Bertrandite

Bertrandite
Bertrandite from the Golconda pegmatite, Minas Gerais, Brazil
General
Category Sorosilicate
Formula
(repeating unit)		 Be4Si2O7(OH)2
Strunz classification 9.BD.05
Crystal system Orthorhombic
Crystal class Pyramidal (mm2)
H-M symbol: (mm2)
Space group Ccm21
Unit cell a = 8.7135(4) Å,
b = 15.268(1) Å,
c = 4.5683(3) Å; Z = 4
Identification
Color Colorless to pale yellow
Crystal habit Thin tabular, prismatic to needle-like crystals commonly in radial clusters
Twinning Common on {011} or {021} forming heart or V shaped twins
Cleavage Perfect on {001}; distinct on {100}, {010} and {110}
Mohs scale hardness 6 - 7
Luster Vitreous, pearly on cleavage surfaces
Diaphaneity Transparent
Specific gravity 2.59 - 2.60
Optical properties Biaxial (-)
Refractive index nα = 1.591 nβ = 1.605 nγ = 1.614
Birefringence δ = 0.023
2V angle Measured: 73° to 81°
References [1][2][3]

Bertrandite is a beryllium sorosilicate hydroxide mineral with composition: Be4Si2O7(OH)2. Bertrandite is a colorless to pale yellow orthorhombic mineral with a hardness of 6-7.

It is commonly found in beryllium rich pegmatites and is in part an alteration of beryl. Bertrandite often occurs as a pseudomorphic replacement of beryl. Associated minerals include beryl, phenakite, herderite, tourmaline, muscovite, fluorite and quartz.[1]

It, with beryl, are ores of beryllium.

It was discovered near Nantes, France in 1883 and named after French mineralogist, Emile Bertrand (1844–1909).[1][2][3]

One of the world's largest deposits of Bertrandite is Spor Mountain, Utah which is currently the source of most of the world's beryllium production.[4]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 3 Handbook of Mineralogy
  2. 1 2 Bertrandite on Mindat.org
  3. 1 2 Bertrandite on Webmineral
  4. ↑ Fact Sheet 2016–3081 (October 2016). "Beryllium—A Critical Mineral Commodity—Resources, Production, and Supply Chain" (Article). usgs.gov/. pubs.usgs.gov: USGS. p. 4. Retrieved 16 May 2017.
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