Manganite

specimen number:
9302101

location:
Ilfeld, Harz Mts, Germany

description:

Lustrous classic black prismatic terminated crystals of manganite to 1.0 cm in size across the top of this matrix. Minor white barite is present. This is in really good condition. The specimen comes with a number of previous labels, some of them quite antique. One label comes from the Riksmuseets Museum in Stockholm.

Located in the southern Harz Mountains of Germany, the historical mining district of Ilfeld is famous for its hydrothermal manganese vein deposits. Organized mining operations in the area evolved from early surface workings into a structured industry with a major boom during the 18th and 19th centuries, followed by an initial closure in 1890, a brief wartime reopening from 1916, and its final shutdown in 1922. Geologically, the area is situated within the Permian Ilfeld Basin, where classic Rotliegend volcanic and volcaniclastic rocks--specifically porphyritic formations--act as the host for mineralized veins containing key oxides like manganite, pyrolusite, and hausmannite alongside barite and calcite gangue.

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