Pyrolusite MnO2
Lake Valley Mining District, Sierra County, NM.
Specimen at
Mineral Museum
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, New Mexico
Photographs taken April 6, 2016
Pyrolusite is a common ore of manganese (manganese dioxide - MnO2). Crystals of this mineral are rare. It has a hardness of only 2 when in its massive form, otherwise it has a hardness of 6 to 6.5. It has a specific gravity of 4.4 to 5.06.
In the Black Range this mineral was mined at:
HILLSBORO DISTRICT: Palma Group
LAKE VALLEY DISTRICT: Sierra Grande Mine (Bridal Chamber & Carolina Mine)
In mineralogy it is classified in the Rutile Group which includes Argutite, Cassiterite, Paratellurite, Plattnerite, Rutile, Stishovite, and Tripuhyite. Cassiterite and Tripuhyite were also mined in the Black Range.
Pyrolusite (possibly Ramsdellite Mn4O2)
Lake Valley Mining District, Sierra County
Specimen at Museum
New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology
Socorro, New Mexico
Photograph taken on April 6, 2016