Hambergite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Hambergite
Axel Hamberg
Formula:
Be2(BO3)(OH)
Colour:
Colourless, greyish, yellowish; colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
7½
Specific Gravity:
2.347 - 2.372
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Name:
Named in 1890 by Waldemar Christofer Brøgger in honor of Axel Hamberg [January 17, 1863 Klara Församling, Stockholm, Sweden - June 28, 1933 Stockholm, Sweden], professor of geography at the University of Uppsala, Sweden, who drew attention to the first specimens.
Type Locality:
A pegmatite mineral often occurring with beryl.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Hambergite.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Hambergite.Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
1811
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:1811:7
Similar Names
| Rambergite | A valid IMA mineral species | MnS |
IMA Classification of Hambergite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
IMA Formula:
Be2BO3(OH)
First published:
1890
Classification of Hambergite
6.AB.05
6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
B : BO3, with additional anions; 1(D) + OH, etc.
6 : BORATES
A : Monoborates
B : BO3, with additional anions; 1(D) + OH, etc.
25.1.1.1
25 : ANHYDROUS BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
1 : Monoborates
25 : ANHYDROUS BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
1 : Monoborates
9.2.1
9 : Borates
2 : Borates of Be and Mg
9 : Borates
2 : Borates of Be and Mg
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
Please only use the official IMA–CNMNC symbol. Older variants are listed for historical use only.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Hb | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
| Ham | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) | The Canadian Mineralogist (2019) The Canadian Mineralogist list of symbols for rock- and ore-forming minerals (December 30, 2019). download |
Pronunciation of Hambergite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Hambergite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Translucent
Colour:
Colourless, greyish, yellowish; colourless in transmitted light
Streak:
White
Hardness:
7½ on Mohs scale
Tenacity:
Brittle
Cleavage:
Perfect
On {010}; on {100} good.
On {010}; on {100} good.
Density:
2.347 - 2.372 g/cm3 (Measured) 2.365 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Hambergite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.554 - 1.56 nβ = 1.587 - 1.591 nγ = 1.628 - 1.631
2V:
Calculated: 87°
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.071 - 0.074
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Moderate (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized biaxial acute bisectrix (Bxa) interference figure
- the conoscopic view for a grain cut perpendicular to the acute bisectrix, using
this mineral's 2V. The two small white dots mark the melatopes - the points
where the two optic axes emerge - and are shown only when they fall within the
field of view. The coloured bands are isochromatics, and the dark bands are
isogyres.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Rotate the stage: at 0°/90° the isogyres form a cross through the melatopes; at 45° they pull apart into curved hyperbolas. That splitting on rotation - absent in a uniaxial figure - is the standard diagnostic test for telling biaxial minerals from uniaxial ones. If 2V is large, the melatopes may fall outside the field of view, as they often do at the microscope too.
Dispersion:
weak r > v
Chemistry of Hambergite
Mindat Formula:
Be2(BO3)(OH)
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Hambergite
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):
mmm(2/m2/m2/m) - Dipyramidal
Space Group:
Pbca
Cell Parameters:
a = 9.762(2) Å, b = 12.201(2) Å, c = 4.430(1) Å
Ratio:
a:b:c = 0.8 : 1 : 0.363
Unit Cell V:
527.6 ų
Z:
8
Morphology:
Crystals prismatic [001], frequently flattened {100}. {100} striated [001] with dull and etched terminal faces (large crystals).
Twinning:
Twin and composition plane {110}.
Comment:
Cell parameters from Gatta et al (2012).
Crystal Structure
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Data courtesy of the American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database. Click on an AMCSD ID to view structure
| ID | Species | Reference | Link | Year | Locality | Pressure (GPa) | Temp (K) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0019722 | Hambergite | Gatta G D, McIntyre G J, Bromiley G, Guastoni A, Nestola F (2012) A single-crystal neutron diffraction study of hambergite, Be2BO3(OH,F) American Mineralogist 97 1891-1897 | 2012 | Anjanabonoina mine, Madagascar | 0 | 293 | |
| 0005474 | Hambergite | Burns P C, Novak M, Hawthorne F C (1995) Fluorine-hydroxyl variation in hambergite: A crystal-structure study The Canadian Mineralogist 33 1205-1213 |  | 1995 | Kracovice | 0 | 293 |
| 0005473 | Hambergite | Burns P C, Novak M, Hawthorne F C (1995) Fluorine-hydroxyl variation in hambergite: A crystal-structure study The Canadian Mineralogist 33 1205-1213 | | 1995 | Kracovice | 0 | 293 |
| 0005472 | Hambergite | Burns P C, Novak M, Hawthorne F C (1995) Fluorine-hydroxyl variation in hambergite: A crystal-structure study The Canadian Mineralogist 33 1205-1213 | | 1995 | Ctidruzice | 0 | 293 |
| 0005471 | Hambergite | Burns P C, Novak M, Hawthorne F C (1995) Fluorine-hydroxyl variation in hambergite: A crystal-structure study The Canadian Mineralogist 33 1205-1213 | | 1995 | Susice | 0 | 293 |
| 0005470 | Hambergite | Burns P C, Novak M, Hawthorne F C (1995) Fluorine-hydroxyl variation in hambergite: A crystal-structure study The Canadian Mineralogist 33 1205-1213 | | 1995 | Himalaya mine, California, USA | 0 | 293 |
| 0018127 | Hambergite | Zachariasen W (1931) The crystalline structure of hambergite Be2BO3(OH) _cod_database_code 1011268 Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 76 289-302 | 1931 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Loading XRD data...
