Herderite Gemstone: Properties, Meanings, Value & More

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Herderite is a lesser-known gemstone beloved by some collectors for its intriguing twinning patterns like “fishtail” or cyclic shapes.

What color is herderite? It’s found in various colors, including colorless, green, blue-green yellow, pink, gray, purple, or some combination of these.

Is herderite rare? Yep, herderite minerals are rare and gem-quality, facetable crystals are even rarer, especially in large sizes.

Despite its lack of popularity and abundance, herderite still makes a gorgeous gemstone with plenty of benefits. Come along as we break down herderite’s properties, prices, healing powers, and history.

Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

What Is Herderite?

Herderite is a rare semi-precious gemstone that may also be called:

Allogonite
Glucinite
Fluor-herderite

The stone can be a substitute for birthstones like citrine (for November) or tourmaline (for October). Individually, herderite is a zodiac stone for fiery Aries signs.

The stone is rarely found in pure form, which takes us to its composition and other mineral properties.

Herderite Specifications & Characteristics

The mineral herderite is composed of calcium, beryllium, and phosphate. The herderite formula may be written as CaBe(PO4)F or CaBe(PO4)(F,OH) to account for the common impurity hydroxide. Hydrogen is another common impurity. Other possible impurities include traces of iron, manganese, lead, or yttrium.

Herderite is in the herderite group of the gadolinite subgroup. The herderite group is separated into drugmanite and herderite subgroups, the latter of which includes herderite, bergslagite, and hydroxylherderite.

Hydroxylherderite and herderite form a series, with herderite at the fluorine-dominant end and hydroxylherderite at the hydroxide-dominant end. Since hydroxylherderite is actually more common than herderite, many hydroxylherderite stones are mislabeled as herderite. (More on the differences between them in the next section).

The crystal habits of herderite include prismatic tabular crystals and fibrous aggregates that can be botryoidal (grape-like clusters) to spheroidal. Crystals can also be pseudo-orthorhombic or pseudo-hexagonal.

Twinning is quite common in herderite, particularly fishtail contact twinning. Fishtail twins are two crystals joined on the side and mirroring each other, creating a fishtail- or chevron-like pattern.

Herderite properties listed:

Mohs hardness: 5-5.5
Color: Colorless, gray, yellow, green, yellow-green, greenish-yellow, pink, violet, reddish-purple
Crystal structure: Monoclinic
Luster: Vitreous or sub-vitreous
Transparency: Transparent to translucent
Refractive index: 1.556-1.627
Density: 2.95-3.02
Cleavage: Indistinct/poor on {110}, interrupted
Fracture: Conchoidal or subconchoidal
Streak: White
Luminescence: Fluorescence often present - Pale green, violet, pale yellow, deep blue, or green in LW-UV & pale yellow, blue, violet, or green in SW-UV; X-ray colors, often with persistent phosphorescence - orange or pinkish-orange; Cathodoluminescence possible
Pleochroism: Sometimes present, usually weak - usually yellow to yellow-green or yellowish-green to green, possibly yellow to pink, gray to violet, or green to brownish-green
Birefringence: 0.023-0.033
Dispersion: 0.017 (moderate)

Pictured above: Hydroxylherderite | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Herderite vs Hydroxylherderite

As mentioned above, herderite and hydroxylherderite are the fluorine- and hydroxyl-dominant end members of their series, respectively. The ratio of fluorine to hydroxyl is what distinguishes them.

Unfortunately, their compositions are difficult to distinguish because fluorine, oxygen, and hydrogen can’t be detected with the traditional technique of Energy Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence (EDXRF) spectrometry.

However, there are some slight differences in their mineral properties that can help you estimate which one is which:

Optic Sign: Generally, hydroxylherderites will have a biaxial (+) optic sign and herderites will have a negative sign (though some herderites have a positive sign).

Refractive Indices: Higher fluorine content means lower refractive indices, so herderites generally have lower RI ranges than hydroxylherderites.

Stepping away from mineralogy, what is the spiritual meaning of herderite?

Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Herderite Meaning & History

The herderite crystal symbolizes transformation, renewal, and new beginnings.

Herderite’s metaphysical meaning is often tied to the mind, as it’s believed to create new neural pathways, stimulate your brain, and help you access mental strengths you’re not harnessing — be it psychic powers or simply creativity.

History

Where did herderite come from? The first official discovery of herderite was in the Sauberg Mine of Saxony, Germany, in 1828. Early on, mineralogists thought herderite may be related to apatite, partly for its resemblance to the yellow-green to green apatite gems called “asparagus stone.”

