which is largely quartz. That does not make it unusable — it makes it a pendant, an earring or an object rather than a ring worn every day.
Warm water, mild soap and a soft brush. Avoid ultrasonic cleaners on anything fracture-filled, stabilised, dyed or visibly included.
What manganite costs
Expect roughly Ilfeld and N'Chwaning specimens $40–$1,500, depending on quality.
That is a range, not a quote. Colour, size, clarity, cut and origin move the figure a long way inside it, and the only honest price is one given against a specific stone. Send us what you need and we will price it.
Questions
Is manganite treated, and how?
Untreated. Prismatic striated crystals from Ilfeld are the historic benchmark; specimens tarnish and should not be washed with acid.
Where does manganite come from?
Ilfeld, Harz Mountains, Germany, N'Chwaning Mines, Kalahari, South Africa and Cornwall (Botallack), England. Origin affects price, so we name the locality rather than the country on every quote.
Is manganite hard enough to wear every day?
Not really. At 4 on the Mohs scale it is softer than the quartz dust in ordinary household dirt, so it scratches with wear. It suits pendants, earrings and objects better than a daily ring.
How much does manganite cost?
Indicatively Ilfeld and N'Chwaning specimens $40–$1,500. Colour, size, clarity and origin move the price a long way within that, so treat it as a range and ask for a quote against a specific stone.
What is manganite confused with?
Most often Pyrolusite, Goethite, Stibnite and Enargite. Since the material is opaque, separation relies on specific gravity near 4.29–4.34, hardness and magnification.
Related stones
Looking for manganite?
Tell us the size, the quality and what it is for. We source it, photograph it and quote it — with the locality named.
Ask about manganite