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Formula: MnS2
Sulphide, pyrite group,
manganese-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Isometric
Specific gravity: 3.463 measured, 3.444 calculated
Hardness: 4
Streak: Brownish red
Colour: Reddish brown, black
Common impurities: Fe,Si
Environments
Igneous environments
Sedimentary environments
Volcanic sublimates
Hauerite is a low-temperature mineral commonly associated with volcanic waters, in clay
deposits rich in sulphur, and from decomposed extrusive rocks. Associated minerals include
sulphur, realgar,
gypsum and calcite
(HOM, Webmin).
Localities
The type locality is Kalinka, Vígľašská Huta - Kalinka, Detva District, Banská Bystrica Region, Slovakia. The type
material consisted of isolated crystals to 2 cm, as well as spheroidal, radial and compact aggregates embedded in
clay with sulphur and
gypsum. Some of the hauerite crystals occurred as inclusions in
gypsum, along with sulphur and
realgar. The surfaces of the crystals were dotted with small
pyrite crystals
(Minrec 54.4.537-553).
In Metropolitan Genoa, Liguria, Italy, hauerite occurs in minute crystals in
neotocite veins with subordinate
ganophyllite and
rhodochrosite, in braunite
matrix
(Minrec 54.4.537-553).
At the Destricella Mine, Raddusa, Metropolitan City of Catania, Sicily, Italy, hauerite crystals to 4 cm and
larger were found
embedded in a layer of clay at 50 metres depth under layers of
gypsum, sulphur and
limestone. The mine is now totally inaccessible
(Minrec 43.2.188-190).
The formation of hauerite crystals takes place in sulphur-bearing
evaporite deposits and salt domes. In these sedimentary, low-temperature, chemically reducing environments,
sulphur-reducing anaerobic bacteria alter
gypsum to calcite and H2S,
the latter diffusing into the fluids contained in the rock pores. The subsequent oxidation of hydrogen sulphide leads
to the deposition of native sulphur, while excess hydrogen sulphide
(in solution) reacts with the manganese and
iron available in the sediments, leading to the formation of hauerite
and pyrite
(Minrec 54.4.537-553).
In Texas, USA, hauerite is found in salt domes
(Dana).
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