Austrian mineralogist Wilhelm von Haidinger published the first description, naming herderite after Sigmund August Wolfgang von Herder, the Saxon mining director.

German mineralogist August Breithaupt also used the name “allogonite” for the stone in 1830 and 1832. This derived from the Greek terms άλλος and γωνία, meaning “another angle,” in reference to its angles differing from that of apatite.

Yet another name was “gluconite,” used by American geologist William Earl Hidden in 1884 in reference to the stone’s composition as a “glucinum calcium phosphate and fluoride.”

Both “gluconite” and “allogonite” have become obsolete synonyms, however.

Other herderite mines outside of Germany popped up over time, but the most important ones were in Brazil, discovered in the 1970s. Since then, Brazil has become the top source for herderite gemstone material.

Back to the spiritual side, what are the benefits of the herderite stone?

Herderite Healing Properties

As a commonly green healing stone, herderite has the rejuvenating and harmonizing properties inherent to green gemstones. It’s also a great solar plexus or heart chakra stone.

Physical Healing

Physically, herderite crystal benefits are said to include treating problems related to:

Brain function
Head injury
Migraines
Fatigue

Emotional Healing

Emotionally, herderite is believed to help you change your perspective, be it to channel your true power with confidence, make wise decisions in emotionally charged situations, or move on from a particularly painful period.

Pictured above: Deep purple hydroxylherderite crystal | Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Herderite Gemstone Properties

Besides rarity, other factors affecting herderite gemstone value are color, cut, clarity, and carat weight. The stone has no known synthetic versions or treatments.

Color

Most herderite gemstones are colorless or yellow to green. Yellow to green colors likely come from manganese impurities. Rarer specimens are pink to violet, which can be more valuable.

Since not all herderite stones have pleochroism, this feature can be another value boost.

Cut

Herderite specimens that have the quality and size for faceting are rare; many faceted stones are hydroxylherderite. Common faceted cuts include pear, emerald, cushion, round, and radiant shapes.

The stone may also be cut into beads, tumbled, or sold uncut (rough).

Clarity

Many high-quality faceted herderite gems have no visible inclusions, but inclusions are possible. Possible inclusions include:

Partially healed fractures (sometimes containing fluid)
Small feathers
Scattered “pinpoint” inclusions
Needle-like inclusions (isolated or in small clusters)
Two-phase inclusions
Growth tubes

Additionally, herderite’s strong birefringence can cause strong doubling of the facets, meaning it may look like there are twice as many facets as there actually are.

Carat Weight

Herderite material from most sources is scarcely large or gem-quality, but Brazil has produced some large, well-colored, gem-quality crystals (up to about fist size).

A few herderite gems have been 25 to 40 carats, with one of the largest faceted herderites being over 161 carats!

Material from Maine, USA, is usually pale or colorless and yields 1- to 5-carat faceted gems.

Herderite Formation & Sources

Herderite usually forms during hydrothermal deposition, meaning hot water carrying dissolved elements gets into rock crevices and gradually evaporates, leaving the elements to crystallize.

Most herderites are found in pegmatites, often near apatite minerals.

Other minerals associated with herderite include:

Tourmaline
Quartz
Albite
Beryl
Elbaite
Muscovite
Foitite
Cleavelandite
Feldspars

Mining Locations

Where is herderite found? Today, Brazil is the top source for herderite gem material, though Pakistan is another top contender. Both sources produce hydroxylherderites, which also may come from:

Austria
Germany
Russia
USA (Maine, New Hampshire)

Other possible herderite sources:

Argentina
China
Czechia
Finland
Italy
Myanmar
Namibia
Spain
Sweden
UK

It’s important to note that many gems labeled “herderite” are actually hydroxylherderite. Technically, specimens confirmed to be herderite through analysis have only been identified in Myanmar, Brazil, China, and Namibia.

Image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Herderite Price & Value

Faceted herderite gemstones are generally the priciest, given their rarity, but prices vary according to color, size, and quality.

The general herderite price per carat ranges by color are:

Light Green: $100 to $350 per carat
Medium to Dark Green: $70 to $200 per carat
Purple: $50 to $170 per carat
Yellow: $40 to $160 per carat
Colorless: Around $90 per carat

Rough herderite ranges from around $10 for small crystals to nearly $1,300 large, museum-quality specimens.

Herderite Care and Maintenance

Before we wrap up, let’s discuss gemstone care.

Herderite jewelry will be somewhat fragile, given herderite mid-range hardness, so we recommend only occasional wear. Rings should definitely have protective settings.

