Formula: Be3(SiO4)(OH)2.H2O
Nesosilicate (insular SiO4 groups), beryllium-bearing mineral
Crystal System: Orthorhombic
Specific gravity: 2.196 measured
Hardness: 1
Streak: White
Colour: White
Common impurities: Ti,Al,Fe,Mg,Ca,Na
Environments
Beryllite occurs in alkaline pegmatites associated with analcime,
chkalovite, epididymite,
sørensenite and tugtupite
(Mindat).
Localities
At the Ilímaussaq complex, Kujalleq, Greenland, beryllite occurs in analcime-rich veins, associated
with analcime, sørensenite,
chkalovite, epididymite and
tugtupite
(HOM).
At the type locality, Natrolite Stock, Karnasurt Mountain, Lovozersky District, Murmansk Oblast, Russia, beryllite occurs in the centre of
a zoned pegmatite cutting arfvedsonite-bearing
nepheline syenite. The border zone consists mainly of
aegirine and arfvedsonite; these decrease in amount
towards the centre and microcline and natrolite increase.
The centre zone consists mainly of natrolite with relicts of very coarse sodalite variety
hackmannite and with fine-grained albite. Beryllite occurs
rarely in cavities and coating albite and epididymite
(AM 40.787, HOM, Mindat). Associated minerals include albite,
epididymite, bertrandite,
natrolite and sodalite
(HOM).
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