Swedenborgite
A valid IMA mineral species - grandfathered
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About Swedenborgite
Emanuel Swedenborg
Formula:
NaBe4Sb5+O7
Colour:
Colourless, pale wine- to honey-yellow; colourless in transmitted light
Lustre:
Vitreous
Hardness:
8
Specific Gravity:
4.285
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Name:
Named after Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772), Swedish scientist, philosopher, and religious writer.
This page provides mineralogical data about Swedenborgite.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
3845
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:3845:0
IMA Classification of Swedenborgite
Approved, 'Grandfathered' (first described prior to 1959)
Classification of Swedenborgite
4.AC.05
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
A : Metal: Oxygen = 2:1 and 1:1
C : M:O = 1:1 (and up to 1:1.25); with large cations (+- smaller ones)
4 : OXIDES (Hydroxides, V[5,6] vanadates, arsenites, antimonites, bismuthites, sulfites, selenites, tellurites, iodates)
A : Metal: Oxygen = 2:1 and 1:1
C : M:O = 1:1 (and up to 1:1.25); with large cations (+- smaller ones)
Dana 7th ed.:
44.2.2.0
44.3.1.1
44 : ANTIMONATES
3 : Miscellaneous
44 : ANTIMONATES
3 : Miscellaneous
24.2.1
24 : Antimonates and Antimonites
2 : Antimonates of Be, Mg, Ca, Zn or Hg
24 : Antimonates and Antimonites
2 : Antimonates of Be, Mg, Ca, Zn or Hg
Mineral Symbols
As of 2021 there are now IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols (abbreviations) for each mineral species, useful for tables and diagrams.
| Symbol | Source | Reference for Standard |
|---|---|---|
| Swe | IMA–CNMNC | Warr, L.N. (2021). IMA–CNMNC approved mineral symbols. Mineralogical Magazine, 85(3), 291-320. doi:10.1180/mgm.2021.43 |
Pronunciation of Swedenborgite
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Physical Properties of Swedenborgite
Vitreous
Transparency:
Transparent
Colour:
Colourless, pale wine- to honey-yellow; colourless in transmitted light
Hardness:
8 on Mohs scale
Cleavage:
Distinct/Good
On {0001}, distinct.
On {0001}, distinct.
Fracture:
Sub-Conchoidal
Density:
4.285 g/cm3 (Measured) 4.28 g/cm3 (Calculated)
Optical Data of Swedenborgite
Type:
Uniaxial (-)
RI values:
nω = 1.7724 nε = 1.77
Max. Birefringence:
δ = 0.002
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Based on recorded range of RI values above.
Interference Colours:
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
The colours simulate birefringence patterns seen in thin section under crossed polars. They do not take into account mineral colouration or opacity.
Michel-Levy Bar The default colours simulate the birefringence range for a 30 µm thin-section thickness. Adjust the slider to simulate a different thickness.
Grain Simulation You can rotate the grain simulation to show how this range might look as you rotated a sample under crossed polars. Each grain retains its interference colour (retardation) while its brightness falls to black at extinction and reaches a maximum between extinction positions.
Surface Relief:
Very High (positive)
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
Relative to Canada balsam mounting medium (n ≈ 1.537).
This shows the grain boundary and Becke line effect under plane-polarised
light, based on the contrast between this mineral's average refractive
index and the mounting medium. It does not take into account mineral
colouration.
In focus
Interference Figure:
This shows the idealized uniaxial interference figure - the conoscopic
(convergent-light, Bertrand-lens-in) view, for a grain cut with the optic axis
centred and vertical. The coloured rings are isochromatics, computed with the
same physics as the Michel-Lévy bar above; the dark cross is the isogyre.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
For a genuinely uniaxial mineral viewed this way, that cross stays perfectly stationary if you rotate the stage - unlike a biaxial mineral, where it splits apart on rotation. That invariance is itself the standard diagnostic test for telling uniaxial and biaxial minerals apart at the microscope.
Dispersion:
Strong
Chemistry of Swedenborgite
Mindat Formula:
NaBe4Sb5+O7
Element Weights:
Elements listed:
Crystallography of Swedenborgite
Crystal System:
Hexagonal
Class (H-M):
6mm - Dihexagonal Pyramidal
Space Group:
P63mc
Cell Parameters:
a = 5.442 Å, c = 8.848 Å
Ratio:
a:c = 1 : 1.626
Unit Cell V:
226.93 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:
2
Morphology:
Crystals short prismatic {1010}, {1011}, and {0001} prominent. May be morphologically hemihedral with c and p unequally developed at opposite terminations of {0001} at times.
