Pyrolusite (Big Cartel: $48 each) or (Venmo: $40)

Pyrolusite is a soft black or steel gray metallic oxide mineral. Consisting essentially of manganese dioxide, it is the most important ore of manganese. Pyro is Greek for 'Fire, Heat' plus lousis which translates to 'washing' because of the use of the mineral to decolorize glass. This mineral has a lot of modern transformational uses in chlorine, batteries, glass decolorizer, used in coloring materials in calico printing and dyeing. My favorite historical use of this mineral is that some of the most famous early cave paintings in Europe were executed by means of manganese dioxide. Blocks of pyrolusite have been found at Neanderthal sites. It was suggested that this mineral was indeed used in cave paintings and mixed with tinder fungus to light fire....coming back to its orgin namesake.

Locality: Morocco
US shipping included $48 each on BigCartel or $40 (Venmo: @michaelchsiung)
Large:3.5” in. Small: 2.5” in.