Galaxite - Encyclopedia
Class : Oxides and hydroxides
Subclass : Oxides
Crystal system : Cubic
Chemistry : MnAl2O4
Rarity : Rare
Galaxite is a rare mineral belonging to the group of aluminous spinels. It crystallizes in areas poor in silica and rich in carbonates of metamorphic manganese deposits. It owes its name to the Galax plant commonly found in Alleghany County, North Carolina, where it was discovered. Galaxite usually occurs in rounded grains, in octahedra often modified by multiple truncations, rarely in cubes, with a maximum size of 1 mm. It is dark brownish to black in color.
Main photo : Galaxite from Bald Knob, Sparta, Alleghany County, North Carolina, USA © Jeff Weissman
Galaxite in the World
Twinning
A twin is known on {111}.
Fakes and treatments
No fakes recorded for this mineral species.
Hardness : 7.5
Density : 4.03
Fracture : Conchoidal
Streak : Reddish brown
TP : Opaque
RI : -
Birefringence : 0
Optical character : None
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None
Solubility : Sulfuric acid
Magnetism : Paramagnetic
Radioactivity : None