Hausmannite Gem Guide and Properties Chart

Hausmannite is a brown to black mineral that is part of the spinel group. It was named after Johann Friedrich Ludwig Hausmann who was a professor of mineralogy at the University of Göttingen in Germany. Some of the finest samples come from Namibia and South Africa.

General Information

Classification
Optical Properties
Characteristic Physical Properties
Chemistry & Crystallography

Common Name

Hausmannite

Species

Hausmannite

Transparency

Opaque

Refractive Index

2.152-2.462

Birefringence

0.310

Pleochroism

Dichroic, Weak light gray and dark gray

Hardness

5.5

Streak

brown to reddish

Luster

Metallic, Resinous, Dull, Submetallic

Stability

Brittle

Fracture

Irregular, uneven

Cleavage

Complete, good

Chemical Name

manganese oxide

Chemical Formula

Mn²⁺Mn³⁺O₄

Crystal System

Tetragonal

Chemistry Classification

Oxide

Hausmannite Colors

Black
Brown

Countries of Origin

Russian Federation; Viet Nam; United States of America; Egypt; Kazakhstan; United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; Oman; Bosnia And Herzegovina; Greece; Austria; Sweden; Morocco; Unknown; China; Brazil; Algeria; Slovakia; Bulgaria; Chile; France; Nigeria; Argentina; Romania; Japan; United Arab Emirates; Switzerland; Bolivia (Plurinational State of); India; Spain; Canada; Burkina Faso; Mauritania; Turkey; Belgium; Norway; Namibia; Italy; Mexico; South Africa; Australia; Jamaica; Germany; Indonesia

Care

Take care with handling as specimens can be brittle. It is soluble in HCL.