Bixbyite

Bixbyite is a manganese iron oxide mineral with formula: (Mn,Fe)₂O₃. The iron:manganese ratio is quite variable and many specimens have almost no iron. It is a metallic dark black with a Mohs hardness of 6.0 - 6.5 and a specific gravity of 4.9 - 5.0. It is a somewhat rare mineral sought after by collectors as it typically forms euhedral isometric crystals exhibiting various cubes, octahedrons, and dodecahedrons.

It is commonly associated with beryl, quartz, spessartine, hematite, pseudobrookite, hausmannite, braunite and topaz in pneumatolytic or hydrothermal veins and cavities and in metamorphic rocks. Typical localities are Siapa and Chhindwara, India and the Thomas Range in Juab County, Utah. It is also reported from San Luis Potosi, Mexico; northern Patagonia, Argentina; Gerona, Spain; Sweden and South Africa.

Bixbyite was named for the American mineralogist Maynard Bixby. It should not be confused with bixbite, a red form of beryl.

ee also

*List of minerals
*List of minerals named after people

External links

* [http://www.mindat.org/min-691.html Mindat]
* [http://webmineral.com/data/Bixbyite.shtml Webmineral]
* [http://mineral.galleries.com/minerals/oxides/bixbyite/bixbyite.htm Mineral galleries]
* [http://geology.utah.gov/utahgeo/rockmineral/collecting/rkhd0598.htm Utah Geological Survey]