Home > LĂ„ngban Minerals – January 23 > MS0891 Swedenborgite

Swedenborgite - Sold


Swedenborgite is sodium beryllium antimony oxide. The mineral is colorless, but fluoresces blue under shortwave ultraviolet. Aminoff (1924) described the mineral, naming it after Emanuel Swedenborg (1688-1772), Swedish philosopher and theologian. There are two 2 mm colorless crystals embedded in white calcite on hematite matrix. Linus Pauling led the research team that solved the crystal structure of this mineral. Rare stuff.

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.