Cryptomelane (K(Mn4+,Mn2+)8O16) is the potassium endmember of the hollandite group, a family of tectomanganates with a 2 × 2 tunnel structure.

Cryptomelane
General
CategoryOxide mineral
Formula
(repeating unit)
K(Mn4+,Mn2+)8O16
IMA symbolCml[1]
Strunz classification4.DK.10
Crystal systemTetragonal
Crystal classDipyramidal (4/m)
H-M symbol: (4/m)
Space groupI4/m
Unit cella = 9.956 Å,
b = 2.8705 Å,
c = 9.706 Å; β = 90.95°; Z = 1
Identification
ColorSteel-gray to bluish gray; light tan or gray in reflected light
Crystal habitRare as subhedral crystals, commonly as compact fine-grained masses, banded colloform, botryoidal, or radial fibrous aggregates
TwinningTwinning developed on (010) and (101) resulting in a pseudotetragonal unit cell.
FractureConchoidal
TenacityBrittle
Mohs scale hardness6 – 6.5
LusterMetallic to dull
StreakBrownish black
DiaphaneityOpaque
Specific gravity4.17 – 4.41
Alters toTarnishes to dull grayish black
References[2][3][4][5]

In 1942 the name cryptomelane was proposed as part of an effort to sort out the manganese oxide minerals referred to as psilomelane. Cryptomelane was identified and defined based on X-ray diffraction studies of samples from Tombstone, Arizona; Deming, New Mexico; Mena, Arkansas; and Philipsburg, Montana.[6]

Cryptomelane was approved in 1982 by the International Mineralogical Association (IMA). The type locality is the Tombstone District, Cochise County, Arizona, US. The name comes from the Greek for hidden and black, in reference to the confusion and difficulty in recognition of the various black manganese oxide minerals referred to as psilomelane, the collective term for hard manganese oxides.[2][3]

It is of rather common occurrence in oxidized manganese deposits where it occurs as replacements and open space fillings in veins and vugs. It occurs in association with hollandite, pyrolusite, nsutite, braunite, chalcophanite, manganite and various other manganese oxides.[2]

References

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  1. ^ Warr, L.N. (2021). "IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols". Mineralogical Magazine. 85 (3): 291–320. Bibcode:2021MinM...85..291W. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43. S2CID 235729616.
  2. ^ a b c Handbook of Mineralogy
  3. ^ a b Mindat.org
  4. ^ Webmineral data
  5. ^ Mineralienatlas
  6. ^ Richmond, W. E., and Fleischer, M., Cryptomelane, a new name for the commonest of the "psilomelane" minerals, American Mineralogist, 27, 607, 1942
  7. ^ Post JE, Von Dreele RB, Buseck P (1982) Acta Crystallographica B38: 1056-1065