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Beryllonite

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Beryllonite Locality, Stoneham, Oxford Co., Maine, USA
© Van King

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Formula:
NaBePO
 
4
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless, white, ...
Lustre:Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Waxy, GreasyHardness:5½ - 6
Name:Named by Edward Dana in 1888 in allusion to its composition, containing beryllium.
This page provides mineralogical data about Beryllonite.

Classification of Beryllonite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:7/A.01-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:8.AA.10

8 : PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, VANADATES
A : Phosphates, etc. without additional anions, without H2O
A : With small cations (some also with larger ones)
Dana 7th edition ID:38.1.5.1
Dana 8th edition ID:38.1.5.1

38 : ANHYDROUS NORMAL PHOSPHATES, ARSENATES, AND VANADATES
1 : ABXO4
Hey's CIM Ref.:19.3.2

19 : Phosphates
3 : Phosphates of Be and Mg
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Type Occurrence of Beryllonite

Co-type Localities:Beryllonite Locality, Stoneham, Oxford Co., Maine, USA
Joe McKeen Mountain locality (McKean Farm), Stoneham, Oxford Co., Maine, USA
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Yale University, Connecticut 3.1946
Year of Discovery:1888
Geological Setting of type material:Granite Pegmatite
Associated Minerals at type locality:
TripliteSmoky QuartzMuscoviteMicroclineFluorapatite
CassiteriteBerylAlbite

Occurrences of Beryllonite

Geological Setting:Granitic and alkali pegmatites

Physical Properties of Beryllonite

Lustre:Sub-Vitreous, Resinous, Waxy, Greasy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Translucent
Comment:Pearly at times on {010}.
Colour:Colourless, white, rarely pale light yellow; colourless in transmitted light.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):5½ - 6
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
On {010} perfect; on {100} good but interrupted; on {101} poor; on {001}, in traces.
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven
Density (measured):2.77 - 2.85 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.805 g/cm3

Crystallography of Beryllonite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/b {P1 1 21/b} {P21/c} {P1 21/c 1} {P21/a}
Space Group Setting:P21/c
Cell Parameters:a = 8.178(3) Å, b = 7.818(3) Å, c = 14.114(6) Å
β = 90°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.046 : 1 : 1.805
Unit Cell Volume:V 902.39 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:12
Morphology:Crystals tabular {010} to short prismatic [010]. Crystals are frequently very complex, especially in the zones [100] and [010]. Faces in the zone [010] near {100} may be united in oscillatory combination. Crystal faces often dull or roughened, or, in some cases, delicately etched. Crystals frequently exhibit a columnar structure due to the presence of hollow canals and fluid cavities arranged parallel to [010].
Twinning:On plane {101}, as both contact and penetration twins; repeated at times, or in pseudo-hexagonal stellate forms; also polysynthetic {110} and {100}.
Comment:Marked orthorhombic pseudo-symmetry.
Crystal Atlas:
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Beryllonite no.2 - Goldschmidt (1913-1926)

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X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
3.90 (70)
3.62 (80)
3.61 (40)
2.82 (100)
2.35 (40)
2.25 (60)
Comments:Powder Diffraction (1993) 8:47; also ICDD 33-1213 (synthetic), 6-443.

Optical Data of Beryllonite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.552 nβ = 1.558 nγ = 1.561
2V:Measured: 68°
Birefringence:0.009
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.009

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:weak to distinct r < v
Optical Extinction:XYZ = bac
Pleochroism:Non-pleochroic
Comments:Fluid inclusions common.

Chemical Properties of Beryllonite

Formula:
NaBePO
 
4
Essential elements:Be, Na, O, P
All elements listed in formula:Be, Na, O, P

Relationship of Beryllonite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
8.AA.05Alarsite
AlAsO
 
4
8.AA.05Berlinite
AlPO
 
4
8.AA.05Rodolicoite
Fe
3+
 
PO
 
4
8.AA.15Hurlbutite
CaBe
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
8.AA.20Lithiophosphate
Li
 
3
PO
 
4
8.AA.25Nalipoite
NaLi
 
2
PO
 
4
8.AA.30Olympite
Na
 
5
Li(PO
 
4
)
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
19.3.1Moraesite
Be
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH) · 4H
 
2
O
19.3.3Hurlbutite
CaBe
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
19.3.4Hydroxylherderite
CaBe(PO
 
4
)(OH,F)
19.3.5Glucine
CaBe
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(OH)
 
4
 · 0.5H
 
2
O
19.3.6Fransoletite
Ca
 
3
Be
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
(HPO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
19.3.7Uralolite
Ca
 
2
Be
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
3
(OH)
 
3
 · 5H
 
2
O
19.3.9Pahasapaite
Li
 
8
(Ca,Li,K)
 
10.5
Be
 
24
(PO
 
4
)
 
