page_title: Galaxite
hierarchical_section_title: Galaxite
caption_attribution_description: English: Galaxite, Jacobsite, Wiserite Dimensions: 11.6 cm x 7.3 cm x 2.0 cm Locality: Kaso Mine, Kanuma City, Tochigi Prefecture, Kanto Region, Honshu Island, Japan An incredibly rare specimen of the Spinel Group species galaxite from the Kaso Mine in Japan. In addition to the rare galaxite, both jacobsite and wiserite are present. This piece is a polished specimen which shows brown-red galaxite with semi-metallic black-grey jacobsite and minor tan wiserite. It is accompanied by a classic label from Josef Vajdák/Pequa Rare Minerals. Deutsch: Galaxit, Jakobsit, Wiserit Größe: 11,6 cm x 7,3 cm x 2,0 cm Fundort: Kaso Mine, Kanuma, Präfektur Tochigi, Region Kanto, Honshū, Japan
context_page_description: Galaxite, also known as 'mangan-spinel' is an isometric mineral belonging to the spinel group of oxides with the ideal chemical formula Mn²⁺Al₂O₄.
  Galaxite is the manganese rich endmember of the aluminium series of the spinel group. Divalent iron and magnesium readily substitute for the manganese in the crystal structure. Trivalent iron may also substitute for the aluminium. Thus, reflecting most natural samples, the formula may be better represented as (Al, Fe³⁺)₂O₄.
  Galaxite generally occurs as small granular aggregates with a red-brownish tone. It has a vitreous luster and leaves a brownish-red streak. It is rated 7.5 on the Mohs Scale.
  It was first described in 1932 for an occurrence at Bald Knob, Alleghany County, North Carolina near its namesakes, the town of Galax, Virginia, named after the plant galax or wandflower which grows in the area.
  It occurs in carbonate-rich metamorphosed manganese ore deposits. It occurs associated with alleghanyite, rhodonite, sonolite, spessartine, tephroite, kutnohorite, manganhumite, jacobsite, kellyite and alabandite in the Bald Knob area.
context_section_description: Galaxite, also known as 'mangan-spinel' is an isometric mineral belonging to the spinel group of oxides with the ideal chemical formula Mn²⁺Al₂O₄.
  Galaxite is the manganese (Mn) rich endmember of the aluminium (Al) series of the spinel group. Divalent iron (Fe) and magnesium (Mg) readily substitute for the manganese in the crystal structure. Trivalent iron may also substitute for the aluminium. Thus, reflecting most natural samples, the formula may be better represented as (Mn,Fe²⁺,Mg)(Al,Fe³⁺)₂O₄.
  Galaxite generally occurs as small granular aggregates with a red-brownish tone. It has a vitreous luster and leaves a brownish-red streak. It is rated 7.5 on the Mohs Scale.
  It was first described in 1932 for an occurrence at Bald Knob, Alleghany County, North Carolina near its namesakes, the town of Galax, Virginia, named after the plant galax or wandflower which grows in the area.
  It occurs in carbonate-rich metamorphosed manganese ore deposits. It occurs associated with alleghanyite, rhodonite, sonolite, spessartine, tephroite, kutnohorite, manganhumite, jacobsite, kellyite and alabandite in the Bald Knob area. Associated minerals include katoptrite, magnetite, manganostibite, magnussonite, tephroite, manganhumite and manganosite in the  Brattfors mine area of Nordmark, Värmland, Sweden.
  It is sometimes used as a gemstone.
caption: Galaxite from the Kaso mine, Japan
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