Raw Stones
303 pieces
Tumbled Stones
202 pieces
Palm Stones
37 pieces
Crystal Points
38 pieces
Clusters & Geodes
61 pieces
Polished & Decor
146 pieces
Mineral Specimens
130 collector pieces
Crystal Chips
22 pieces
Browse everything
Every collection, one page.
View All Collections →
Aries
Mar 21 – Apr 19
Carnelian
›
Taurus
Apr 20 – May 20
Rose Quartz
›
Gemini
May 21 – Jun 20
Agate
›
Cancer
Jun 21 – Jul 22
Moonstone
›
Leo
Jul 23 – Aug 22
Citrine
›
Virgo
Aug 23 – Sep 22
Amazonite
›
Libra
Sep 23 – Oct 22
Blue Lace Agate
›
Scorpio
Oct 23 – Nov 21
Obsidian
›
Sagittarius
Nov 22 – Dec 21
Sodalite
›
Capricorn
Dec 22 – Jan 19
Black Tourmaline
›
Aquarius
Jan 20 – Feb 18
Amethyst
›
Pisces
Feb 19 – Mar 20
Aquamarine
›
Gifting?
A birthday stone is the safe bet.
Read the zodiac guide →
Pyrolusite
Pyrolusite is oxide (manganese), MnO₂. In the hand, it rates 6 to 6.5 (crystals); 2 to 4 (massive, sooty) on the Mohs scale, and it runs steel gray and iron black. Sooty black manganese ore that blackens fingers, and the artist behind the fake-fossil 'fern' dendrites on countless rock slabs.
The geology.
Pyrolusite carries the formula MnO₂. It belongs to the tetragonal system. Its listing category is oxide (manganese).
It sits at 6 to 6.5 (crystals); 2 to 4 (massive, sooty) on the Mohs scale. The surface reads metallic (crystals) to earthy. Light behaviour is opaque. Specific gravity runs 4.7 to 5.0. The streak is black to blue-black. It breaks with prismatic cleavage; massive forms crumbly.
Sooty black manganese ore that blackens fingers, and the artist behind the fake-fossil 'fern' dendrites on countless rock slabs.
It turns up mostly as fibrous radiating masses, sooty coatings, fern-like dendrites on rock or rare prismatic crystals.
The origins.
Manganese deposits and weathering surfaces worldwide: Germany, Brazil, India, Michigan (USA).
On value, the database notes: common ore; sharp crystal sprays are collector pieces.
Traditional associations.
In energy work traditions, pyrolusite has little established lore; its dendrites decorate many a 'manifestation stone'.
This is lore, and we label it as lore. The measurable facts are further up the page.
Spotting the real thing.
Sooty black manganese ore that blackens fingers, and the artist behind the fake-fossil 'fern' dendrites on countless rock slabs.
Its dendrites get sold as 'fossil ferns', charming mineral art, zero plants involved.
| Looks like | How to tell them apart |
|---|---|
| Graphite | Graphite feels greasy and writes silver-gray; pyrolusite is sooty and blacker |
| Magnetite | Magnetite is magnetic and doesn't soil fingers |
| Plant fossils | Dendrites branch in perfect fractals at one bedding surface; real plants have stems, midribs, and thickness |
At-home tests.
A loupe and a window seat settle most questions about pyrolusite. No workshop required.
| Test | What you should see |
|---|---|
| By eye | Blackens fingers (massive form) |
| By eye | Black streak |
| Dendrite form | fractal fans with no organic structure |
Stop short of anything that leaves a mark. A gemologist can answer the rest without damaging the stone.
Care & handling.
At 6 to 6.5 (crystals); 2 to 4 (massive, sooty) on the Mohs scale it handles careful wear but scratches against quartz and dust. Store it separately and take rings off before rough work.
It breaks with prismatic cleavage; massive forms crumbly, which is worth knowing before you set it or drop it.
Skip the ultrasonic. Lukewarm water, mild soap and a soft cloth handle routine cleaning without risk.
Avoid inhaling sooty dust, manganese overexposure is a respiratory concern; wash hands after handling.
A deeper look.
Extended detail on composition, sourcing, authentication and market value.
The physical record
The formula on record is MnO₂. Crystal system: Tetragonal. Specific gravity: 4.7 to 5.0. Streak: Black to blue-black. Cleavage and fracture: Prismatic cleavage; massive forms crumbly.
How it reaches the market
Manganese deposits and weathering surfaces worldwide: Germany, Brazil, India, Michigan (USA).
What it gets confused with
Graphite: Graphite feels greasy and writes silver-gray; pyrolusite is sooty and blacker. Magnetite: Magnetite is magnetic and doesn't soil fingers. Plant fossils: Dendrites branch in perfect fractals at one bedding surface; real plants have stems, midribs, and thickness.
What it is worth
Common ore; sharp crystal sprays are collector pieces.
Where buyers get caught
Its dendrites get sold as 'fossil ferns', charming mineral art, zero plants involved.
One more thing
Pyrolusite dendrites fool so many people that museums keep 'this is not a fossil' displays, mineral chemistry imitating ferns since deep time.
An education-first guide.
We do not carry pyrolusite. This page exists because the question comes up and the honest answer is worth writing down, whether or not there is anything here to sell you.
Explore the Crystal Guide