Twinning:
Observed, not described.
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) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0000013 | Swedenborgite | Pauling L, Klug H P, Winchell A N (1935) The crystal structure of swedenborgite, NaBe4SbO7 American Mineralogist 20 492-501 |  | 1935 | not given | 0 | 293 |
| 0005708 | Swedenborgite | Huminicki D M C, Hawthorne F C (2001) Refinement of the crystal structure of swedenborgite The Canadian Mineralogist 39 153-158 | | 2001 | 0 | 293 | |
| 0018096 | Swedenborgite | Aminoff G (1933) On the structure and chemical composition of Swedenborgite _cod_database_code 1011229 Kunglia Svenska Vetenskaps Akademiens Handlingar 11 1-13 | 1933 | 0 | 293 |
CIF Raw Data - click here to close
X-Ray Powder Diffraction
Powder Diffraction Data:
| d-spacing | Intensity |
|---|---|
| 4.20 Å | (100) |
| 2.72 Å | (90) |
| 2.51 Å | (90) |
| 2.32 Å | (90) |
| 3.22 Å | (80) |
| 4.70 Å | (70) |
| 4.40 Å | (70) |
Comments:
Långban, Sweden.
Geological Environment
Paragenetic Mode(s):
| Paragenetic Mode | Earliest Age (Ga) |
|---|---|
| High-? alteration and/or metamorphism | |
| 32 : Ba/Mn/Pb/Zn deposits, including metamorphic deposits |
Type Occurrence of Swedenborgite
Place of Conservation of Type Material:
Swedish Museum of Natural History, Stockholm, Sweden.
The Natural History Museum, London, England: #1924,560.
The Natural History Museum, London, England: #1924,560.
Geological Setting of Type Material:
Skarn in a metamorphosed Fe-Mn ore body.
Associated Minerals at Type Locality:
Other Language Names for Swedenborgite
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 9 photos of Swedenborgite associated with Calcite | CaCO3 |
| 4 photos of Swedenborgite associated with Hematite | Fe2O3 |
| 1 photo of Swedenborgite associated with Berzeliite | (NaCa2)Mg2(AsO4)3 |
| 1 photo of Swedenborgite associated with Roméite Group | A2(Sb5+)2O6Z |
| 1 photo of Swedenborgite associated with Magnesiotaaffeite-2N’2S | Mg3Al8BeO16 |
| 1 photo of Swedenborgite associated with Magnesioferrite | MgFe3+2O4 |
Related Minerals - Strunz-mindat Grouping
| 4.AC.10 | Brownmillerite | Ca2Fe3+AlO5 |
| 4.AC.10 | Shulamitite | Ca3TiFe3+AlO8 |
| 4.AC.10 | Sharyginite | Ca3TiFe2O8 |
| 4.AC.10 | Srebrodolskite | Ca2Fe3+2O5 |
| 4.AC.15 | Montroydite | HgO |
| 4.AC.20 | Romarchite | SnO |
| 4.AC.20 | Litharge | PbO |
| 4.AC.25 | Massicot | PbO |
| 4.AC.30 | Nataliakulikite | Ca4Ti2(Fe3+,Fe2+)(Si,Fe3+,Al)O11 |
Fluorescence of Swedenborgite
Fluoresces deep red under LW/MW UV, and deep blue under SW UV.
Other Information
Notes:
Insoluble in acids. Decomposed by fusion with Na2CO3 or KHSO4.
Health Risks:
No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.
Internet Links for Swedenborgite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-3845.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
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References for Swedenborgite
Reference List:
Aminoff, G., Almström, G. Karl (1924) X. Über ein neues Mineral von Långban. Zeitschrift für Kristallographie - Crystalline Materials, 60 (1). 262-274 doi:10.1524/zkri.1924.60.1.262
Pauling, Linus, King, H. P., Winchell, A. N. (1935) The crystal structure of swedenborgite, NaBe4SbO7. American Mineralogist, 20 (7) 492-501
Huminicki, D. M.C., Hawthorne, F. C. (2001) Refinement of the crystal structure of swedenborgite. The Canadian Mineralogist, 39 (1) 153-158 doi:10.2113/gscanmin.39.1.153
Localities for Swedenborgite
Showing 3 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Sweden (TL) | |
| Aminoff et al. (1924) +1 other reference |
| Langhof (2009) | |
| Lorin (2003) |
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Långban Mine, Långban Ore District, Filipstad, Värmland County, Sweden