Burangaite Locality: Buranga pegmatite, Gatumba District, Western Province, Rwanda Blue Burangaite from the TL. Field of view 5 mm. Specimen and photo Leon Hupperichs. — Photo: Leon Hupperichs · CC BY-SA 3.0
Burangaite
Burangaite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the phosphate class, with the chemical formula NaFe²⁺Al₅(PO₄)₄(OH)₆·2H₂O.
It crystallizes in the monoclinic crystal system (space group C2/c). It is a member of the Dufrénite structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 5; specific gravity 3.05; Pale blue streak; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Brg, IMA status: approved, named in 1976.
Found in corroded aggregates of other phosphates in a zoned granite pegmatite (Buranga pegmatite, Rwanda).
It is found associated with Scorzalite, bjarebyite, bertossaite, trolleite, samuelsonite, gatumbaite, wardite, brazilianite, apatite, quartz (Buranga pegmatite, Rwanda); berlinite.
The name refers to the initial occurrence in the Buranga pegmatite, Rwanda.