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Ameghinite

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Formula:
Na(H
 
4
B
 
3
O
 
7
)
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless
Hardness:2 - 3
Name:Named in honor of the brothers Carlos Ameghino (1865–1936) and Florentino Ameghino (1854–1911), Argentine geologists.
This page provides mineralogical data about Ameghinite.

Classification of Ameghinite

IMA status:Approved 1966
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/H.05-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:6.CA.10

6 : BORATES
C : Triborates
A : Neso-triborates
Dana 8th edition ID:25.3.1.1

25 : ANHYDROUS BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
3 : Triborates
Hey's CIM Ref.:9.1.10

9 : Borates
1 : Borates of the alkalis and boric acid
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Type Occurrence of Ameghinite

Type Locality:Tincalayu Mine, Salar Del Hombre Muerto, Salta, Argentina
Place of Conservation of Type Material:Natural History Museum, Paris, France; Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 109054; National Museum of Natural History, Washington, D.C., USA, 137297.
Year of Discovery:1967
Geological Setting of type material:Formed in massive borax in a borate-rich playa.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
TincalconiteRivadaviteEzcurriteBorax

Physical Properties of Ameghinite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless
Hardness (Mohs):2 - 3
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Very Good
{100}, very good; {001} and {010}, poor.
Fracture:Conchoidal

Crystallography of Ameghinite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Cell Parameters:a = 18.45Å, b = 9.89Å, c = 6.32Å
β = 104.3°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.866 : 1 : 0.639
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,117.48 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals are elongated along [010], may be bent or curved, showing {001}, {010}, {100}, {110}, {011}, {101}, {101}, {310}, to 5 mm; as cluster of crystals and nodular masses.

Optical Data of Ameghinite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.429 nβ = 1.528 nγ = 1.538
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.109

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Low
Dispersion:none

Chemical Properties of Ameghinite

Formula:
Na(H
 
4
B
 
3
O
 
7
)
Essential elements:B, H, Na, O
All elements listed in formula:B, H, Na, O

Relationship of Ameghinite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
6.CA.15Inderite
Mg(H
 
4
B
 
3
O
 
7
)(OH) · 5H
 
2
O
6.CA.20Kurnakovite
Mg(H
 
4
B
 
3
O
 
7
)(OH) · 5H
 
2
O
6.CA.25Inderborite
CaMg(H
 
3
B
 
3
O
 
7
)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
6.CA.30Meyerhofferite
Ca
 
2
(H
 
3
B
 
3
O
 
7
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
6.CA.35Inyoite
Ca(H
 
4
B
 
3
O
 
7
)(OH) · 4H
 
2
O
6.CA.40Solongoite
Ca
 
2
(H
 
3
B
 
3
O
 
7
)(OH)Cl
6.CA.45Peprossiite-(Ce)
(Ce,La)(Al
 
3
O)
 
2/3
B
 
4
O
 
10
6.CA.50Nifontovite
Ca(B
 
2
O
 
4
) · 2.3H
 
2
O
6.CA.55Olshanskyite
Ca
 
3
[B(OH)
 
4
]
 
4
(OH)
 
2
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
9.1.1Sassolite
H
 
3
BO
 
3
9.1.2Metaborite
HBO
 
2
9.1.3Diomignite
Li
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
7
]
9.1.4Biringuccite
Na
 
2
B
 
5
O
 
8
(OH) · H
 
2
O
9.1.5Nasinite
Na
 
4
B
 
10
O
 
17
 · 5H
 
2
O
9.1.6Kernite
Na
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
6
(OH)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
9.1.7Ezcurrite
Na
 
4
B
 
10
O
 
17
 · 7H
 
2
O
9.1.8Tincalconite
Na
 
2
(B
 
4
O
 
7
) · 5H
 
2
O
9.1.9Borax
Na
 
2
(B
 
4
O
 
5
)(OH)
 
4
 · 8H
 
2
O
9.1.11Sborgite
Na[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
9.1.12Aristarainite
Na
 
2
MgB
 
12
O
 
20
 · 8H
 
2
O
9.1.13Santite
K[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
9.1.14Larderellite
(NH
 
4
)B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
9.1.15Ammonioborite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
 · H
 
2
O
9.1.16Rhodizite
(K,Cs)Al
 
4
Be
 
4
(B,Be)
 
12
O
 
28

Other Names for Ameghinite

Synonyms:
IMA1966-034
Other Languages:
German:Ameghinit
Russian:Амегинит
Spanish:Ameghinita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:pale blue fluorescence and phosphorescence under SW and LW UV.
Other Information:soluble in water
Health Warning:No information on health risks for this material has been entered into the database. You should always treat mineral specimens with care.

References for Ameghinite

Reference List:

- +
American Mineralogist: 52: 935-945.

American Mineralogist: 60: 879-883.

Internet Links for Ameghinite

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    • Localities for Ameghinite

    The map shows a selection of localities that have latitude and longitude coordinates recorded. Click on the symbol to view information about a locality. The symbol next to localities in the list can be used to jump to that position on the map.
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    (TL) indicates type locality. ? indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality. All other localities listed without reference should be considered as uncertain and unproven until references can be found.
    Argentina
     
    • Salta
      • Salar Del Hombre Muerto
    		Amer.Min.(1967) 52, 935-945; Am Min 58:308-313
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