Cochise College          Photos of Minerals

                          Geology Home Page                

                          Roger Weller, geology instructor

                          [email protected]
                                  copyright 2007-R.Weller
 

Mineral Information on:
psilomelane

Chemical Group:  oxide

Chemical Formula:  (Ba,H₂O)₂Mn₅O₁₀

Color:  iron-black to steel-gray              Streak:  brownish black to black

Hardness: 5 to 6            Specific Gravity:  4.71           

Transparency:  opaque          Luster: submetallic

Crystal Forms:  Monoclinic system
 

Mineral Habits:  often botryoidal or earthy

Mineral Associations:  calcite, pyrolusite, quartz, goethite, limonite

Identifying Characteristics:

Uses:  manganases ore; rarely as a gemstone

USA occurrences:
California
     Arlington mine, McCoy Mountains, Riverside County
 

WORLD-WIDE occurrences:
Germany
     Schneeberg, Saxony
France
     Romaneche
India
     Tekrasai
 

Toxicity:      when-swallowed- moderate         when inhaled- high

Additional Information: