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Chambersite

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Big Photo

Venice Salt dome, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, USA
© Elmar Lackner

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Formula:
Mn
2+
3
(B
 
7
O
 
13
)Cl
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colorless to deep purple
Hardness:7
Member of:Boracite Group
Name:From Chambers County, Texas, USA, where it was first discovered.


Boracite Group. The manganese analogue of Boracite and Ericaite.

Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Chambersite. Currently in public beta-test.

Classification of Chambersite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/L.04-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:6.GA.05

6 : BORATES
G : Heptaborates and other megaborates
A : Tekto-heptaborates
Dana 8th edition ID:25.6.1.3

25 : ANHYDROUS BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : Hexaborates
Hey's CIM Ref.:10.1.18

10 : Borates with other anions
1 : Borates with halide
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Type Occurrence of Chambersite

Type Locality:Barbers Hill Salt Dome (Barbers Hill), Mont Belvieu, Chambers Co., Texas, USA
Year of Discovery:1962
Geological Setting of type material:Saltdome caprock.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
Anhydrite

Physical Properties of Chambersite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent, Opaque
Colour:Colorless to deep purple
Comment:Darkens with exposure to sunlight
Hardness (Mohs):7
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density (measured):3.49(2) g/cm3
Density (calculated):3.48 g/cm3

Crystallography of Chambersite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Class (H-M):mm2 - Pyramidal
Space Group:Pca21
Cell Parameters:a = 8.68(1) Å, b = 8.68(1) Å, c = 12.26(1) Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 1 : 1 : 1.412
Unit Cell Volume:V 923.70 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Pseudotetrahedral
Twinning:Rare interpenetrant on [111] with twim plane of {111}

Optical Data of Chambersite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.732 nβ = 1.737 nγ = 1.744
2V:Measured: 83° , Calculated: 82°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.012

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:High
Dispersion:r > v

Chemical Properties of Chambersite

Formula:
Mn
2+
3
(B
 
7
O
 
13
)Cl
Essential elements:B, Cl, Mn, O
All elements listed in formula:B, Cl, Mn, O

Relationship of Chambersite to other Species

Member of:Boracite Group
Other Members of Group:

- +
Boracite
Mg
 
3
(B
 
7
O
 
13
)Cl
Congolite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
(B
 
7
O
 
13
)Cl
Ericaite
Fe
2+
3
(B
 
7
O
 
13
)Cl
Trembathite
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
(B
 
7
O
 
13
)Cl
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
6.GA.05Boracite
Mg
 
3
(B
 
7
O
 
13
)Cl
6.GA.05Ericaite
Fe
2+
3
(B
 
7
O
 
13
)Cl
6.GA.10Congolite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
(B
 
7
O
 
13
)Cl
6.GA.10Trembathite
(Mg,Fe)
 
3
(B
 
7
O
 
13
)Cl
6.GA.30Korzhinskite
Ca(B
 
2
O
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
10.1.1Teepleite
Na
 
2
[B(OH)
 
4
]Cl
10.1.2Bandylite
Cu[B(OH)
 
4
]Cl
10.1.3Berborite
Be
 
2
(BO
 
3
)(OH,F) · H
 
2
O
10.1.4Fluoborite
Mg
 
3
(BO
 
3
)(F,OH)
 
3
10.1.5Boracite
Mg
 
3
(B
 
7
O
 
13
)Cl
10.1.6Karlite
Mg
 
7
(BO
 
3
)
 
3
(OH,Cl)
 
5
10.1.7Shabynite
Mg
 
5
(BO
 
3
)(OH)
 
5
(Cl,OH)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
10.1.8/9/10Hilgardite
Ca
 
2
B
 
5
O
 
9
Cl · H
 
2
O
10.1.11Solongoite
Ca
 
2
(H
 
3
B
 
3
O
 
7
)(OH)Cl
10.1.12Hydrochlorborite
Ca
 
4
B
 
8
O
 
15
Cl
 
2
 · 21H
 
2
O
10.1.13Ekaterinite
Ca
 
2
(B
 
4
O
 
7
)(Cl,OH)
 
2
 · 2H
 
2
O
10.1.14Volkovskite
KCa
 
4
[B
 
5
O
 
8
OH]
 
4
[B(OH)
 
3
]
 
2
Cl · 4H
 
2
O
10.1.15Chelkarite
CaMgB
 
2
O
 
4
(Cl,OH)
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O Or near, with Cl:OH = 3:1
10.1.16Johachidolite
CaAlB
 
3
O
 
7
10.1.17Satimolite
KNa
 
2
Al
 
4
[Cl|B
 
2
O
 
5
]
 
3
 · 13H
 
2
O
10.1.19Congolite
(Fe
2+
 
,Mg)
 
3
(B
 
7
O
 
13
)Cl
10.1.20Ericaite
Fe
2+
3
(B
 
7
O
 
13
)Cl

Other Names for Chambersite

Other Languages:
German:Chambersit
Russian:Чемберсит
Simplified Chinese:锰方硼石
Spanish:Chambersita

Other Information

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 Chambersite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist (1962): 47: 665-671.

Grew, E.S., and Anovitz, L.M. (1996) BORON: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, second edition, as revised (2002).

Internet Links for Chambersite

Search Engines:
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    • External Links:
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  • Look for Chambersite on Wikipedia
  • Look for Chambersite on Mineralien Atlas
  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Chambersite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
    • Mineral Dealers:
  • SpiriferMinerals.com - high quality low prices
  • Buy from David K Joyce minerals
  • Search for - Chambersite - on e-Rocks Mineral Sales & Auctions
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  • Chambersite specimens for sale - minfind.com
  • Search for Chambersite on Well-Arranged Molecules
  • Fine Minerals from Weinrich Minerals, Inc.
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    • Localities for Chambersite

    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.
    Canada
     
    • New Brunswick
      • Kings Co.
        • Cardwell Parish
    		CM 43, 1469-1487
    Grice, J. L. (2002): Borate Minerals from the Penobsquis and Millstream Deposits of Southern New Brunswick, Canada. Bergverksmuseets Skrift 20, 27-33
    • Nova Scotia
      • Cumberland Co.
        • Pugwash
    		Ronnie Van Dommelen
    China
     
    • Beijing Municipality
      • Pinggu District
    		http://wrgis.wr.usgs.gov/open-file/of03-220/DATABASE/lode_deposits.txt
    • Hebei Province
      • Chengde Prefecture
        • Xinglong Co.
    		Xiong Song (1989): Geology and Prospecting 25(5), 3-10
      • Zhangjiakou Prefecture
        • Zhuolu Co.
    		Xiong Song (1989): Geology and Prospecting 25(5), 3-10
    • Tianjin Municipality
      • Ji Co.
    		Xiong Song (1989): Geology and Prospecting 25(5), 3-10; Shikun Huang (1990): Geology and Prospecting 26(9), 6-11, 20; Fan, D., Yang, P., and Wang, R. (1999): Ore Geology Reviews 15(1), 15-29
    USA
     
    • Louisiana
      • Ascension Parish
    		R&M 69:3 pp 156-162
      • Plaquemines Parish
    		R&M 69:3 pp 156-162
    R&M 69:3 pp 156-162
    • Texas
      • Chambers Co.
        • Mont Belvieu
    		American Mineralogist (1962): 47: 665-671.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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