Mineralpedia Details for Barbertonite

Named after the type locality in the Barberton district in the Mpumamanga Province of South Africa. Barbertonite is a rare mineral with additional localities in Australia, New Zealand, Scotland, and the Czech Republic. It occurs as an alteration product of chromite in serpentinite in association with stichtite, chromite, and antigorite. Barbertonite has a distinct greasy feel to it.

Ref. Handbook of Mineralogy, Anthony et al (1995) and MSA at http://www.handbookofmineralogy.org/pdfs/barbertonite.pdf

Formula

Mg₆Cr₂(CO₃)(OH)₁₆*4(H₂O) 

Crystal System

Hexagonal 

Cleavage

Perfect, None, None 

Luster

Pearly 

Color

violet, pink, pink violet 

Streak

white 

Class

Hexagonal - Dihexagonal Dipyramidal 

Fracture

Flexible 

Hardness

1.5-2 

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Mindat

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Rich violet crystalline grains to 5mm with serpentinized matrix.