Pirolusita Lenticular
Pirolusita is a mineral with formula MnO₂, in the Óxidos group. This specimen comes from Mina Haití, El Estrecho de San Ginés, Cartagena, Región de Murcia, España.
Description
Compact floater composed of lenticular pyrolusite aggregates forming rosettes. Metallic lustre, steel-grey to black. Short, lustrous crystals in dense aggregates. Irregular edges but well-defined forms.
About Pirolusita
Pyrolusite is a manganese oxide that typically crystallises in oxidising environments. This variety, with short, lustrous prismatic crystals in dense aggregates, is typical of secondary formations in altered volcanic zones. It faithfully represents the kind of pyrolusite that formed at La Unión.
About the locality
Manganese mine in the San Ginés sector, noted for compact specimens with intense metallic lustre. It is part of the historic Cartagena-La Unión mining district, where manganese, iron and lead ores were worked for decades. It is inactive today, but its dumps still yield pieces of interest for collection.
Technical data
- Catalogue No.
- 0050
- Composition
- MnO₂
- Name
- Pirolusita
- Variety
- Lenticular
- Group
- Óxidos
- Category
- Meritum Persé
- Mine
- Mina Haití
- District / Municipality
- El Estrecho de San Ginés
- Province
- Cartagena
- Region
- Región de Murcia
- Country
- España
- Size (cm)
- 4.5 x 3.5 x 2
- Weight
- 30 g
- Ex-collection
- Marcos López
- Etymology
- From the Greek "pyr" ('fire') and "lousis" ('washing'), referring to its former use as a cleaning agent and in metallurgical processes. Pyrolusite was historically used as a deoxidiser in glass and steel production.
- Quality
- Muy buena
- Value trend
- Estable
Related specimens
- Abellaíta — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Abernathyita — España
- Aerenita — España
- Aerinita (fibrosa) — España
- Analcima — España
- Analcima — España