Mineralpedia Details for Bustamite
Bustamite
Named after General Anastasio Bustamente of Mexico. The type material of this mineral was found at the Tetela de Ocampo in Hidalgo, Mexico, later turned out to be a mixture, hence the official type locality is now at the Franklin mine in New Jersey, USA. Additional localities for Bustamite are in Sweden, England, Scotland, Romania, Italy, South Africa, Australia, and Japan, among a few others. It occurs in manganese ore that in turn formed by the metamorphism of manganese-bearing sediments, and is usually associated with skarn. The mineral’s common pink color will fade under exposure to light.
Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/bustamite.pdf
- Formula
- CaMn2+Si2O6
- Crystal System
- Triclinic
- Cleavage
- Perfect, Good, Good
- Luster
- Vitreous (Glassy)
- Color
- brown red, light pink, pink
- Streak
- white
- Class
- Triclinic - Pinacoidal
- Hardness
- 5.5-6.5
- WebMineral
- View Bustamite
- Mindat
- View Bustamite
Bustamite from Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Deep rich pink colored Bustamite crystals in aggregate.
Bustamite from Consolidated Zinc mine, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Crystals of brown Bustamite to 2.5cm with Galena.
Bustamite from North mine, Broken Hill, New South Wales, Australia
Cleavable mass of brownish red Bustamite.
