Manganbabingtonite , Prehnite Locality: Ganzhizhou Mine, Meigu County , Liangshan Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan Province , China ( Locality at mindat.org ) Size: 5.4 x 3.7 x 3.0 cm. A SUPEB cluster of blocky, striated, moderately lustrous, black manganbabingtonite crystals aesthetically set on a very complimentary matrix of translucent balls of bladed, sea-green prehnite. This outstanding combination piece is from recent finds at the Ganzhizhou Mine of China. Manganbabingtonite is an ULTRA-RARE silicate and this is a really good one. The manganbabingtonites are damage-free. — Photo: Robert M. Lavinsky · CC BY-SA 3.0
Manganbabingtonite
Manganbabingtonite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the silicate class, with the chemical formula Ca₂Mn²⁺Fe³⁺Si₅O₁₄(OH).
It crystallizes in the triclinic crystal system (space group P-1). It is a member of the Rhodonite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 6.5–7; specific gravity 3.452; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Mbab, IMA status: approved, named in 1966.
Found in thin stringers in amphibolized garnet-pyroxene-magnetite skarn in association with an iron deposit (Rudnyi Kaskad deposit, Russia); replacing hedenbergite-johannsenite skarn (Iron Cap mine, Arizona, USA).
It is found associated with Epidote, calcite, quartz (Rudnyi Kaskad deposit, Russia); ilvaite, andradite, epidote, thaumasite, calcite, quartz, pyrite, galena, sphalerite (Iron Cap mine.
The name refers to the manganese content and relation to babingtonite.