Introduction: This mineral was first discovered by a professor of mineralogy at the University of Gottingen, Germany: Johann Friederich Ludwig Hausmann (1782-1859). It is one of the ore minerals exploited for manganese, either black to silver-black in colour with a brown streak. Hausmannite occurs in hydrothermal deposits.
Distribution: The Otjosondu manganese field, 150km north-east of Okahandja, contains the largest concentration of this mineral in Namibia. Also found at the Kombat Mine.
Composition: Oxide
Crystal system: Tetragonal
Lustre: Metallic
Streak: Brown
Hardness: 5.5