Binghamite (a mixture of minerals)
Current inventory:  0 gems
 

  
Binghamite is named after Bill Bingham, a lapidarist, who discovered it in 1936.

Discovered in 1936;   IMA status: Not Valid (trade name)

Chemistry

Chemical Formula:

(Quartz) SiO₂ + (Goethite) a-Fe³⁺O(OH)

Classification

Mineral Classification:

Oxides (mixture of the Oxides Quartz and Goethite and/or Hematite)

Crystal Data

Crystallography:

Tetragonal - Trapezohedral (Quartz)

Physical Properties

Fracture:

Conchoidal (Quartz)

Tenacity:

Brittle

Moh's Hardness:

7.0 (Quartz)

Radioactivity:

Not Radioactive

Optical Properties

Color:

Yellow to Golden Yellow, Reddish (Chalcedony), Black (Goethite or Hematite)

Transparency:

Transparent to Opaque

Luster:

Vitreous

Other:

Chatoyant

Occurances

Geological Setting:

The formation of the stone occurs near deposits of iron ore.

Common Associations:

Goethite, Hematite, Iron

Type Locality:

Cuyuna, Crow Wing County, Minnesota, USA

Year Discovered:

1936

More Information

Mindat.org  (Binghamite)
Mindat.org  (Chalcedony)
Mindat.org  (Goethite)
Mindat.org  (Hematite)

Binghamite is a mixture of chatoyant Chalcedony (cryptocrystalline Quartz) included with dense, parallel fibres of Goethite and/or Hematite, similar to Tiger's Eye. Because of this, it is also known as American Tiger's Eye. Binghamite has also been called Cuyunite after the original discovery at Cuyuna, Crow Wing County, Minnesota, USA. The Cuyuna North Range mining district consists of a semicircular area 5 miles in diameter north-northwest of Ironton, Minnesota. The ores are a typical banded iron formation that have been metamorphosed and later concentrated into both brown and red Hematite ore. Mining in the area was discontinued many years ago so Binghamite has become fairly rare.
 

  
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