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 3.81 Å | (100) |
| 3.13 Å | (90) |
| 4.53 Å | (80) |
| 3.19 Å | (80) |
| 2.40 Å | (70) |
| 2.21 Å | (70) |
| 2.13 Å | (70) |
Comments:
Anjanabanoana, Madagascar. Data from Switzer et al. 1965.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| Stage 4b: Highly evolved igneous rocks | >3.0 |
| 34 : Complex granite pegmatites |
Geological Setting:
Alkali-rich pegmatites (Madagascar); gem gravels (Kashmir).
Type Occurrence of Hambergite
General Appearance of Type Material:
A single crystal 3.5x1.5 cm.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden, 332865.
Natural History Museum, Paris, France, 10734.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 116994.
Natural History Museum, Paris, France, 10734.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 116994.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Syenite pegmatite.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Synonyms of Hambergite
Other Language Names for Hambergite
Dutch:Hambergiet
German:Hambergit
Russian:Гамбергит
Simplified Chinese:硼铍石
Spanish:Hambergita
Traditional Chinese:硼鈹石
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 48 photos of Hambergite associated with Elbaite | Na(Li1.5Al1.5)Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
| 39 photos of Hambergite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 23 photos of Hambergite associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 17 photos of Hambergite associated with Sphaerobertrandite | Be3(SiO4)(OH)2 |
| 12 photos of Hambergite associated with 'Cleavelandite' | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 9 photos of Hambergite associated with Lepidolite | |
| 9 photos of Hambergite associated with Analcime | Na(AlSi2O6) · H2O |
| 8 photos of Hambergite associated with Aegirine | NaFe3+Si2O6 |
| 6 photos of Hambergite associated with 'Adularia' | KAlSi3O8 |
| 6 photos of Hambergite associated with Schorl | NaFe2+3Al6(Si6O18)(BO3)3(OH)3(OH) |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 6.AB. | Chubarovite | KZn2(BO3)Cl2 |
| 6.AB. | Rhabdoborite-(Mo) | Mg12Mo6+1.33O6(BO3)6F2 |
| 6.AB.10 | Berborite | Be2(BO3)(OH) · H2O |
| 6.AB.15 | Jeremejevite | Al6(BO3)5(F,OH)3 |
| 6.AB.20 | Yuanfuliite | Mg(Fe3+,Al)O(BO3) |
| 6.AB.20 | Warwickite | (Mg,Ti,Fe,Al)2O(BO3) |
| 6.AB.25 | Karlite | (Mg,Al)6.5(BO3)3(OH)4(◻,Cl)0.5 |
| 6.AB.30 | Marinaite | Cu2Fe3+O2(BO3) |
| 6.AB.30 | Savelievaite | Mg2Cr3+O2(BO3) |
| 6.AB.30 | Fredrikssonite | Mg2Mn3+O2(BO3) |
| 6.AB.30 | Vonsenite | Fe2+2Fe3+(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.30 | Ludwigite | Mg2Fe3+(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.30 | Azoproite | (Mg,Fe2+)2(Fe3+,Ti,Mg)(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.30 | Bonaccordite | Ni2Fe3+(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.35 | Folvikite | Sb5+Mn3+(Mg,Mn2+)10O8(BO3)4 |
| 6.AB.35 | Pinakiolite | (Mg,Mn2+)2Mn3+(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.40 | Takéuchiite | (Mg,Mn2+)2(Mn3+,Fe3+)(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.40 | Blatterite | Sb5+3(Mn3+,Fe3+)9(Mn2+,Mg)35(BO3)16O32 |
| 6.AB.40 | Orthopinakiolite | (Mg,Mn2+)2Mn3+(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.40 | Chestermanite | Mg2(Fe3+,Mn3+,Al,Sb3+)(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.45 | Aluminomagnesiohulsite | (Mg,Fe2+)2(Al,Mg,Sn)(BO3)O2 |
