Manganite Vs. Pyrolusite

Manganite is a popular mineral composed of manganese hydroxide.^[1] Pyrolusite is a very popular mineral and its chemical composition is manganese dioxide.^[2]

Quick Facts on Differences of Manganite and Pyrolusite

For a quick recap of the differences manganite and pyrolusite:

• In terms of crystallography, manganite is monoclinic while pyrolusite is tetragonal.
• For chemical formulas, manganite is MnO(OH) while pyrolusite is MnO2.
• In terms of luster, manganite is submetallic while pyrolusite can be dull or metallic.
• While both manganite and pyrolusite streaks black, manganite streaks brown, brown black, reddish or reddish brown and pyrolusite streaks bluish or bluish black.
• Manganite's rarity is more rare than pyrolusite.

Quick Facts on Similarities of Manganite and Pyrolusite

The similarities of manganite and pyrolusite include:

• Manganite and pyrolusite both are opaque.
• Manganite and pyrolusite both are gray.
• Manganite's specific gravity overlaps with pyrolusite - manganite ranges from 4.3 to 4.4 and pyrolusite is 4.4.

Summary of Manganite

Manganite is a mineral that belongs to the oxide mineral group. It is a rare mineral that is usually found in the oxidized zones of hydrothermal manganese deposits. Manganite is usually black or dark brown in color and has a metallic luster. It has a Mohs hardness of 4, which means it can be scratched by a knife. Manganite is known for its unique crystal structure, which is made up of long, needle-like crystals.

Summary of Pyrolusite

Pyrolusite is a mineral that belongs to the oxide group of minerals. It is a common mineral that is found in many parts of the world, including Europe, Africa, Australia, and North America. Pyrolusite is typically black or dark gray in color, and it has a metallic luster. The mineral is quite hard, with a Mohs hardness of between 2 and 6.5, and it is also quite dense, with a specific gravity of between 4.4 and 5.

Table Comparison of Manganite vs Pyrolusite