Avoid mechanical cleaning systems (e.g. steam or ultrasonic). The best cleaning method is with a soft toothbrush, mild soap, and warm water.

Store separately from other gemstones to avoid scratches.

Pictured above: Green hydroxylherderite on albite | image credit: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Hoping to Have Some Herderite of Your Own?

Most people don’t know about herderite, but now that you’ve herd about it, you’ve got a leg up on them! This beautiful, rare gem may be hard to find, but it’s a unique treasure in warm to cool colors that suit any taste.

Buy herderite gemstones today!

Herderit je manje poznati dragi kamen koji vole neki kolekcionari zbog njegovih intrigantnih uzoraka poput "ribljeg repa" ili cikličkih oblika.

Koje je boje herderit? Može se naći u raznim bojama, uključujući bezbojnu, zelenu, plavo-zelenu žutu, ružičastu, sivu, ljubičastu ili neku njihovu kombinaciju.

Je li herderit rijedak? Da, minerali herderita su rijetki i imaju kvalitetu dragog kamenja, kristali koji se mogu oblikovati još su rjeđi, posebno u velikim veličinama.

Unatoč nedostatku popularnosti i obilja, herderit je još uvijek prekrasan dragi kamen s puno prednosti. Dođite s nama dok analiziramo svojstva herderita, cijene, iscjeliteljske moći i povijest.

Autor slike: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Što je herderit?

Herderit je rijedak poludragi dragi kamen koji se također može zvati:

alogonit
Glucinit
Fluor-herderit

Kamen može biti zamjena za kamenje rođenja poput citrina (za studeni) ili turmalina (za listopad). Pojedinačno, herderit je kamen zodijaka za vatrene znakove Ovna .

Kamen se rijetko nalazi u čistom obliku, što nas upućuje na njegov sastav i druga svojstva minerala.

Specifikacije i karakteristike herderita

Mineral herderit sastoji se od kalcija, berilija i fosfata. Formula herderita može se napisati kao CaBe(PO4)F ili CaBe(PO4)(F,OH) da bi se objasnio uobičajeni nečistoći hidroksid. Vodik je još jedna česta nečistoća. Ostale moguće nečistoće uključuju tragove željeza, mangana, olova ili itrija.

Herderit je u skupini herderita podskupine gadolinita. Skupina herderita podijeljena je na podskupine drugmanita i herderita, od kojih posljednja uključuje herderit, bergslagit i hidroksilherderit.

Hidroksilherderit i herderit čine niz, s herderitom na kraju s dominantnim fluorom i hidroksilherderitom na kraju s dominantnim hidroksidom. Budući da je hidroksilherderit zapravo češći od herderita, mnoga hidroksilherderitna kamenja pogrešno su označena kao herderit. (Više o razlikama među njima u sljedećem odjeljku).

Kristalne navike herderita uključuju prizmatične pločaste kristale i vlaknaste agregate koji mogu biti botrioidni (nalik na grozdove) do sferoidalni. Kristali također mogu biti pseudo-ortorombski ili pseudo-heksagonalni.

Dvojenje je prilično uobičajeno kod herderita, osobito kontaktno bratimljenje s ribljim repom. Blizanci ribljeg repa dva su kristala spojena sa strane i zrcale jedan drugoga, stvarajući uzorak nalik na riblji rep ili ševron.

Navedena svojstva herderita:

Mohsova tvrdoća : 5-5,5
Boja : bezbojna, siva, žuta, zelena, žuto-zelena, zelenkasto-žuta, ružičasta, ljubičasta, crvenkasto-ljubičasta
Kristalna struktura : monoklinska
Sjaj : Staklasto ili podstaklasto
Prozirnost : Transparentno do prozirno
Indeks loma : 1,556-1,627
Gustoća : 2,95-3,02
Cijepanje : nejasno/loše na {110}, isprekidano
Prijelom : konhoidalni ili subkonhoidalni
Pruga : Bijela
Luminescencija : Fluorescencija je često prisutna - blijedo zelena, ljubičasta, blijedo žuta, duboko plava ili zelena u LW-UV & blijedo žuta, plava, ljubičasta ili zelena u JZ-UV; Boje X-zraka, često s trajnom fosforescencijom - narančasta ili ružičasto-narančasta; Moguća katodoluminiscencija
Pleokroizam : ponekad prisutan, obično slab - obično žuto do žuto-zeleno ili žuto-zeleno do zeleno, moguće žuto do ružičasto, sivo do ljubičasto ili zeleno do smeđe-zeleno
Dvolomnost : 0,023-0,033
Disperzija : 0,017 (umjereno)

Slika gore: Hydroxylherderite | Autor slike: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Herderit protiv hidroksilherderita

Kao što je gore spomenuto, herderit i hidroksilherderit su krajnji članovi svojih serija s dominantnim fluorom, odnosno hidroksilom. Razlikuje ih omjer fluora i hidroksila.