| 6.AB.45 | Hulsite | Fe2+2Fe3+O2(BO3) |
| 6.AB.45 | Magnesiohulsite | Mg2Fe3+O2(BO3) |
| 6.AB.50 | Fluoborite | Mg3(BO3)(F,OH)3 |
| 6.AB.50 | Hydroxylborite | Mg3(BO3)(OH)3 |
| 6.AB.55 | Shabynite | Mg5(BO3)(OH)5(Cl,OH)2 · 4H2O |
| 6.AB.55 | Wightmanite | Mg5(BO3)O(OH)5 · 2H2O |
| 6.AB.60 | Gaudefroyite | Ca4Mn3+2-3(BO3)3(CO3)(O,OH)3 |
| 6.AB.65 | Sakhaite | Ca48Mg16(BO3)32(CO3)16 · 2(H2O,HCl) |
| 6.AB.70 | Harkerite | Ca48Mg16[AlSi4O15(OH)]4(BO3)16(CO3)16 · 2(H2O,HCl) |
| 6.AB.75 | Pertsevite-(F) | Mg2(BO3)(F,OH) |
| 6.AB.75 | Pertsevite-(OH) | Mg2(BO3)(OH) |
| 6.AB.80 | Jacquesdietrichite | Cu2(H2BO3)(OH)3 |
| 6.AB.85 | Rhabdoborite-(V) | Mg12(V5+,Mo6+,W6+)1.5O6{[BO3]6-x[(P,As)O4]xF2-x} (x < 1) |
| 6.AB.85 | Rhabdoborite-(W) | Mg12(W6+,V5+)1.5O6{[BO3]6-x[(P,As)O4]xF2-x} |
| 6.AB.85 | Painite | CaZrAl9(BO3)O15 |
| 6.AB.90 | Mengxianminite | (Ca,Na)2Sn2(Mg,Fe)3Al8[(BO3)(BeO4)O6]2 |
Other Information
Notes:
Soluble in HF.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Hambergite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-1811.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Hambergite
Reference List:
Lacroix, Alfred (1909) Sur la hambergite de Madagascar. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 32 (7) 320-324 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1909.3373
Lacroix, Alfred (1910) Nouvelles observations sur les minéraux des pegmatites de Madagascar. Bulletin de Minéralogie, 33 (1) 37-53 doi:10.3406/bulmi.1910.3399
Goldschmidt, V., Müller, Frdr. C. (1911) XXVIII. Hambergit aus Madagaskar. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials, 48 (1-6) 475-485 doi:10.1524/zkri.1911.48.1.475
Drugman, J.; Goldschmidt, V. (1912) Ein Hambergitzwilling von Madagascar. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, 50 (1-6). 596-597 doi:10.1524/zkri.1912.50.1.596
Zachariasen, W. H. (1931) The Crystalline Structure of Hambergite, Be2BO3(OH) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials, 76 (1) 289-302 doi:10.1524/zkri.1931.76.1.289
Zachariasen, W. H., Plettinger, H. A., Marezio, M. (1963) The structure and birefringence of hambergite, Be2BO3.OH. Acta Crystallographica, 16 (11) 1144-1146 doi:10.1107/s0365110x63003005
Switzer, George, Clarke, Roy S., Sinkankas, John, Worthing, and Helen W. (1965) Fluorine in hambergite. American Mineralogist, 50 (1-2) 85-95
Shannon, Robert D., Shannon, Ruth C., Medenbach, Olaf, Fischer, Reinhard X. (2002) Refractive Index and Dispersion of Fluorides and Oxides. Journal of Physical and Chemical Reference Data, 31 (4) 931-970 doi:10.1063/1.1497384
Thomas, Rainer, Davidson, Paul (2010) Hambergite-rich melt inclusions in morganite crystals from the Muiane pegmatite, Mozambique and some remarks on the paragenesis of hambergite. Mineralogy and Petrology, 100 (3) 227-239 doi:10.1007/s00710-010-0132-8
Localities for Hambergite
Showing 112 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Quick NavTopAbout HambergiteUnique IdentifiersSimilar NamesIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPronunciation Physical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence SynonymsOther LanguagesCommon AssociatesStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Tamponilapa, Sahatany Valley, Ibity, Antsirabe II District, Vakinankaratra, Madagascar