Mineral Name Pyroxmangite
First Discovered 1792
Nickel-Strunz Classification 09.DO.05
Dana Classification 65.06.01.01
ICSD 34159
Mineral Group Silicates

 

Pyroxmangite is a silicate mineral in the pyroxenes group first discovered in 1913. The name pyroxmangite is named after the mineral group pyroxenes.

Within the metaphysical realm of minerals, Pyroxmangite clears the mind of worry, giving confidence and self-esteem. It relieves pressure in social, family and working life. Pyroxmangite can help to heal insect bite and scarring. It can treat emphysema, autoimmune diseases and stomach ulcers.

Please note that MIROFOSS does not suggest in any way that minerals should be used in place of proper medical and psychological care. This information is provided here as a reference only.

Pyroxmangite is generally used as a lapidary mineral.

Pyroxmangite occurs in metamorphosed ore deposits rich in manganese.

Pyroxmangite can be easily confused with rhodonite; however, pyroxmangite is formed in a high-temperature environment while rhodonite is formed in a low temperature environment. Associated minerals include spessartine, tephroite, alleghanyite, hausmannite, pyrophanite, alabandite, rhodonite and rhodochrosite.

Cleavage Perfect
Colour(s) Pink, Rose pink, Purplish pink, Yellowish red brown, Brown.
Specific Gravity 3.80
Diaphaneity Transparent to translucent
Fracture Uneven
Mohs Hardness 5.5 to 6.0
Luminescence  
Luster Vitreous - Pearly
Streak White
Habit(s) Massive to Granular
Radioactivity Non-radioactive
Magnetism Magnetic after heating

No known health risks have been associated with pyroxmangite. However ingestion of pyroxmangite, as with other naturally occurring minerals, is not recommended.

The following image shows the elemental breakdown of the mineral pyroxmangite along with the mineral crystal structure.

Crystal System Triclinic  
Class Pinacoidal  
Axial Ratios a : b : c = 0.8886 : 1 : 2.298  
Morphology Crystals commonly tabular on; porphyroblastic; granular massive.  
Optical Data Type Biaxial (+)  
RL Values nα = 1.726 - 1.748 nβ = 1.728 - 1.750 nγ = 1.744 - 1.764  
2V Measured: 35° to 46°, Calculated: 40° to 42°
Max Birefringence δ = 0.018 (See colour chart at right)
Surface Relief High
Dispersion r > v moderate
   

Pyroxmangite can be referenced in certain current and historical texts under the following one name::


The mineral pyroxmangite can be translated into the following select languages:

Arabic   Bulgarian   Chinese (Sim) 三斜锰辉石
Croatian   Czech   Danish  
Dutch   Esperanto   Estonian  
Finnish   French   German Pyroxmangit
Greek   Hebrew   Hungarian  
Italian   Japanese パイロクスマンガン石 Korean  
Latin   Lithuanian   Norwegian  
Persian   Polish   Portuguese  
Romanian   Russian Пироксмангит Slovak  
Spanish Piroxmangita Swedish   Tagalog  
Turkish   Ukrainian   Vietnamese  

Pyroxmangite can be found in only a very limited number of places around the world. The map below shows major documented concentrations of pyroxmangite:

The MIROFOSS database offers free printable geological identification tags for personal and non-profit use. These tags can be used to properly identify mineral samples in your collection. -Click here- to download a full size jpeg image for a pyroxmangite identification tag; which can be printed on paper or used with a plastic laser printer.

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Chemical Composition Ohashi, Y. and Finger, L.W. (1975) Pyroxenoids. A comparison of refined structures of rhodonite and pyroxmangite. Carnegie Institution Washington Year Book: 74: 564-569.
Crystallography Maresch, W.V. and Mottana, A. (1976) The pyroxmangite-rhodonite transformation for the MnSiO3 composition. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology: 55: 69-79.
Optical Data Narita, H., Koto, K., and Morimoto, N. (1977) The crystal structures of MnSiO3 polymorphs (rhodonite- and pyroxmangite-type). Mineralogical Journal of Sapporo: 8: 329-342.
History American Mineralogist (1988): 73: 798-808.
History Deer, W.A., Howie, R.A. & Zussman, J. (1978) Rock-forming Minerals, 2nd. Edition: 2A: 600-613.
History Ford, W.E. and Bradley, W.M. (1913) Pyroxmangite, a new member of the pyroxene group and its alteration product, skemmatite. American Journal of Science: 36: 169-174 (now identified as pyroxferroite).
Geographical Data Mindat.org. Retrieved on 2014-02-10
Physical Identification Webmineral.com. Retrieved on 2014-02-10
February 10, 2014 The last time this page was updated
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