Brown yellow crystal aggregates of the extremely rare Mg-Al silicoborate mineral werdingite from the TL in Bok se Puts Farm, Southafrica and one of the few known localities worldwide. Ex Vandenbroucke Museum collection from Waregem, Belgium. — Photo: David Hospital · CC BY 4.0
Werdingite
Werdingite is an IMA-recognized mineral species in the silicate class, with the chemical formula Mg₂Al₁₄Si₄B₄O₃₇.
It crystallizes in the triclinic crystal system (space group P-1).
Key properties: Mohs hardness 7; specific gravity 3.04; Buff- white streak; Vitreous luster; optically biaxial.
IMA symbol Wrd, IMA status: approved, named in 1988.
Found in granulite facies metamorphosed metasediments and metavolcanic cordierite-sillimanite and biotite gneisses.
It is found associated with Kornerupine, grandidierite, sillimanite, zircon, rutile, hercynite.
The name refers to Dr. GÄunter Werding, of the Mineralogical Institute, Ruhr University, Bochum, Germany.