Pyrolusite

Pyrolusite
Pyrolusite

Pyrolusite mineral with dendrite (height of sample ~9 cm). General Category Formula (repeating unit) Oxide minerals MnO2

Strunz classification 04.DB.05 Identification Color Crystal habit Crystal system Twinning Cleavage Fracture Darkish, black to lighter grey, somethimes bluish Granular to massive: botryoidal and dendritic. Crystals rare Tetragonal {031}, {032} may be polysynthetic Perfect on 110 Brittle

Mohs scale hardness 66.5, 2 when massive Luster Streak Specific gravity Refractive index References Metallic, dull to earthy Black to bluish-black 4.45.06 Opaque [1][2][3] Major varieties Polianite pseudomorphic after manganite [4]

Pyrolusite is a mineral consisting essentially of manganese dioxide (MnO2) and is important as an ore of manganese. It is a black, amorphous appearing mineral, often with a granular, fibrous or columnar structure, sometimes forming reniform crusts. It has a metallic luster, a black or bluish-black streak, and readily soils the fingers. The specific gravity is about 4.8. Its name is from the Greek for fire and to wash, in reference to its use as a way to remove tints from glass.[3]

Pyrolusite

Occurrence
Pyrolusite and romanechite are among the most common manganese minerals. Pyrolusite occurs associated with manganite, hollandite, hausmannite, braunite, chalcophanite, goethite and hematite under oxidizing conditions in hydrothermal deposits. It also occurs in bogs and often results from alteration of manganite.[3]

Use
The metal is obtained by reduction of the oxide with sodium, magnesium, aluminium, or by electrolysis. Pyrolusite is extensively used for the manufacture of spiegeleisen and ferromanganese and of various alloys such as manganese-bronze. As an oxidizing agent it is used in the preparation of chlorine; indeed, chlorine gas itself was first described by Karl Scheele in 1774 from the reaction products of pyrolusite and hydrochloric acid. Natural pyrolusite has been used in batteries, but high-quality batteries requires synthetic products. Pyrolusite is also used to prepare disinfectants (permanganates) and for decolorizing glass. When mixed with molten glass it oxidizes the ferrous iron to ferric iron, and so discharges the green and brown tints (making it classically useful to glassmakers as a decolorizer). As a coloring material, it is used in calico printing and dyeing; for imparting violet, amber, and black colors to glass, pottery, and bricks; and in the manufacture of green and violet paints.

Variations in crystal habit

Botryoidal

Dendritic

Acicular radiating

crystal structure of pyrolusite

Pyrolusite

References
[1] [2] [3] [4] http:/ / webmineral. com/ data/ Pyrolusite. shtml Webmineral data http:/ / www. mindat. org/ min-3318. html Mindat http:/ / rruff. geo. arizona. edu/ doclib/ hom/ pyrolusite. pdf Handbook of Mineralogy http:/ / www. mindat. org/ min-6101. html Mindat polianite

This articleincorporates text from a publication now in the public domain:Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). Encyclopdia Britannica (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press.

Article Sources and Contributors

Article Sources and Contributors

Pyrolusite Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?oldid=525217336 Contributors: Aramgutang, Aussie Alchemist, Avicennasis, Avihu, Berkut, Bons, Br77rino, Chris 73, Chris.urs-o, D6, DanielCD, Digon3, DuncanHill, Eastlaw, Fiveless, Flowerparty, Gil Gamesh, Hyperdeath, Jaraalbe, Ligulem, Magnus Manske, Materialscientist, Msh210, Nux, Rhanyeia, Sbharris, Shinkolobwe, Stan J Klimas, Stan Shebs, Vsmith, 18 anonymous edits

Image Sources, Licenses and Contributors

File:Pyrolusite Mineral with Dendrite Macro Digon3.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Pyrolusite_Mineral_with_Dendrite_Macro_Digon3.jpg License: unknown Contributors: Jonathan Zander (Digon3)" Image:Pyrolusite botryoidal.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Pyrolusite_botryoidal.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: Aram Dulyan (User:Aramgutang) Image:Pyrolusite_dendritic.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Pyrolusite_dendritic.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: Aram Dulyan (User:Aramgutang) Image:Pyrolusite_radiating.jpg Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Pyrolusite_radiating.jpg License: Public domain Contributors: Aram Dulyan (User:Aramgutang) Image:Rutile-unit-cell-3D-balls.png Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=File:Rutile-unit-cell-3D-balls.png License: Public Domain Contributors: Ben Mills

License
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