Pyrolusite

Formula: MnO2

Origin of name: from Greek for fire and to wash

 

Crystal system: tetragonal

Crystal class: 4/m 2/m 2/m

Twinning: rare on {031} or {032}, may be polysynthetic

Unit cell: a = 4.400 Å, c = 2.874 Å

 

Colour: black, dark steel-gray

Diaphaneity: 

Luster: metallic, dull

Habit: crystals short to long prismatic, elongated along c-axis, or equant, massive, compact, columnar, fibrous, stalactitic

Hardness: 6 to 6.5

Specific gravity: 5.06

Cleavage: 1; {110} perfect

Tenacity: uneven, brittle

Streak: black, bluish black

 

Synonyms/varieties: polianite

 

Comments: trimorphous with ramsdellite and akhtenskite

 

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