24
 · 38H
 
2
O
19.3.10Tiptopite
K
 
2
(Na,Ca)
 
2
Li
 
3
Be
 
6
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
19.3.11Gainesite
Na(Na,K)(Be,Li)Zr
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 1.5-2H
 
2
O
19.3.12Roscherite
Ca
 
2
Mn
2+
5
Be
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
6
(OH)
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
19.3.13Faheyite
(Mn,Mg,Na)Be
 
2
Fe
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 6H
 
2
O
19.3.14Farringtonite
Mg
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
19.3.15Holtedahlite
Mg
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH)
19.3.16Althausite
Mg
 
2
(PO
 
4
)(OH,F)
19.3.17Newberyite
Mg(HPO
 
4
) · 3H
 
2
O
19.3.18Phosphorrösslerite
Mg(HPO
 
4
) · 7H
 
2
O
19.3.19Bobierrite
Mg
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.3.20Barićite
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
19.3.21Panethite
(Na,Ca)
 
2
(Mg,Fe
2+
 
)
 
2
(PO
 
4
)
 
2
19.3.22Dittmarite
(NH
 
4
)Mg(PO
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
19.3.23Struvite
(NH
 
4
)Mg(PO
 
4
) · 6H
 
2
O
19.3.24Hannayite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
Mg
 
3
H
 
4
(PO
 
4
)
 
4
 · 8H
 
2
O

Other Names for Beryllonite

Other Languages:
German:Beryllonit
Russian:Бериллонит
Simplified Chinese:磷钠铍石
Spanish:Beryllonita
Traditional Chinese:磷钠鈹石

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:Not fluorescent.
Other Information:Slowly soluble in acids.

Alters to Herderite.
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Beryllonite

Reference List:

- +
Dana (1888) American Journal of Science: 36: 290.

Dana and Wells (1889) American Journal of Science: 37: 23.

Dana, E.S. (1892) System of Mineralogy, 6th. Edition, New York: 759.

Gaubert (1907) Bulletin de la Société française de Minéralogie: 30: 108.

Berman in: Palache and Shannon (1928) American Mineralogist: 13: 392.

Gossner and Besslein (1934) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 144.

Strunz (1937) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 98: 76.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged, 1124 pp.: 677-679.

Tschermaks Mineralogische und Petrographische Mitteilungen: 20: 1-12.

Internet Links for Beryllonite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Beryllonite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Beryllonite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
    Hide Locality List
    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Afghanistan
     
    • Konar Province (Kunar Province; Konarh Province; Konarha Province; Nuristan)
      • Chapa Dara District
    		Rob Lavinsky specimen
    • Nuristan Province (Nurestan Province; Nooristan Province; Nuristan)
      • Kamdesh District
    		No reference listed
    Brazil
     
    • Minas Gerais
      • Doce valley
        • Conselheiro Pena
    		Canadian Mlneralogist Vol. 20, pp. 87-89 (1982)
        • Divino das Laranjeiras
          • Linópolis
    		Handbook of Mineralogy Vol IV p64; Mineralogical Record 24: 384-385
    Mineralogical Record (2001) 32:249
        • Galiléia
          • Laranjeiras
    		[MinRec 12:69]
      • Jequitinhonha valley
        • Itinga
          • Taquaral
    		Anthony, Bideaux, Bladh, Nichols: Handbook of Mineralogy, Vol. IV
            • Piauí Valley
    		Jordi Fabre
    Luis Menezes
    Canada
     
    • Manitoba
    		Canadian Mineralogist: 40: 1339-1345.
    • Québec
      • Montérégie
        • Rouville RCM
          • Mont Saint-Hilaire
    		Handbook of Mineralogy Vol IV p64
    China
     
    • Jiangxi Province
      • Yichun Prefecture
        • Yuanzhou District
          • Yichun complex (Yashan batholith)
    		Xudong Che, Rucheng Wang, Huan Hu, Wenlan Zhang, and Xiaolong Huang (2007): Acta Petrologica Sinica 23(6), 1552-1560
    Finland
     
    • Western and Inner Finland Region
      • Orivesi
        • Eräjärvi area
    		Handbook of Mineralogy Vol IV p64; Sandström, F. & Lahti, S.I. (2009): Viitaniemipegmatiten i Eräjärvi, Orivesi, Finland. Litiofilen 26 (1): 11-38
    France
     
    • Auvergne
      • Allier
        • Ébreuil
    		Charoy, B. (1999): Beryllium speciation in evolved granitic magmas. Phosphates versus silicates. European Journal of Mineralogy 11, 135-148.
    Pakistan
     
