What is Newberyite?
Newberyite is a soft hydrated magnesium phosphate found in guano deposits and phosphate-rich caves, valued for clear crystals and strong hydrogen bonding.
Mineralogy and crystal structure
Reference formula: MgHPO4·3H2O. Newberyite is an orthorhombic trihydrated phosphate. Its water content and hydrogen-bond network make humidity and dehydration important considerations for both structure and preservation. Newberyite is classified with phosphates and has a orthorhombic crystal system. Typical hardness is 2.5–3 on the Mohs scale and specific gravity is approximately 2.1–2.2.
Colour, lustre and habit
Typical colours include colourless, white, pale yellow, green. The usual tabular, prismatic, crusty habit and vitreous, pearly lustre help describe a specimen, but colour alone is not diagnostic.
Formation and notable localities
Newberyite forms in or is associated with guano deposits, phosphate caves, bird or bat-rich environments and weathering zones. Important documented localities include Australia, Bolivia, Brazil, Germany, Spain and the United States.
A pale phosphate from a guano cave
Newberyite shows how biological activity can drive mineral formation. Soft pale crystals record phosphate concentration in environments where water, magnesium and organic material meet.
Collecting and care
Keep dry and protected from abrasion; avoid washing or prolonged heat.
