Pyrophanite

Pyrophanite
General
CategoryOxide mineral
FormulaMnTiO3
IMA symbolPph
Strunz classification4.CB.05
Dana classification4.3.5.3
Crystal systemTrigonal
Crystal classRhombohedral (3)
(same H-M symbol)
Space groupR3
Unit cella = 5.13948(7) Å,
c = 14.2829(4) Å; Z = 6
Identification
ColorDeep blood-red to greenish black
Crystal habitRarely as rosettes of hexagonal plates, typically granular, scaly; occurs as exsolution lamenae in franklinite and spinel
CleavagePerfect on {0221}
FractureConchoidal
TenacityBrittle
Mohs scale hardness5–6
LusterSubmetallic
StreakOchre yellow
DiaphaneitySubtranslucent to opaque
Specific gravity4.537 measured
Optical propertiesUniaxial (-)
Refractive indexnω = 2.481 nε = 2.210
Birefringenceδ = 0.271
Common impuritiesFe, Zn
References

Pyrophanite is a manganese titanium oxide mineral with formula: MnTiO3. It is a member of the ilmenite group. It is a deep red to greenish black mineral which crystallizes in the trigonal system.