Orange crystals of the very rare Mn arsenate mineral manganberzeliite from the famous Langban deposit (Långban, Filipstad, Värmland County, Sweden). Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY 4.0
Manganberzeliite
Manganberzeliite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the arsenate class, with the chemical formula (NaCa₂)Mn²⁺₂(AsO₄)₃.
It crystallizes in the cubic crystal system (space group Ia3d). It is a member of the Garnet structural group.
Key properties: Mohs hardness 4.5–5; specific gravity 4.21–4.46; White to yellow-orange streak; Resinous luster.
IMA symbol Mbzl, grandfathered status — known before the IMA’s founding, named in 1878.
Found in metamorphosed manganiferous skarns (Sweden); in a metamorphosed stratiform zinc orebody (Franklin, New Jersey, USA).
It is found associated with Hausmannite, rhodonite, tephroite, pyrochroite, bergslagite, caryinite, richterite, hedyphane, sarkinite, eveite, tilasite, barite, calcite (Långban, Sweden).
The name refers to the manganese dominant analogue of berzeliite.