How do I identify Alabandite?

Alabandite can be identified by its hardness of 3.5 - 4 on the Mohs scale, Iron black color. Look for these key characteristics when examining specimens.

What color is Alabandite?

Alabandite typically appears in Iron black, brown, greyish black, green; dull brown (tarnished). Color can vary depending on impurities and formation conditions.

How hard is Alabandite?

Alabandite has a hardness of 3.5 - 4 on the Mohs scale. This gives it moderate hardness.

Alabandite

A variety of Minerals

What is Alabandite?

Alabandite or alabandine is a rarely occurring manganese sulfide mineral. It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system with the chemical composition MnS and develops commonly massive to granular aggregates, but rarely also cubic or octahedral crystals to 1 cm.

Etymology & Origins

Alabandite was first described in 1784 by Franz-Joseph Müller von Reichenstein. The mineral name is derived from its supposed discovery locality at Alabanda (Aïdin) in Turkey.

Alabandite Market Value Calculator

Estimate the market value of Alabandite using size, quality, and finish. This preview calculator is for quick context and is not a formal appraisal.

Alabandite Localities Map

See where Alabandite is found with a localities map, collecting zones, and geology context. Generate a sample map preview below.

Map preview

North ZoneCentral RidgeSouth Basin

Key Characteristics

Formation of Alabandite

Alabandite forms in epithermal polymetallic sulfide veins and low-temperature manganese deposits. It occurs with acanthite, calcite, chalcopyrite, galena, pyrite, quartz, rhodochrosite, rhodonite, sphalerite and native tellurium. Sometimes it was found in meteorites. Localities are several areas in Antarctica, Argentina, Armenia, Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, China, Czech Republic, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, Greece, Greenland, India, Italy, Japan, Kyrgyzstan, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway, Peru, Poland, Romania, Russia, Slovakia, South Africa, South Korea, Sweden, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tanzania, the United Kingdom, the US, Uzbekistan and Yemen. All together at present time approximately 220 discovery sites are registered.

Composition of Alabandite

Alabandite crystallizes in the cubic crystal system in the space group Fm3m with the lattice parameter a = 5.22 Å and four formula units per unit cell.