Home > Långban Minerals – January 23 > MS0889 Bromellite

Bromellite - Sold


Bromellite is a simple beryllium oxide. Unusual for an oxide mineral, it has the wurtzite crystal structure (same as zincite). The mineral was described and named by Aminoff (1925). The mineral name honors Magnus von Bromell (1679-1731), Swedish physician and mineralogist. While bromellite occurs in several world occurrences, this is the type locality, and (as far we know here) the only locality for fine crystals. This is a very difficult to obtain item; and also difficult to photograph. The crystal is completely transparent, causing light to suffuse throughout the crystal causing the halo under magnification. This is a gem crystal of natural beryllium oxide! One of the hardest of minerals, measuring about 9 on the Mohs scale.

This specimen was part of the personal collection of Ralph Merrill, proprietor of the prolific mail order business Minerals Unlimited. Merrill's collection card and label also ship with the specimen.