Chambersite
Chambersite is named after its discovery locality, at Barkers Hill salt dome, Chambers County, Texas, USA. The material of sufficient size for cutting has (so far) been found only at this site, and the Venice Salt Dome, in Plaqueminers Parish, Louisiana.
There, very small transparent stones of pale brown to deep purple colour have been recovered. Crystals are nearly always tetrahedral shaped, and when faceted are more polished than actually cut.
There, very small transparent stones of pale brown to deep purple colour have been recovered. Crystals are nearly always tetrahedral shaped, and when faceted are more polished than actually cut.
| General Information | ||||||||||||||
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| Chemical Formula |
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| Physical Properties of Chambersite | ||||||||||||||
| Mohs Hardness | 7, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | |||||||||||||
| Specific Gravity | 3.50, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | |||||||||||||
| Fracture | Uneven,Sub-Conchoidal, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||
| Light Sensitivity | Darkens with exposure to sunlight., Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||
| Optical Properties of Chambersite | ||||||||||||||
| Refractive Index | 1.735 to 1.745, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | |||||||||||||
| Optical Character | Biaxial, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | |||||||||||||
| Birefringence | 0.010, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | |||||||||||||
| Colour | ||||||||||||||
| Colour (General) | Colourless, red, brownish, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | |||||||||||||
| Transparency | Transparent, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | |||||||||||||
| Lustre | Vitreous, Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||
| Crystallography of Chambersite | ||||||||||||||
| Crystal System | Orthorhombic, Gemmological Tables (2004) More from other references | |||||||||||||
| Habit | Pseudocubic, Gems, Sixth Edition (2006) More from other references | |||||||||||||
| Geological Environment | ||||||||||||||
| Where found: | In brine residues from extraction wells in salt domes., Handbook of mineralogy (2001) | |||||||||||||
| Further Information | ||||||||||||||
| Mineral information: | Chambersite information at mindat.org | |||||||||||||
| Significant Gem Localities | ||||||||||||||
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