Photo of Hambergite in Processed & Rough Form
Hambergite is a mineral with a hardness of 8 out of 10 on the Mohs scale of mineral hardness [?]. These Orthorhomibicly structured gems are made of beryllium hydroxyborate, their full chemical compound being Be2(OH)BO3.
Hambergite is a beryllium borate mineral in the classification of Nitrates, Carbonates, and Borates and is an extremely rare gemstone.
It occurs as transparent colourless orthorhombic prismatic crystals which are usually well crystallized, sometimes twinned. Its colors range to white, white grayish, and yellowish white.
Crystals are striated along the prisms. It is very hard and has one direction of perfect cleavage. It has a vitreous luster and resembles glass or quartz when cut. It has strong birefringence, much higher than zircon, and can take a good polishing.
Hambergite occurs as a rare accessory mineral in granite pegmatites with beryllium, and in alluvial gem deposits. It is associated with danburite, spodumene, apatite, beryl, feldspar, fluorite, zircon, quartz. These are found in Kashmir (India), Madagascar, the Czech Republic, Romania, USA, and Norway. Ornamental quality material usually comes from Anjanabanoana, Madagascar.
Why is Hambergite so difficult to find?
Hambergite is one of the rarer beryllium minerals, found in only a few locations worldwide. Its unusual chemical composition and specific formation conditions make it a scarce collector's stone.
What makes Hambergite unique among gemstones?
It has unusually high birefringence (double refraction) and shows distinct pleochroism despite being typically colorless. These optical properties make it particularly interesting to collectors and mineralogists.
Where are the best Hambergite specimens found?
The finest specimens come from Madagascar and Myanmar (Burma). Notable deposits also exist in Norway (where it was first discovered) and the United States. Madagascar produces the largest facetable crystals.
Can Hambergite be used in jewelry?
With a hardness of 7.5, it's durable enough for jewelry but rarely used due to its scarcity. Most specimens are preserved for mineral collections rather than cut into gemstones. When faceted, it requires special attention due to its strong cleavage.
How can I identify genuine Hambergite?
Look for strong double refraction, prismatic crystal structure, and perfect cleavage in one direction. Professional testing may be needed as its appearance can be similar to other colorless minerals.
Why do some Hambergites fluoresce?
Many Hambergite specimens show fluorescence under UV light, typically blue-white. This property, along with its high birefringence, can help in identification. The fluorescence is caused by trace elements in its crystal structure.
The specific gravity [?] for Hambergite is 2.35, its refractive index [?] is 1.55-1.63, and its double refraction [?] is 0.072.
History
Hambergite is named after a Swedish mineralogist Axel Hamberg.
Industrial Usages
Hambergite has the lowest density of any gem with high birefringence, meaning a bigger stone will not carry a lot of weight, but will still have the play of light that one would expect from uniaxial birefringent materials such as calcite, quartz or zircon (which all have high density).
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