Hambergite Gemstone: Properties, Meanings, Value & More

Hambergite is a commonly white or colorless lesser-known gemstone first discovered in Norway and named for a Swedish mineralogist. The gem is mostly known among collectors.

As a mineral, hambergite is somewhat rare, but transparent, facetable hambergite material is rarer.

Although it has great durability for jewelry use, the difficulty in finding facetable crystals and faceting those crystals well makes cut hambergite gemstones scarce.

However, hambergite has many desirable features that make it a unique, fascinating gemstone.

We’ll go over all those features today as we cover hambergite’s properties as a mineral and gemstone, along with its history, prices, and benefits.

Pictured above: Single hambergite crystal that's partially gem with good, near-pearly luster and sharp edges; Charle Key Collection | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

What Is A Hambergite?

Hambergite is a rare semi-precious gemstone. The stone is usually colorless or white but can be pale shades of gray or yellow.

Astrologically, hambergite is recommended for those born under Aquarius.

Some of hambergite’s notable traits are its Mohs hardness, density, refractive index, and birefringence.

The gem has high hardness, low density (lightweight), and a high refractive index, a very rare combination. Hambergite also has significantly high birefringence, and no other gemstone with such high birefringence as high has low density like that of hambergite.

Next, we’ll go into more details about these mineral properties.

Hambergite Specifications & Characteristics

The chemical composition of hambergite is beryllium hydroxyborate, making the formula Be2(BO3)(OH). Some write the hambergite formula as Be2BO3(OH,F) to account for occasional fluorine impurities.

In terms of habits, hambergite crystals are usually flattened, prismatic, and striated with etched, dull termination faces. Crystals can also be dipyramidal (shaped like two pyramids attached to each other at their bases).

Hambergite can display twinning on {100}. It’s often reticular twinning (network-like structure), but can also be hemimorphic contact twinning.

Here are hambergite properties listed:

• Mohs hardness: 7.5

• Color: Colorless, white, pale gray, pale yellow

• Crystal structure: Orthorhombic

• Luster: Vitreous (glassy); Sometimes dull

• Transparency: Translucent to transparent

• Refractive index: 1.550-1.631

• Density: 2.330-2.372; Usually 2.35

• Cleavage: Perfect on {010}, distinct/good on {100}

• Fracture: Conchoidal to uneven/irregular

• Streak: White

• Luminescence: Usually none; Norwegian specimens - sometimes weak pinkish-orange or orange in LW-UV & weak yellowish-white in SW-UV

• Pleochroism: Unobservable

• Birefringence: 0.071-0.080

• Dispersion: 0.015 (weak)

Mineralogy aside, what is the spiritual meaning of hambergite?

Pictured above: Strange doubly-terminated hambergite floater crystal from Himalayan Mountains; William Larson Collection | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Hambergite Gemstone Meaning & History

Hambergite symbolizes idealism, self-awareness, and nourishment.

Spiritual practitioners use hambergite for nurturing optimism, inspiration, and self-reflection.

History

Norwegian geologist and mineralogist Waldemar Christofer Brøgger wrote the first description of hambergite in 1890.

Brøgger named the mineral after Swedish mineralogist and explorer Axel Hamberg, who brought Brøgger the first hambergite samples to examine in 1899.

Hamberg was also known for his diligent research on the hydrology and geology of Swedish minerals, rocks, and glaciers, particularly in the mountain massif Sarek in northern Sweden. His research has made a significant impact on modern glaciology.

The original hambergite specimen was a small, single crystal measuring 3.5 by 1.5 cm (1.38 x 0.60 in). The hambergite crystal was found associated with zircon, sodalite, fluorite, analcime, ferro-hornblende, biotite, and feldspar minerals.

The crystal was from a small (1- to 2-decimeter or 3.9- to 7.9-inch) nepheline syenite pegmatite dike. The dike was on a stretch of fjord called Langesundsfjord or Breviksfjord (Langesundsfjorden or Breviksfjorden in Norwegian) in Vestfold, Norway.

(FYI: A fjord is a long, narrow, and deep body of water that goes far inland. It often goes through a U-shaped valley and has steep rock walls beside it.)

Although hambergite was found in other locales later, one of the most significant finds was in Anjanabanoana, Madagascar. The first hambergites were reported here by Alfred Lacroix in 1909, and this remains the best source of large, gem-quality hambergite crystals.

Pictured above: Sharp, gemmy hambergite crystals on albite matrix | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Hambergite Healing Properties

As an often colorless healing stone, hambergite’s metaphysical properties match the cleansing and protective properties of other white gemstones.

Physical Healing

Physically, hambergite benefits are said to treat issues related to:

• Chills

• Weight stabilization

• Metabolism

• High heart rate

• Eye disorders

• Immune system function

• Insomnia

Emotional Healing

Emotionally, crystal healers recommend hambergite crystals for:

• Fostering positive feelings

• Making you more aware of your mental and physical health

• Encouraging more honest, authentic communication

• Alleviating anxiety

• Balancing emotions

Chakra Healing

Chakra healing involves opening one or more of your energy centers (chakras) to resolve a blockage that’s stopping proper energy flow.

