Chambersite
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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.
Visit gemdat.org for gemological information about Chambersite.
Classification of Chambersite
Approved
5/L.04-30
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
Pronounciation of Chambersite
Pronounciation:
Play | Recorded by | Country |
---|---|---|
Jolyon & Katya 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
Chemical Properties of Chambersite
Formula:
Mn2+3(B7O13)Cl
IMA Formula:
Mn3B7O13Cl
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 twim 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
Type Occurrence of Chambersite
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Saltdome caprock.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
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. |
Trembathite | (Mg,Fe)3(B7O13)Cl | Trig. |
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping
6.GA.05 | Boracite | Mg3(B7O13)Cl | Orth. mm2 : Pca21 |
6.GA.05 | Ericaite | Fe2+3(B7O13)Cl | Orth. |
6.GA.10 | Congolite | (Fe2+,Mg)3(B7O13)Cl | Trig. 3m : R3c |
6.GA.10 | Trembathite | (Mg,Fe)3(B7O13)Cl | Trig. |
6.GA.30 | Korzhinskite | Ca(B2O4) · H2O | Mon. 2/m : P2/m |
Related Minerals - Dana Grouping (8th Ed.)
Related Minerals - Hey's Chemical Index of Minerals Grouping
10.1.1 | Teepleite | Na2[B(OH)4]Cl | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/nmm |
10.1.2 | Bandylite | Cu[B(OH)4]Cl | Tet. 4/mmm (4/m 2/m 2/m) : P4/nmm |
10.1.3 | Berborite | Be2(BO3)(OH,F) · H2O | Trig. |
10.1.4 | Fluoborite | Mg3(BO3)(F,OH)3 | Hex. |
10.1.5 | Boracite | Mg3(B7O13)Cl | Orth. mm2 : Pca21 |
10.1.6 | Karlite | Mg7(BO3)3(OH,Cl)5 | Orth. |
10.1.7 | Shabynite | Mg5(BO3)(OH)5(Cl,OH)2 · 4H2O | Mon. |
10.1.8/9/10 | Hilgardite | Ca2B5O9Cl · H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
10.1.11 | Solongoite | Ca2(H3B3O7)(OH)Cl | Mon. |
10.1.12 | Hydrochlorborite | Ca4B8O15Cl2 · 21H2O | Mon. |
10.1.13 | Ekaterinite | Ca2(B4O7)(Cl,OH)2 · 2H2O | Hex. |
10.1.14 | Volkovskite | KCa4[B5O8OH]4[B(OH)3]2Cl · 4H2O | Tric. 1 : P1 |
10.1.15 | Chelkarite | CaMgB2O4(Cl,OH)2 · 5H2O Or near, with Cl:OH = 3:1 | Orth. |
10.1.16 | Johachidolite | CaAlB3O7 | Orth. mmm (2/m 2/m 2/m) : Cmma |
10.1.17 | Satimolite | KNa2(Al5Mg2)[B12O18(OH)12](OH)6Cl4 · 4H2O | Trig. 3m (3 2/m) : R3m |
10.1.19 | Congolite | (Fe2+,Mg)3(B7O13)Cl | Trig. 3m : R3c |
10.1.20 | Ericaite | Fe2+3(B7O13)Cl | Orth. |
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.
References for Chambersite
Reference List:
Sort by Year (asc) | by Year (desc) | by Author (A-Z) | by Author (Z-A)
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
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-966.html
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Localities for Chambersite
Locality List




All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Canada | |
| Grice, J.D., Gault, R.A., and Van Velthuizen, J. (2005) Borate Minerals of the Penobsquis and Millstream Deposits, Southern New Brunswick, Canada. The Canadian Mineralogist: 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. | |
| Fundy Geological Museum specimen, Parrsboro, Nova Scotia, Canada. |
China | |
| http://wrgis.wr.usgs.gov/open-file/of03-220/DATABASE/lode_deposits.txt |
| Xiong Song (1989): Geology and Prospecting 25(5), 3-10 |
| Xiong Song (1989): Geology and Prospecting 25(5), 3-10 |
| 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 | |
| Smith Jr., A.E. (1994) Louisiana: Mineral locality index. Rocks & Minerals: 69(3): 156-162. |
| Smith Jr., A.E. (1994) Louisiana: Mineral locality index. Rocks & Minerals: 69(3): 156-162. |
Smith Jr., A.E. (1994) Louisiana: Mineral locality index. Rocks & Minerals: 69(3): 156-162. | |
| Honea, R.M., Beck, F.R. (1962) Chambersite, a new mineral. American Mineralogist: 47: 665-671. |
| Honea, R.M., Beck, F.R. (1962) Chambersite, a new mineral. American Mineralogist: 47: 665-671. |
Venice Salt dome, Plaquemines Parish, Louisiana, USA