Bromellite
2723764
140565885
2007-06-25T17:57:32Z
68.123.4.230
/* Uses of bromellite */
{{Infobox mineral
| name = Bromellite
| category =
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| image =
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| formula = {{beryllium}}{{oxygen}}<br> (beryllium oxide)
| molweight =
| color = White, colorless
| habit = prismatic
| system = Hexagonal
| twinning =
| cleavage = [1010] Distinct
| fracture =
| mohs = 9
| luster = Vitreous
| refractive = 1.719, 1.733
| opticalprop =
| birefringence =
| pleochroism = None
| streak = White
| gravity = 3.02
| melt = 2570°C
| fusibility =
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| diaphaneity = Transparent to translucent
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}}
'''Bromellite''', whose name derives from the Swedish chemist [[Magnus von Bromell]] (1670-1731), is a white [[oxide]] [[mineral]], found in complex [[pegmatite|pegmatitic]] [[manganese]]-[[iron]] deposits, but is more frequently made synthetically. This is a rare mineral to encounter in its natural state, but it has been made synthetically for over 40 years.
==Uses of bromellite==
Bromellite, as a [[beryllium]]-containing mineral, has some uses. Industrially, natural specimens have the potential to be an ore of [[beryllium]]. It is one of the [[reagent]]s that can be used in the manufacture of artificial [[emerald]]s. As an additive, bromellite confers high mechanical strength and very high [[thermal conductivity]]. In [[nuclear reactor]]s, it is used as a [[neutron moderator|moderator]] for fast [[neutron]]s. [[Ceramic]]s containing bromellite are used in [[electronics]], as well as [[crucible]]s for the melting of [[uranium]] and [[thorium]]. Bromellite, both natural and synthetic, is also used as a [[gemstone]] or as a collector's mineral. As a [[gemstone]] bromellite is extremely rare. To date there has been found only one crystal that is large enough to be cut. In 2000 Dunil Palitha Gunasekara of Ratnapura, Sri Lanka purchased a rough colorless 17.77-ct crystal from Ratnapura. He cut it into 15 pieces, of which 3 pieces with 2.80, 1.92 and 0.68 ct were sent to the GIA laboratory for further testing since he thought them to be [[Johachiodolite]] at first. These gemstones are the first reported examples of faceted gem-quality Bromellite.
==References==
*R.V. Gaines et al, Dana's New Mineralogy, 8th edition, John Wiley & Sons, NY, 1997, p 211.
*SFM and Sam Muhlmeister, Gems & Gemology, Volume 38, No 3, Fall 2002, pp 250-251.
*[http://www.webmineral.com/data/Bromellite.shtml WebMineral Listing]
*[http://www.mindat.org/min-784.html MinDat Listing]
*[http://www.maden.hacettepe.edu.tr/dmmrt/index Dictionary of Mining, Mineral, and Related Terms]
*[http://www.sinhalite.com/bromellite.htm Gemmologist Murray Burford]
[[Category:Beryllium minerals]]
[[Category:Oxides]]
[[it:Bromellite]]
[[uk:Бромеліт]]