Many black berdesinskiite crystal groups associated to schreyerite from the type locality for the mineral and only one of 4 known localities worldwide. From Lasamba Hill, Kwale County, Kenya. Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY-SA 4.0
Berdesinskiite
Berdesinskiite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the oxides & hydroxide class, with the chemical formula V³⁺₂TiO₅.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group C2/c). It is a member of the Berdesinskiite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 6–6.5; specific gravity 4.536; Metallic luster.
IMA symbol Bds, IMA status: approved, named in 1980.
Found in strongly weathered gneiss with quartzite in a gem kornerupine deposit of Precambrian age.
It is found associated with Schreyerite, rutile, kornerupine, diopside, epidote, graphite, quartz, biotite, tourmaline.
The name refers to Professor Waldemar Berdesinski (1911–1990), crystallographer, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.