Chambersite
A valid IMA mineral species
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About Chambersite
Formula:
Mn2+3(B7O13)Cl
Colour:
Colorless to deep purple
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
7
Specific Gravity:
3.49
Crystal System:
Orthorhombic
Member of:
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.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
966
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:966:3
GUID
(UUID V4):
(UUID V4):
e38173c7-a591-4a48-8618-9a4942666df4
IMA Classification of Chambersite
Approved
IMA Formula:
Mn3B7O13Cl
First published:
1962
Classification of Chambersite
6.GA.05
6 : BORATES
G : Heptaborates and other megaborates
A : Tekto-heptaborates
6 : BORATES
G : Heptaborates and other megaborates
A : Tekto-heptaborates
25.6.1.3
25 : ANHYDROUS BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : Hexaborates
25 : ANHYDROUS BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
6 : Hexaborates
10.1.18
10 : Borates with other anions
1 : Borates with halide
10 : Borates with other anions
1 : Borates with halide
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
Symbol | Source | Reference |
---|---|---|
Cbs | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Chambersite
Pronunciation:
Play | Recorded by | Country |
---|---|---|
Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Chambersite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent, Opaque
Colour:
Colorless to deep purple
Comment:
Darkens with exposure to sunlight
Hardness:
7 on Mohs scale
Fracture:
Irregular/Uneven, Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
3.49(2) g/cm3 (Measured) 3.48 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Chambersite
Type:
Biaxial (+)
RI values:
nα = 1.732 nβ = 1.737 nγ = 1.744
2V:
Measured: 83° , Calculated: 82°
Max Birefringence:
δ = 0.012
Image shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness)
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:
High
Dispersion:
r > v
Chemistry of Chambersite
Mindat Formula:
Mn2+3(B7O13)Cl
Elements listed:
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 V:
923.70 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
4
Morphology:
Pseudotetrahedral
Twinning:
Rare interpenetrant on [111] with twin plane of {111}
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) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
0011067 | Chambersite | Kubel F, Crottaz O (1996) Crystal structure of manganese chlorine boracite, Mn3B7O13Cl Zeitschrift fur Kristallographie 211 924-924 | 1996 | synthetic | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
d-spacing | Intensity |
---|---|
3.07 Å | (100) |
2.74 Å | (60) |
2.08 Å | (60) |
3.54 Å | (50) |
2.17 Å | (50) |
1.851 Å | (50) |
2.50 Å | (30) |
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
---|---|
Near-surface Processes | |
25 : Evaporites (prebiotic) |
Type Occurrence of Chambersite
General Appearance of Type Material:
Subhedral to euhedral crystals ranging from less than 1 mm to 1.2 cm on an edge. The dominant form is the positive tetrahedron.
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, USA, number 107884.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, number 115327.
National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, number 115327.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Saltdome caprock.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Reference:
Honea, R.M., Beck, F.R. (1962) Chambersite, a new mineral. American Mineralogist: 47: 665-671.
Other Language Names for Chambersite
Relationship of Chambersite to other Species
Member of:
Other Members of this group:
Boracite | Mg3(B7O13)Cl | Orth. mm2 : Pca21 |
Congolite | (Fe2+,Mg)3(B7O13)Cl | Trig. 3m : R3c |
Ericaite | Fe2+3(B7O13)Cl | Orth. mm2 : Pca21 |
Trembathite | (Mg,Fe)3(B7O13)Cl | Trig. 3m : R3c |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
6.GA.05 | Boracite | Mg3(B7O13)Cl |
6.GA.05 | Ericaite | Fe2+3(B7O13)Cl |
6.GA.10 | Congolite | (Fe2+,Mg)3(B7O13)Cl |
6.GA.10 | Trembathite | (Mg,Fe)3(B7O13)Cl |
6.GA.30 | Korzhinskite | Ca(B2O4) · H2O |
Other Information
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 Chambersite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-966.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Chambersite
Reference List:
Beck, Russell M. Honea. and.Frank.R. (1962) Chambersite, a new mineral. American Mineralogist, 47 (5-6) 665-671
IMA (1967) International Mineralogical Association: Commission on New Minerals and Mineral Names. Mineralogical Magazine and Journal of the Mineralogical Society, 36 (277) 131-136 doi:10.1180/minmag.1967.036.277.20
Nelmes, R. J. (1974) Structural studies of boracites. A review of the properties of boracites. Journal of Physics C: Solid State Physics, 7 (21) 3840-3854 doi:10.1088/0022-3719/7/21/008
Kubel, F., Crottaz, O. (1996) Crystal structure of manganese chlorine boracite, Mn3B7O13Cl. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials, 211 (12) 924 doi:10.1524/zkri.1996.211.12.924
Fan, Delian, Yang, Peiji, Wang, Rao (1999) Characteristics and origin of the Middle Proterozoic Dongshuichang chambersite deposit, Jixian, Tianjin, China. Ore Geology Reviews, 15 (1) 15-29 doi:10.1016/s0169-1368(99)00012-8
Grice, J. D., Gault, R. A., Van Velthuizen, J. (2005) Borate minerals of the Penobsquis and Millstream deposits, southern New Brunswick, Canada. The Canadian Mineralogist, 43 (5) 1469-1487 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.43.5.1469
Frost, Ray L., López, Andrés, Scholz, Ricardo, Xi, Yunfei (2014) Vibrational spectroscopy of the borate mineral chambersite MnB7O13Cl – Implications for the molecular structure. Spectrochimica Acta Part A: Molecular and Biomolecular Spectroscopy, 120. 270-273 doi:10.1016/j.saa.2013.10.026
Localities for Chambersite
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).
Struck out - Mineral was erroneously reported from this locality.
Faded * - Never found at this locality but inferred to have existed at some point in the past (e.g. from pseudomorphs).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Canada | |
| Grice et al. (2005) |
Grice (2002) | |
| Fundy Geological Museum specimen |
China | |
| wrgis.wr.usgs.gov (2004) |
| Xiong Song (1989) |
| Xiong Song (1989) |
| Xiong Song (1989) +2 other references |
Madagascar | |
| Laurs et al. (Skip) |
USA | |
| Smith (1994) |
| Smith (1994) |
Smith (1994) | |
| Beck (1962) |
| Beck (1962) |
Quick NavTopAbout ChambersiteUnique IdentifiersIMA Classification Classification Mineral SymbolsPronunciation Physical Properties Optical Data Chemistry Crystallography Crystal StructureX-Ray Powder DiffractionGeological EnvironmentType Occurrence Other LanguagesRelationshipsStrunz-MindatOther InformationInternet Links References Localities Locality List
Barbers Hill Salt Dome, Mont Belvieu, Chambers County, Texas, USA