Hambergite Gem Guide and Properties Chart

Hambergite is an often colorless gemstone named in honor of Swedish mineralogist A. Hamberg. While it is durable enough to wear in jewelry, hambergite is most commonly seen in specimen form. Rarely is a specimen flawless, and it can be easily confused with colorless quartz since they are similar in appearance. A unique characteristic of hambergite is its prefect cleavage that makes faceting into a gemstone very difficult for cutters.

General Information

Classification
Optical Properties
Characteristic Physical Properties
Chemistry & Crystallography

Common Name

Hambergite

Species

Hambergite

Transparency

Transparent - Translucent

Dispersion

Strength: Weak Fire Value: 0.015

Refractive Index

1.553-1.631

Birefringence

0.071- 0.080

Optic Character

Biaxial

Optic Sign

Positive

Polariscope Reaction

Aggregate (AGG), Doubly Refractive (DR)

Fluorescence

SWUV: inert to weak yellowish white
LWUV: Inert to weak orange

Pleochroism

Unobservable

Hardness

7.5

Streak

White

Specific Gravity

2.330-2.370 Typical:2.350

Toughness

Poor

Luster

Vitreous

Fracture

Conchoidal

Cleavage

Perfect, in one direction, Good, in one direction

Chemical Name

beryllium borate

Chemical Formula

Be₂BO₃(OH)

Crystal System

Orthorhombic

Chemistry Classification

Borate

Hambergite Colors

Colorless
Gray
White
Yellow

Countries of Origin

Myanmar; Afghanistan; Argentina; Russian Federation; Czechia; Japan; United States of America; Madagascar; Portugal; Canada; Mozambique; Pakistan; Unknown; Norway; China; Italy; Australia; Nepal; Tajikistan

Care

Normal care