Dark orange crystals of the rare vanadate mineral pyrobelonite from Ty Coch Mine, Porthcawl, Bridgend, Glamorgan, Wales, United Kingdom. Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Pyrobelonite
Pyrobelonite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the vanadate class, with the chemical formula PbMn²⁺VO₄(OH).
It crystallizes in the orthorhombic crystal system (space group Pnma). It is a member of the Descloizite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 3.5; specific gravity 5.82; Yellow-orange, reddish streak; Adamantine, may be submetallic luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Pbl, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1919.
is typically found in metamorphosed Fe–Mn mineral deposits.
It is found associated with Hausmannite, manganite, pyrochroite, barite, calcite (Långban, Sweden); vanadinite, braunite, hausmannite, romanèchite, Fe–Mn oxides, barite, calcite.
Its name comes from the Greek for fire and needle, in allusion to the color and habit.