Nažalost, njihov sastav je teško razlikovati jer se fluor, kisik i vodik ne mogu detektirati tradicionalnom tehnikom spektrometrije rendgenske disperzije energije (EDXRF).

Međutim, postoje neke male razlike u njihovim mineralnim svojstvima koje vam mogu pomoći da procijenite koji je koji:

Optički predznak : Općenito, hidroksilherderiti će imati dvoosni (+) optički predznak, a herderiti će imati negativan predznak (iako neki herderiti imaju pozitivan predznak).

Indeksi loma : Veći sadržaj fluora znači niže indekse loma, tako da herderiti općenito imaju niže RI raspone od hidroksilherderita.

Odmaknuvši se od mineralogije, koje je duhovno značenje herderita?

Autor slike: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Herderit Značenje i povijest

Kristal herderita simbolizira transformaciju, obnovu i nove početke.

Metafizičko značenje Herderita često se povezuje s umom, jer se vjeruje da stvara nove neuralne putove, stimulira vaš mozak i pomaže vam pristupiti mentalnim snagama koje ne iskorištavate — bilo da se radi o psihičkim moćima ili jednostavno o kreativnosti.

Povijest

Odakle herderit? Prvo službeno otkriće herderita bilo je u rudniku Sauberg u Saskoj, Njemačka, 1828. Mineralozi su u početku mislili da herderit može biti povezan s apatitom , djelomično zbog njegove sličnosti sa žuto-zelenim do zelenim draguljima apatita koji se nazivaju "kamen šparoga".

Austrijski mineralog Wilhelm von Haidinger objavio je prvi opis, nazvavši herderit po Sigmundu Augustu Wolfgangu von Herderu, saskom direktoru rudarstva.

Njemački mineralog August Breithaupt također je koristio naziv "alogonit" za kamen 1830. i 1832. Ovo je izvedeno iz grčkih izraza άλλος i γωνία , što znači "drugi kut", u odnosu na kutove koji se razlikuju od kutova apatita.

Još jedan naziv bio je "glukonit", koji je upotrijebio američki geolog William Earl Hidden 1884. godine u odnosu na sastav kamena kao "glucinum kalcijev fosfat i fluorid".

Međutim, i "glukonit" i "alogonit" postali su zastarjeli sinonimi.

S vremenom su se pojavili i drugi rudnici herderita izvan Njemačke, ali najvažniji su bili u Brazilu, otkriveni 1970-ih. Od tada je Brazil postao glavni izvor materijala za drago kamenje herderita.

Vratimo se na duhovnu stranu, koje su prednosti kamena herderita?

Ljekovita svojstva herderita

Kao obično zeleni ljekoviti kamen , herderit ima pomlađujuća i harmonizirajuća svojstva svojstvena zelenom dragom kamenju . Također je izvrstan kamen solarnog pleksusa ili srčane čakre .

Fizičko iscjeljenje

Fizički, dobrobiti kristala herderita navodno uključuju liječenje problema povezanih s:

Funkcija mozga
Ozljeda glave
migrene
Umor

Emocionalno iscjeljivanje

U emocionalnom smislu, vjeruje se da vam herderit pomaže promijeniti perspektivu, bilo da kanalizirate svoju istinsku snagu s samopouzdanjem, donosite mudre odluke u emocionalno nabijenim situacijama ili napuštate posebno bolno razdoblje.

Na gornjoj slici: tamnoljubičasti kristal hidroksilherderita | Autor slike: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Svojstva dragog kamenja herderita

Osim rijetkosti, drugi čimbenici koji utječu na vrijednost dragog kamena herderita su boja, rez, čistoća i težina u karatima. Kamen nema poznate sintetičke verzije ili obrade.

Boja

Većina dragog kamenja herderita je bezbojno ili žuto do zeleno. Žute do zelene boje vjerojatno potječu od nečistoća mangana. Rjeđi primjerci su ružičaste do ljubičaste boje, što može biti i vrijednije.

Budući da nema sve kamenje herderita pleokroizam, ova značajka može biti još jedno povećanje vrijednosti.

