Muséum national d'histoire naturelle _ The species

FROM : Paprok, Kamdesh, Afghanistan
SIZE : 10.5 x 6.9 cm

The crystals are white, with a pearly lustre and without matrix. Their many faces give a grooved aspect to the ensemble.The pegmatite of Paprok is famous for size of the beryllonite crystals which are undoubtedly the largest ever found in the world.

This sample of beryllonite, acquired thanks to support from Total, was extracted in the Paprok area, Afghanistan.

This sample is currently exposed in the Treasure Room, located within the Gallery of Mineralogy of the Muséum national d’Histoire naturelle.

Photography: Louis-Dominique Bayle , © MNHN.

SPECIE : Beryllonite

HISTORY : Nom donné d’après l’élément béryllium qui la compose

Espèce décrite en 1888 par Edward Salisbury Dana (1849-1935), géologue et minéralogiste américain. Le premier échantillon a été découvert en 1886 par Sumner Andrews

Localité-type: Mont Mac Kean, Stoneham, comté d’Oxford, Maine, USA

CHEMICAL FORMULA : Na Be (PO4)
CRYSTAL SYSTEM : Monoclinic
COLOR : Colorless, white, pale yellow
DIAPHANIETY : Transparent to translucent
LUSTER : Vitreous to pearly
STREAK : White
MORPHOLOGY : Small prismatic crystals, fibrous aggregates and massive
HARDNESS : 5,5-6,0
DENSITY : 2,805

CHEMICAL CLASS : VII - Phosphates, arsenat
GROUP : Berlinite - Béryllonite - Hurlbutite
STRUNZ CLASS BEFORE 2001 : 7/A.01-30
STRUNZ CLASS AFTER 2001 : 8.AA.10

Explore the Mineral Treasures of the Muséum

Welcome to
the Virtual Gallery of Mineralogy

Beryllonite

Beryllonite

MNHN N°193.52

general description

The Species page

Mineralogy