Chambersite Gemstone: Properties, Meanings, Value & More

Chambersite is a borate mineral mostly known from the Lone Star State of Texas, USA. The stone is typically found as small, triangular crystals that range from colorless to purple.

Is chambersite rare? Definitely. Not only are chambersite minerals rare, but chambersite gemstones are extremely rare.

But it makes up for its scarcity in unique properties like being multiferroic, photochromic, and phase-changing.

Intrigued? Stick around to learn all about chambersite’s uses, prices, history, benefits, and more!

Pictured above: Faceted chambersite gemstone | Image credit: DonGuennie|G-EmpireThe World Of Gems, CC-BY-SA-3.0

About Chambersite Stone

Chambersite is a very rare semi-precious gemstone mostly found in triangular shapes. The stone ranges from colorless to brownish or deep purple, with in-between hues like lilac and brownish-purple.

Part of chambersite’s color range is due to a notable, rare property: photochromism.

This is when a mineral changes color from exposure to light. This differs from color-changing gems because photochromic gems only change color under UV light (like sunlight) and shift at various rates, from minutes to hours after exposure.

Two types of photochromism exist: reversible photochromism (tenebrescence) and irreversible photochromism.

Tenebrescent stones (like hackmanite) change back and forth indefinitely; stones with irreversible photochromism (like kunzite and chambersite) permanently change.

Note: Some gemologists refer to both types of photochromism as tenebrescence.

Outside of gemstone purposes, what is chambersite used for?

Chambersite Uses

Since the stone is rare naturally, most industrial applications use synthetic chambersite.

One significant property of natural chambersite, however, is that it’s multiferroic, meaning it has at least two of these properties: ferromagnetism, ferroelasticity, and ferroelectricity.

Chambersite and congolite are the only known natural substances that are multiferroic. Due to this property, synthetic chambersites may be significant for future optical or electronic technology such as spintronics (currently used in hard disk drives).

One 2019 Chinese study showed this potential, where chambersite made titanium matrix composites more resistant to friction and wear.

A 2018 Chinese study of heating chambersites found that the crystal’s thermal reaction had potential for neutron-shielding and microwave-absorbing materials.

Chinese scientists also created synthetic chambersite crystals in a 2022 study, finding they could be used as cheaper infrared detection alternatives.

Pictured above: Fairly gemmy, pyramidal chambersite crystal with large size | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Chambersite Specifications & Characteristics

Chambersite is a manganese chloro-borate mineral with the formula Mn3B7O13Cl. Some use the formula Mn2+3(B7O13)Cl, but the former is approved by the International Mineralogical Association (IMA).

The mineral is in the boracite mineral group along with other chloro-borates trembathite, congolite, ericaite, and boracite. Boracite is chambersite’s magnesium analogue; conversely, chambersite is the manganese analogue of boracite.

Chambersite is also a manganese analogue of ericaite and congolite; ericaite is the ferrous iron analogue of chambersite and congolite is the iron analogue.

In terms of habits, chambersite crystals are often pseudo-tetrahedral (resembling a triangular pyramid) or pseudocubic (close to cube-shaped).

Though rare, interpenetration twinning (where crystals seem to pass through each other) can happen on [111].

Additionally, chambersite has been found as granular, micritic (fine-grained) aggregates and as radially oriented spheroids (like a flattened sphere).

Chambersite properties listed:

• Mohs hardness: 7

• Color: Colorless, lilac, brownish-purple, purple; Darkens with UV light exposure

• Crystal structure: First isometric/cubic (initial high-temperature formation), then orthorhombic (once cooled)

• Luster: Vitreous

• Transparency: Transparent to opaque

• Refractive index: 1.732-1.744

• Density: 3.49

• Cleavage: None

• Fracture: Uneven/irregular or subconchoidal

• Streak: White

• Luminescence: None

• Pleochroism: None

• Birefringence: 0.012

• Dispersion: 0.012 (weak)

• Optical effects: Irreversible photochromism (permanent color-change in sunlight)

Chambersite vs Similar Stones

Chambersite is most similar to boracite, particularly when they’re both colorless. However, boracite is more common, luminesces, has lower refractive indices (1.658-1.673), and has a lower density (2.91-3.10).

By looks, purple chambersite may resemble charoite or sugilite, minus these stones’ signature swirls. But both sugilite and charoite are softer and less dense than chambersite.

Shifting to the metaphysical side, what does chambersite symbolize?

Chambersite Meaning & History

Chambersite symbolizes spiritual awakening, creativity, and reliability.

The crystal’s common triangle shape makes it representative of balance, transformation, and stability. Purple chambersites also symbolize wisdom, ambition, and independence.

History

The name “chambersite” comes from its discovery in Chambers County, Texas, USA. More specifically, the first discovery occurred in Barbers Hill Salt Dome, Mont Belvieu.