Izrezati

Rijetki su primjerci herderita koji imaju kvalitetu i veličinu za facetiranje; mnogi fasetirani kamenovi su hidroksilherderit. Uobičajeni fasetirani krojevi uključuju kruškaste, smaragdne, jastučaste, okrugle i blistave oblike.

Kamen se također može rezati u perle, tumbati ili prodavati nebrušen (grub).

Jasnoća

Mnogi visokokvalitetni fasetirani dragulji od herderita nemaju vidljive inkluzije , ali su inkluzije moguće. Moguća uključivanja uključuju:

Djelomično zarasli prijelomi (ponekad sadrže tekućinu)
Mala pera
Raspršene "točke" inkluzije
Igličaste inkluzije (izolirane ili u malim skupinama)
Dvofazne inkluzije
Cjevčice za rast

Osim toga, jaka dvolomnost herderita može uzrokovati snažno udvostručenje faseta, što znači da može izgledati kao da ima dvostruko više faseta nego što ih zapravo ima.

Težina karata

Herderitni materijal iz većine izvora jedva da je velik ili draguljaste kvalitete, ali Brazil je proizveo neke velike, dobro obojene kristale draguljaste kvalitete (do otprilike veličine šake).

Nekoliko dragulja od herderita bilo je od 25 do 40 karata, a jedan od najvećih herderita s fasetama ima više od 161 karata!

Materijal iz Mainea, SAD, obično je blijed ili bezbojan i daje dragulje od 1 do 5 karata.

Formiranje herderita i izvori

Herderit se obično formira tijekom hidrotermalnog taloženja, što znači da vruća voda koja nosi otopljene elemente ulazi u pukotine stijena i postupno isparava, ostavljajući elemente da se kristaliziraju.

Većina herderita nalazi se u pegmatitima, često u blizini minerala apatita.

Ostali minerali povezani s herderitom uključuju:

Turmalin
Kvarcni
Albit
Beril
Elbaite
Moskovljanin
foitit
Cleavelandit
Feldspati

Lokacije rudarenja

Gdje se nalazi herderit? Danas je Brazil glavni izvor materijala za dragulje od herderita, iako je Pakistan još jedan glavni konkurent. Oba izvora proizvode hidroksilherderite, koji također mogu potjecati iz:

Austrija
Njemačka
Rusija
SAD (Maine, New Hampshire)

Drugi mogući izvori herderita:

Argentina
Kina
Češka
Finska
Italija
Mianmar
Namibija
Španjolska
Švedska
UK

Važno je napomenuti da su mnogi dragulji označeni kao "herderit" zapravo hidroksilherderit. Tehnički, uzorci za koje je analizom potvrđeno da su herderiti identificirani su samo u Mjanmaru, Brazilu, Kini i Namibiji.

Autor slike: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Herderite Cijena i vrijednost

Fasetirano drago kamenje herderita općenito je najskuplje, s obzirom na njihovu rijetkost, ali cijene variraju ovisno o boji, veličini i kvaliteti.

Opća cijena herderita po karatu prema boji je:

Svijetlo zelena : 100 do 350 dolara po karatu
Srednje do tamno zelena : 70 do 200 dolara po karatu
Ljubičasta : 50 do 170 dolara po karatu
Žuta : 40 do 160 dolara po karatu
Bezbojno : oko 90 USD po karatu

Grubi herderit kreće se od oko 10 USD za male kristale do gotovo 1300 USD velikih primjeraka muzejske kvalitete.

Herderite njega i održavanje

Prije nego što završimo, razgovarajmo o brizi za drago kamenje .

Nakit od herderita bit će pomalo krhak, s obzirom na tvrdoću herderita srednje klase, stoga preporučujemo samo povremeno nošenje. Prstenje bi svakako trebalo imati zaštitne postavke .

Izbjegavajte mehaničke sustave za čišćenje (npr. parom ili ultrazvukom). Najbolji način čišćenja je mekom četkicom za zube, blagim sapunom i toplom vodom.

Čuvajte odvojeno od drugog dragog kamenja kako biste izbjegli ogrebotine.

Slika gore: Zeleni hidroksilherderit na albitu | Autor slike: Rob Lavinsky, iRocks.com – CC-BY-SA-3.0

Nadate se da ćete imati vlastiti herderit?

Većina ljudi ne zna za herderit, ali sad kad ste ga iskusili , stali ste na njih! Ovaj prekrasan, rijedak dragulj možda je teško pronaći, ali to je jedinstveno blago u toplim do hladnim bojama koje odgovaraju svakom ukusu.

Kupite drago kamenje herderit danas!

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