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Pyrolusite

Named after the Greek pyr, for “fire,” and louo, meaning “to wash,” in reference to Pyrolusite’s use due to its ability to pull tints from glass. Pyrolusite is a common mineral with many localities and can be found in highly oxidized manganese-rich hydrothermal deposits and rocks, in bogs, lakes, and shallow marine conditions, and can often be found as a product of altered manganite. It should be noted that dendritic Pyrolusite has never been found to be valid and ends up being other manganese oxide minerals.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/pyrolusite.pdf
- Formula
- MnO2
- Crystal System
- Tetragonal
- Crystal Habit
- Reniform, Dendritic, Earthy
- Cleavage
- Perfect, None, None
- Luster
- Sub Metallic
- Color
- steel gray, iron gray, bluish gray
- Streak
- black
- Class
- Tetragonal - Ditetragonal Dipyramidal
- Fracture
- Brittle
- Hardness
- 6-6.5
- WebMineral
- View Pyrolusite
- Mindat
- View Pyrolusite
Pyrolusite from Taylor mine, Alberta Township, Baraga Co., Michigan, United States

2cm fan aggregate crystal.
Pyrolusite from Champion mine, Marquette Co., Michigan, United States
The crystals are long 3-7mm blades. Paul Moore, the original owner, labeled it as "polianite", a variety of Pyrolusite. It was obtained by Paul from the Champion mine.