Hambergite - Encyclopedia
Class : Carbonates, nitrates, borates
Subclass : Borates
Crystal system : Orthorhombic
Chemistry : Be2BO3(OH)
Rarity : Rare to very rare
Hambergite is a beryllium borate of alkaline and syenitic pegmatites as well as the eluvia derived from them. It is mainly associated with spodumene, beryl and danburite. It was named in honor of the Swedish mineralogist and geographer Axel Hamberg who first became interested in this mineral. Hambergite most often occurs in large, flattened and striated prismatic crystals with generally dull and corroded terminal faces, evolving into transparent and sharp blades. The luster is glassy, pearly on the cleavage. Its color is colorless, white, grayish to yellowish, sometimes pinkish. It is a mineral sometimes cut and used in jewelry.
Main photo : Hambergite from Tamponilapa, Sahatany Valley, Ibity, Madagascar © Matteo Chinellato
Hambergite in the World
Twinning
Twins are known on {110}. Some specimens from Tajikistan can be reticulated and look exactly like cerussite.
Fakes and treatments
No fakes recorded for this mineral species.
Hardness : 7.5
Density : 2.34 to 2.37
Fracture : Conchoidal
Streak : White
TP : Translucent to transparent
RI : 1.554 to 1.631
Birefringence : 0.074
Optical character : Biaxial +
Pleochroism : None
Fluorescence : None
Solubility : Hydrofluoric acid
Magnetism : NoneRadioactivity : None