Hausmannite

This lovely small miniature of well crystallised Hausmannite is from its type locality at Oehrenstock in the Ilmenau District of Thuringian Forest, Germany, an ancient manganese mining district.  Hausmannite is a manganese oxide and here forms typical jet-black triangular crystals averaging 3 to 5 mm on edge, although up to 1 cm.  The crystals have a bright metallic lustre and nestle in a matt granular matrix of massive Hausmannite and probable mixed manganese oxides.  A nice example of Hausmannite from Oehrenstock and ex. the Josef Clemente (1899-1987) Collection of southern Germany.