    • Gilgit-Baltistan (Northern Areas)
      • Baltistan
        • Skardu District
          • Braldu Valley
    		Dudley Blauwet, Bill Smith and Carol Smith (2004) Table of mineral localities of the northern areas of Pakistan and other selected sites. (in "Pakistan: Minerals, Mountains & Majesty", Lapis International, East Hampton, Connecticut); Dudley Blauwet, Bill Smith and Carol Smith (2004) Table of mineral localities of the northern areas of Pakistan and other selected sites. (in "Pakistan: Minerals, Mountains & Majesty", Lapis International, East Hampton, Connecticut)
    Blauwet, D., Smith, B., and Smith, C., 1997. A Guide to the Mineral Localities of the Northern Areas, Pakistan. Mineralogical Record 28(3), 183-200.
          • Haramosh Mts.
    		Dudley Blauwet, Bill Smith and Carol Smith (2004) Table of mineral localities of the northern areas of Pakistan and other selected sites. (in "Pakistan: Minerals, Mountains & Majesty", Lapis International, East Hampton, Connecticut); Dudley Blauwet, Bill Smith and Carol Smith (2004) Table of mineral localities of the northern areas of Pakistan and other selected sites. (in "Pakistan: Minerals, Mountains & Majesty", Lapis International, East Hampton, Connecticut)
    Portugal
     
    • Viana do Castelo District
      • Ponte de Lima
        • Moreira do Lima
    Sweden
     
    • Östergötland
      • Norrköping
        • Kolmården
    		Nysten,P. & Gustafsson, L.(2006): I jakt på sällsynta mineral. Geologiskt forum nr 49, 22-25
    • Södermanland
    		Nysten,P. & Gustafsson, L.(2006): I jakt på sällsynta mineral. Geologiskt forum nr 49, 22-25
    UK
     
    • England
      • Devon
        • Okehampton area (Northern Dartmoor)
    		http://www.mineralman.f9.co.uk/quarries/meldon.htm
    USA
     
    • Maine
      • Cumberland Co.
        • Baldwin
    		Mineral News (2000) 16:1 pp1,4,5
      • Oxford Co.
        • Greenwood
    		Kink, V. and Foord, E.E., 1992 Maine Mineralogy, Vol. 1, Maine Geologic Surevey, Augusta.; Mineralogical Record 22:382
          • Uncle Tom Mountain
    		"Maine Mineral Localities, 3rd Ed." by Thompson, W.B., et.al. 1998; Mineral News (1998) 14:8 pp2,9
        • Hebron
    		No reference listed
        • Newry
    		King, V. and Foord, E., 1994, Mineralogy of Maine, V. 1; King, V. (ed.), 2000, Mineralogy of Maine, V. 2.; Mineralogical Record 22:382
    King, V. and Foord, E., 1994, Mineralogy of Maine, V. 1; King, V. (ed), 2000, Mineralogy of Maine, V. 2.
    King, V. and Foord, E., 1994, Mineralogy of Maine, v. 1; King, V, 2006, Minerals of Halls Ridge and Plumbago-Puzzle Mountain, Newry, Oxford County, Maine, Mineral News, v. 22 (6), p. 1-3.
        • Rumford
    		"Maine Mineral Localities, 3rd Ed." by Thompson, W.B., et.al., 1998)
        • Stoneham
    		King, V. and Foord, E., 1994, 2000, Mineralogy of Maine.
    Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II: 679; Nickel & Nichols, 1991 - "Mineral Reference Manual", p21.
    "Maine Mineral Localities, 3rd Ed." by Thompson, W.B., et.al., 1998
    King, V. and Foord, E., 1994, Mineralogy of Maine, v. 1.
    • Nevada
      • Elko Co.
    		NBMG Bull 106 Geology and Mineral Resources of Elko County, Nevada; USGS Open-File Report 76-56
          • Alladin Group
    		NBMG Spec. Pub. 31 Minerals of Nevada
    • New Hampshire
      • Cheshire Co.
        • Walpole
    		P. Cristofono, T. Mortimer, J.W. Nizamoff, A. Wilken, and R. Wilken (2011) The 38th Rochester Mineralogical Symposium, April 14-17, 2011, lecture abstracts, page 17-18.
      • Grafton Co.
        • Grafton
    		Bjareby, Gunnar (1965): Fifty Years of Mineral Collecting, Part 7 (Rocks & Minerals 40:491-493); Rocks & Minerals (2005) 80:242-261 New Hampshire Mineral Locality Index
        • Groton
    		Rocks & Minerals (2005) 80:242-261 New Hampshire Mineral Locality Index
    No reference listed
      • Sullivan Co.
        • Newport
    		American Mineralogist: 37: 931-940.; Rocks & Minerals (2005) 80:242-261 New Hampshire Mineral Locality Index; American Mineralogist (1953): 38: 728-729.
    • New Mexico
      • Grant Co.
    		Northrup, Minerals of New Mexico, 3rd Rev. Ed., 1996
    Mineral and/or Locality
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