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Sphaerobertrandite, Be3SiO4(OH)2
: new data, crystal structure and genesis Igor V. PEKOV1,*, Nikita V. CHUKANOV2, Alf Olav LARSEN3, Stefano MERLINO4, Marco PASERO4, Dmitriy Yu. PUSHCHAROVSKY1, Gabriella IVALDI5, Alexander E. ZADOV6, Viktor G. GRISHIN1, Arne ÅSHEIM3, Johan TAFTØ7 and Nina I. CHISTYAKOVA8

1 Faculty of Geology, Moscow State University, Vorobievy Gory, 119899 Moscow, Russia
2 Institute of Chemical Physics Problems, 142432 Chernogolovka, Moscow Oblast, Russia
3 Norsk Hydro ASA, Research Centre Porsgrunn, P. O. Box 2560, N-3907 Porsgrunn, Norway
4 Department of Earth Sciences, University of Pisa, v. S. Maria 53, I-56126 Pisa, Italy
5 Department of Mineralogy and Petrology, University of Torino, Via Valperga Caluso 35, I-10125 Torino, Italy
6 NPO Regenerator, Skladochnaya ul. 6, 127018 Moscow, Russia
7 Department of Physics, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1032 Blindern, N-0315 Oslo, Norway
8 All-Russian Institute of Mineral Resources, Staromonetnyi per. 31, 109017 Moscow, Russia

* Corresponding author, e-mail: igorpekov@mtu-net.ru

The insufficiently studied beryllium silicate sphaerobertrandite has been known since 1957. The present work presents new findings, verifies that the mineral is a valid species with a unique structure. The original name sphaerobertrandite has been kept in spite of its unjustifiable connection to bertrandite. The mineral is named after the typical spherulitic morphology of its aggregates, and its similarity to bertrandite in the main chemical constituents. Sphaerobertrandite was recently found in alkaline pegmatites at Sengischorr Mountain, Lovozero massif, Kola peninsula, Russia, inside epididymite segregations, coexisting with eudidymite, aegirine, mangan-neptunite, etc., and in Tuften quarry, Tvedalen, South Norway, coexisting with hambergite, analcime, chiavennite, etc. The mineral forms spherulites up to 2 mm, as well as fibrous crusts. Sphaerobertrandite from Sengischorr Mountain occurs as thin tabular, prismatic crystals up to 0.5 x 0.2 x 0.05 mm in aggregates overgrowing epididymite. The main crystal form is {001}, small faces {012}, {102} and {10–2} are present. Transparent to translucent; colourless, white, yellow, brownish, greyish, beige. Streak white. Lustre vitreous. Mohs' hardness 5. Brittle. Cleavage perfect on (001). D (meas.) is 2.46 - 2.54, D (calc.) is 2.52 g/cm3. Biaxial, negative, = 1.597(3), ß = 1.607(4), = 1.616(3), 2V (meas) is 70(±20)° Orientation: Z = c. IR spectrum is unique; frequencies of absorption bands are (cm–1; sh — shoulder, w — weak; the most intensive bands are underlined): 3605, 3540, 3505, 3370sh, 3250sh, 3060w, 1620sh, 1400sh, 1150, 1115, 1090sh, 995sh, 933, 900, 835, 768, 721, 680sh, 639, 612, 573w, 555w, 491, 424, 410sh. Chemical composition of the sample from Sengischorr Mountain is: BeO 45.88, SiO2 38.46, H2O+ 12.54, total 96.88 wt. %, corresponding to Be2.97Si1.03O4.06(OH)1.94· 0.155H2O. Monoclinic, P21/c, with a = 5.081(3), b = 4.639(1), c = 17.664(9) Å, ß= 106.09(5)°, V = 400.0 Å3, with a strongly pseudo-orthorhombic cell, which is the likely reason for the samples being invariably twinned by pseudo-merohedry. The strongest lines in the X-ray powder pattern are (d in Å -I[hkl]): 4.885–90[100]; 4.236–62[004]; 3.161–100[111, 11–3]; 2.836–70[104]; 2.538–55[20–2]; 2.318–90[020]; 2.174–55[10–8]. The crystal structure has been refined to R = 0.090. Better refinement could not be achieved because of twinning by pseudo-merohedry with low obliquity, which produces partial overlapping of reflections. The structure consists of mixed framework formed by Be- and Si-tetrahedra which comprises 6- and 4- membered rings. All vertices of SiO4 tetrahedra are shared with 2 BeO4 tetrahedra. The OH anions are shared only between two Be tetrahedra. The structure contains Be(3)O3 chains screwed around 21 axis and reinforced by SiO4 tetrahedra. These (Be, Si, O) chains are linked by the dimers Be(2)2O6 and by Be(1)O4 tetrahedra.



Key-words: sphaerobertrandite, beryllium silicate, crystal structure, alkaline rocks, Lovozero, Kola peninsula, Tvedalen, Norway.

This web site was formally launched on March 12, 1996 by Michael Jackson a member of the Beryllium Support Group which meets monthly at the National Jewish Medical and Research Center in Denver,

To provide a forum where anyone around the country or the world can obtain information or provide information they have experienced as a result of this disease.
To provide current and historical information on studies and papers relating to this disease.
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Lists known Beryllium Support Groups and contacts for becoming a part of them

Beryllium is a hard, grayish metal naturally found in mineral rocks, coal, soil, and volcanic dust.

Beryllium compounds are commercially mined, and the beryllium is purified for use in nuclear weapons and reactors, aircraft and space vehicle structures, instruments, x-ray machines, and mirrors

Beryllium ores are used to make speciality ceramics for electrical and high-technology applications.

Beryllium alloys are used in automobiles, computers, sports equipment (golf clubs and bicycle frames), and dental bridges.

An essential component of nuclear weapons and reactors, aircraft, and space vehicle structures, it ... appears in instruments, x-ray machines, mirrors, electrical elements, and a host of high-tech gadgets. Beryllium alloys are prized for their light weight and easy workability. They can be found in cars, computers, dental bridges, and sports equipment like golf clubs and bicycle frames.

Beryllium crystallizes in the hexagonal close packed structure

Beryllium metal is available commercially and so would never normally be made in the laboratory.

Its extraction from ores is complex. The mineral beryl, [Be3Al2(SiO3)6] is the most important source of beryllium.