Meliphanite

specimen number:
1052553

location:
Stokksund, Larvik Commune, Vestfold, Norway

description:
Rich yellow massive on matrix. Nice old time example for this unusual species, the specimen comes with an antique label as shown at the end of the video and dates to the 19th century. At one time part of the collection of Wilhelm Hoyer.

Meliphanite is a rare beryllium-bearing mineral that is historically significant to the mineralogy of Norway, particularly within the Langesundsfjord and surrounding regions like Stokksund. Geologically, it occurs in alkaline pegmatites associated with nepheline syenites, where it formed as a primary crystallization product from late-stage, volatile-rich magmatic fluids. The mineral typically appears as glassy, brittle crystals or masses ranging in color from pale yellow to honey-orange or brownish-red, often exhibiting a distinct tetragonal or pseudo-hexagonal symmetry. Stokksund, located in the Afjord region of Trondelag, became a notable locality for this species during the late 19th century when researchers began documenting the unique alkaline rock suites of the Norwegian coast. Historically, Stokksund has never been a site for large-scale industrial mining; instead, the mineral was recovered during small-scale prospecting and scientific expeditions, particularly between 1880 and 1910. Today, specimens from this locality are prized by collectors for their historical provenance and their association with the classic era of Scandinavian descriptive mineralogy.

Wilhelm Hoyer was a notable 19th-century German collector and researcher whose work focused heavily on the mineralogy and geology of the Hannover region and the Harz Mountains. Geologically, he was deeply interested in the sedimentary formations of the North German Basin, particularly the salt deposits and the mineral-rich veins of the classic Harz localities. Historically, Hoyer is recognized for assembling an extensive and scientifically significant collection of minerals, many of which were carefully documented in the mineralogical literature of the late 1800s. He was a frequent contributor to professional journals and maintainted close ties with the major academic institutions of his time, helping to preserve specimens from mines that were already beginning to close. His legacy survives through the many fine specimens that eventually found their way into major museum collections, providing a vital snapshot of the mining history and mineral diversity of northern Germany during the height of its industrial development.

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