Sverigeite is a rare sodium beryllium manganese silicate, typically yellow. It was found on a mine dump; possibly part of a vein assemblage. Associated minerals include mimetite, jacobsite and amphibole. It was first described from Långban, Värmland, Sweden.
Is this sverigeite?
5-step field checkRun through these checks against the specimen in your hand. The more boxes tick, the more confident the ID.
- 1Test the hardnessTry to scratch sverigeite with a known reference. Sverigeite sits at Mohs 5, softer than the next harder reference, harder than the previous one.
- 2Check the streakDrag the specimen across an unglazed porcelain plate. Sverigeite leaves a light yellow streak.
- 3Read the lusterHold the specimen under a strong light. Sverigeite typically shows a vitreous luster.
- 4Match the color rangeCompare against the expected color range: yellow.
- 5Look at form & habitCrystal system: orthorhombic. Typical habit: equant crystals, irregular grains.
Often confused with
Sverigeite vs. its common look-alikes, and how to tell them apart in the field.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Sverigeite leaves light yellow, Willemite leaves white.
How to tell apart: Streak differs, so Sverigeite leaves light yellow, Esperite leaves white; luster reads vitreous on Sverigeite and dull to greasy on Esperite.
Often found alongside sverigeite
Minerals reported to co-occur with sverigeite. Spotting these in float or country rock is a strong cue you are in the right ground.
All properties
- Chemical formula
- NaBe₂Mn²⁺₂SnSi₃O₁₂(OH)
- Mohs hardness
- 5
- Density
- 3.60 g/cm³
- Colors
- Streak
- Light Yellow
- Luster
- Vitreous
- Transparency
- Transparent
- Crystal system
- Orthorhombic
- Crystal habit
- Equant Crystals, Irregular Grains
- Cleavage
- {010}, Perfect; Two Other Directions, Distinct
- Rarity
- Rare
- Uses
- Collector
- Host rock
- Metamorphosed Iron-manganese Ore Deposits
Where rockhounds find sverigeite
Classic worldwide localities
- Långban, Sweden
Field-hunting tip
Look in metamorphosed iron-manganese ore deposits country, the host setting where sverigeite typically forms. If you start seeing jacobsite, hedyphane, berzeliite in float, you are in the right ground. Field specimens usually show a equant crystals, irregular grains habit, so train your eye for that shape before scanning the outcrop.
Common questions
How do you identify sverigeite?+
Where is sverigeite found?+
What rocks look like sverigeite?+
What minerals are found with sverigeite?+
What kind of rock does sverigeite form in?+
What is sverigeite used for?+
Find sverigeite on the map
RockHoundR shows mapped rockhounding spots, access rules, and lets you log every find.
