Hausmannite

Introduction: This mineral was first discovered by a professor of mineralogy at the University of Gottingen, Germany: Johann Friederich Ludwig Hausmann (1782-1859). It is one of the ore minerals exploited for manganese, either black to silver-black in colour with a brown streak. Hausmannite occurs in hydrothermal deposits.

Distribution: The Otjosondu manganese field, 150km north-east of Okahandja, contains the largest concentration of this mineral in Namibia. Also found at the Kombat Mine.

Composition: Oxide

Crystal system: Tetragonal

Lustre: Metallic

Streak: Brown

Hardness: 5.5