The mineral was first discovered in 1957 within brine returns (saltwater in caverns used to extract natural gas) from a gas storage well owned by the Texas National Gasoline Corporation. It likely formed between 2,320 to 2,720 feet below sea level.

American geologists and professors Russell M. Honea and Frank R. Beck, from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and Fort Hays Kansas State College, respectively, wrote the first description of chambersite in 1962.

They found that the specimens were related to boracite but distinct enough to be a different mineral. Their data also matched up with data on synthetic manganese boracite analogues reported in 1961.

When the description was published, chambersite was the second known natural boracite analogue, after ericaite (first reported in 1955).

The original chambersite crystals discovered were mostly tiny subhedral to euhedral, positive tetrahedrons, with one interpenetrating twinned specimen.

Chambersite Healing Properties

As a commonly purple healing stone, chambersite has the metaphysical properties of other purple gemstones, increasing wisdom, spiritual awareness, and intuition.

Colorless and purple chambersite crystals are purportedly effective crown chakra stones.

Additionally, crystal healers say chambersite benefits include:

• Boosting creativity

• Balancing emotions

• Facilitating self-acceptance

• Enhancing other healing crystals’ powers

• Promoting greater self-discipline & structure

Pictured above: Collection of small, translucent, purple to pink chambersite crystals from Louisiana; Brian Kosnar Collection | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Chambersite Gemstone Properties

Besides their rarity, chambersite’s value also depends on its color, cut, clarity, transparency, and carat weight.

Color

Chambersite ranges from colorless to brownish to purple. The shift from colorless (or mostly colorless) to deep purple happens via slight manganese oxidation, caused by exposure to sunlight.

It’s worth noting that synthetic chambersite is colorless. Generally, lilac or fully colorless chambersites may be worth more than brownish ones.

Cut

Chambersite is already a rare mineral, but it’s also quite small and dark in color, so faceted stones are even rarer. Given this rarity, faceted chambersites can command high value.

Of the faceted chambersites, most have triangular step cuts because they already have a natural triangular pyramid shape. In fact, most “faceted” chambersites for sale are more polished than cut, given their attractive natural shapes.

Clarity & Transparency

Clarity describes the degree of visible inclusions in a gem, which can lower its transparency and value. Although some chambersite crystals can be transparent, faceted ones typically aren’t.

Potential inclusions in chambersite include small but numerous clouds, but chambersite’s rarity means that even specimens with very low clarity are sought-after by collectors.

Chambersite can also be an inclusion inside of other stones — notably, colorless and highly birefringent chambersite inclusions were found in rhodizite-londonite specimens from Madagascar.

Carat Weight & Size

Both chambersite crystals and cut chambersites are always small. Chambersite crystals are typically under 0.5 cm; even large ones are under 1 cm.

Cut chambersite gemstones are always under 2 carats and usually under 0.5 carats.

Chambersite Formation & Sources

Chambersite is an evaporite mineral, meaning it forms by precipitating (crystallizing) from a solution of saltwater (brine) as the water evaporates.

Usually, chambersite is found in brines of salt dome extraction wells. It’s very rarely found in granite pegmatites, the first time being 2002 as an inclusion in rhodizite-londonite from Madagascar.

Chambersite’s shift in crystal systems shows that it first forms at high temperatures as cubic (isometric) crystals, then reorganizes internally into orthorhombic crystals upon cooling. The shift to orthorhombic symmetry happens at 407°C (764.6°F).

The stone is associated with the other evaporite minerals anhydrite, gypsum, and halite.

Mining Locations

The only known localities for gem-quality chambersite crystals are the original Barkers Hill Salt Dome in Texas and the Venice Salt Dome in Louisiana, USA. Nova Scotia, Canada is another significant source for attractive crystals.

The only other known sources of chambersite are:

• China

• Madagascar

• Mexico

• New Brunswick, Canada

Pictured above: Rare, well-crystallized, gemmy, purple chambersite crystal with pyramidal form from Texas, USA; Dick Jones Collection | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Chambersite Price & Value

Faceted chambersites, unsurprisingly, tend to be the most expensive option.

The price-per-carat of faceted chambersites ranges from about $1,250 to $4,000 per carat; however, these are almost always under 1 carat, so total prices are closer to $60 to $515.

Rough chambersite crystals range from $25 to $100. These are usually available in packs of multiple small crystals, making the price-per-crystal about $5 to $20 each. The priciest crystals go for $135 each.

Chambersite Care and Maintenance

Luckily, gemstone care for chambersite is pretty simple. You can clean it with the standard warm water, mild soap, and a soft toothbrush.

The main consideration is storage and when you wear it. Since it darkens in color with light exposure, we recommend only wearing chambersite jewelry at night and storing any chambersites in a dark place away from sunlight.

Are You Charmed by Chambersite?

Chambersite has many unique properties, from being multiferroic to changing colors in sunlight, this crystal might as well be magic. Throw in some mystical healing properties plus rarity and chambersite is the perfect addition to any collection!

Buy chambersite and other unique gemstones today!