Hambergite is used as a crown chakra stone. The crown chakra is a swirling halo atop your head and the highest energy center, representing the highest levels of spiritual connection and awareness.

Opening a blocked crown chakra can take you from feelings of confusion and disconnection to feelings of elevation and spiritual connection to the universe.

Outside of spiritual value, what makes a hambergite gemstone valuable on the market?

Pictured above: Close-up of robust hambergite floater crystal with unusually good terminations; Gene Meieran Collection | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Hambergite Gemstone Properties

Besides rarity, color, cut, clarity, transparency, and carat weight all have an impact on the value of this gemstone.

Color

Most hambergites are colorless, white, or grayish-white. Rarer stones like pale yellow hambergites may be more valuable, but fully transparent colorless hambergites are also valuable.

Cut

Not only are facetable hambergite crystals rare, but they’re also quite difficult to cut because of the stone’s perfect cleavage. This makes faceted hambergites, especially well-cut ones, more valuable.

Hambergites are usually only faceted for collectors in cuts that maintain the most weight, like cushions, emerald, and oval shapes.

Additionally, you’ll see fuzzy and doubled faceting in cut hambergites due to its high birefringence.

Most other hambergites for sale are rough (uncut) specimens. You may find some quartz cabochons with hambergite inclusions, though.

Clarity & Transparency

Clarity describes the degree of visible inclusions in a gem, which can lower its transparency and value. Hambergite gemstones with no visible inclusions and clear transparency are more valuable but rare, particularly in large sizes.

Most cut hambergite gemstones are translucent with visible cleavage traces and tube inclusions. Heavily included hambergite crystals are also harder to facet into gems and less valuable.

In other crystals, hambergite can appear as an inclusion in quartz and morganite.

Carat Weight & Size

The largest faceted hambergite known is 40.20 carats, but typically, faceted hambergites are under 5 carats and more often under 3 carats.

Hambergite crystals are usually found measuring up to 2 x 1 in (5.08 x 2.54 cm).

Pictured above: Sharp hambergite on albite matrix with cleavelandite; William Larson Collection | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Hambergite Formation & Sources

Hambergite minerals form as rare accessory minerals in granite, alkali, and syenite pegmatites that contain beryllium and boron. They’re also found in alluvial gem gravels, such as those in Kashmir, India.

In temperatures above 650°C and 2 kbar pressure, hambergite converts to bromellite.

Although beryllium is found in dozens of minerals, all of these minerals (like hambergite) are rare to some degree. One beryllium mineral commonly found with hambergite is beryl.

Other minerals associated with hambergite are:

• Aegirine

• Analcime

• Apatite

• Danburite

• Cleavelandite

• Feldspars (especially albite)

• Fluorite

• Lepidolite

• Quartz

• Sphaerobertrandite

• Spodumene

• Tourmaline (elbaite & schorl)

• Zircon

Geographically, where is hambergite found?

Mining Locations

The most gemmy hambergite crystals in good sizes come from Anjanabanoana, Madagascar. Gem-quality hambergite is also found in Afghanistan.

Other sources of attractive hambergite crystals are:

• Argentina

• Australia

• Canada

• China

• Czech Republic

• India

• Italy

• Japan

• Mozambique

• Myanmar

• Nepal

• Norway

• Pakistan

• Portugal

• Russia

• Tajikistan

• USA (California, Nevada, Wisconsin)

Price-wise, how much is a hambergite gemstone?

Pictured above: Very sharp hambergite crystal with sharp, prismatic termination from Tajiki | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Hambergite Price & Value

Cut hambergite gemstones range in price based on their size, but they’re generally pricey given their rarity.

A faceted Hambergite’s price ranges from around $60 to over $1,300 per carat or $40 to over $26,000 total for gems from 0.2 to 20.13 carats. Heavily included hambergite gems are available for around $10 per carat or $20 total.

You can find quartz cabochons with hambergite inclusions for around $2 per carat or roughly $70 each.

Individual hambergite crystals range from around $25 to $4,000 each based on size and quality.

Faceted hambergite gemstone rings go for $250 to $2,050 each.

Hambergite Care and Maintenance

Luckily, hambergite gemstone care is pretty easy. It does have low toxicity due to its borate content, but just avoid ingesting it and keep it away from anyone who might put it in their mouth (like children or pets.

Also, keep hambergite away from acids, particularly hydrofluoric acid, ultrasonic cleaners, steam cleaners, bleach, and harsh cleaning chemicals. Clean hambergite with the standard warm water, mild soap, and a soft toothbrush.

You may want protective settings on hambergite rings to avoid sharp blows making it break along its perfect cleavage.

Ham Up Your Collection with Hambergite!

Hambergite may be a lesser-known gemstone, but this stone has many impressive traits. With a high birefringence and refractive index but lightweight feel and good hardness, hambergite stands out as a strong, alluringly rare stone fit for any collection.

Buy hambergite and other fascinating gemstones today!