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Hungchaoite

Formula:
Mg[B
 
4
O
 
7
] · 9H
 
2
O
System:TriclinicColour:colorless
Hardness:2½
This page provides mineralogical data about Hungchaoite.

Classification of Hungchaoite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/H.12-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:6.DA.20

6 : BORATES
D : Tetraborates
A : Neso-tetraborates
Dana 8th edition ID:26.4.3.1

26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
4 : Tetraborates
Hey's CIM Ref.:9.2.12

9 : Borates
2 : Borates of Be and Mg
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Type Occurrence of Hungchaoite

Type Locality:Qinghai plateau (Chinghai plateau), Tibet Autonomous Region, China
Year of Discovery:1964
Geological Setting of type material:saline lacustrine sediments

Physical Properties of Hungchaoite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:colorless
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Cleavage:Very Good
Density (measured):1.706 g/cm3

Crystallography of Hungchaoite

Crystal System:Triclinic
Class (H-M):1 - Pinacoidal
Cell Parameters:a = 8.81Å, b = 10.64Å, c = 7.88Å
α = 103.38°, β = 108.58°, γ = 97.15°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.828 : 1 : 0.741
Unit Cell Volume:V 665.24 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Hungchaoite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.445 nβ = 1.485 nγ = 1.490
2V:Measured: 15° , Calculated: 38°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.045

Chart shows birefringence interference colour range (at 30µm thickness) and does not take into account mineral colouration.
Surface Relief:Moderate
Dispersion:relatively strong

Chemical Properties of Hungchaoite

Formula:
Mg[B
 
4
O
 
7
] · 9H
 
2
O
Essential elements:B, H, Mg, O
All elements listed in formula:B, H, Mg, O

Relationship of Hungchaoite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
6.DA.10Borax
Na
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
7
] · 10H
 
2
O
6.DA.15Tincalconite
Na
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
7
] · 5H
 
2
O
6.DA.25Fedorovskite
Ca
 
2
(Mg,Mn
2+
 
)
 
2
[(OH)
 
6
|B
 
4
O
 
7
]
6.DA.25Roweite
Ca
 
2
Mn
2+
2
[(OH)
 
6
|B
 
4
O
 
7
]
6.DA.30Hydrochlorborite
Ca
 
4
B
 
8
O
 
15
Cl
 
2
·21H
 
2
O
6.DA.35Uralborite
Ca
 
2
[B
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
 
5
·OB(OH)
 
3
]
6.DA.40Borcarite
Ca
 
4
Mg[(CO
 
3
)
 
2
|B
 
4
O
 
6
(OH)
 
6
]
6.DA.40Numanoite
Ca
 
4
Cu[(CO
 
3
)
 
2
|B
 
4
O
 
6
(OH)
 
6
]
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
9.2.1Hambergite
Be
 
2
[O|OH|BO
 
2
]
9.2.2Suanite
Mg
 
2
[B
 
2
O
 
5
]
9.2.3Kotoite
Mg
 
3
[BO
 
3
]
 
2
9.2.4Szaibélyite
Mg
 
2
[(OH)(B
 
2
O
 
4
(OH))]
9.2.5Preobrazhenskite
Mg
 
3
B
 
11
O
 
15
(OH)
 
9
9.2.6Aksaite
Mg[B
 
6
O
 
7
(OH)
 
6
] · 2H
 
2
O
9.2.7Wightmanite
Mg
 
5
[O|(OH)
 
5
|BO
 
3
] · 2H
 
2
O
9.2.8Pinnoite
Mg[B
 
2
O(OH)
 
6
]
9.2.9Kurnakovite
Mg(H
 
4
B
 
3
O
 
7
)(OH) · 5H
 
2
O
9.2.10Halurgite
Mg
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
7
]
 
2
 · 5H
 
2
O
9.2.11Inderite
Mg(H
 
4
B
 
3
O
 
7
)(OH) · 5H
 
2
O
9.2.13Admontite
Mg[B
 
6
O
 
7
(OH)
 
6
] · 4H
 
2
O
9.2.14Mcallisterite
Mg
 
2
[B
 
6
O
 
7
(OH)
 
6
]
 
2
 · 9H
 
2
O
9.2.15Rivadavite
Na
 
6
Mg[B
 
6
O
 
7
(OH)
 
6
]
 
4
 · 10H
 
2
O
9.2.16Kaliborite
KMg
 
2
H[B
 
6
O
 
8
(OH)
 
5
]
 
2
(H
 
2
O)
 
4
9.2.17Iquiqueite
K
 
3
Na
 
4
Mg(CrO
 
4
)B
 
24
O
 
39
(OH)·12H
 
2
O

Other Names for Hungchaoite

Other Languages:
German:Hungchaoit
Russian:Хунчжаоит
Spanish:Hungchaoita

Other Information

Fluorescence in UV light:nonfluorescent
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 Hungchaoite

Reference List:Chu I-Hua, Hsieh Hsien-Te, Chien Tze-Chiang, and Liu Lai-Pao (1964): Preliminary report on the occurrence of a new hydrous magnesium borate - hungchaoite MgO * 2B2O3 * 9H2O in China. Scientia Sinica 13(3), 525-557 (in Russian).

Tung Chi-ho (1974): X-ray powder photograph indexing and cell constant determination of hungtsaoite, a new mineral. Geochimica 1974(3), 204-312 (in Chinese with English abstract). - American Mineralogist (1975), 50, 262 (abstract).

Wan, C. and Ghose, S. (1977) Hungchaoite, Mg(H2O)5B4O5(OH)4: a hydrogen-bonded molecular complex. American Mineralogist 62, 1135-1143.

Grew, E.S., and Anovitz, L.M. (1996) BORON: Mineralogy, Petrology and Geochemistry, second edition, as revised (2002).

Internet Links for Hungchaoite

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    Localities for Hungchaoite

    (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.
    China
     
    • Tibet Autonomous Region
    		Chu I-Hua, Hsieh Hsien-Te, Chien Tze-Chiang, and Liu Lai-Pao (1964): Scientia Sinica 13(3), 525-557 (in Russian).
    USA
     
    • California
      • Inyo Co.
        • Death Valley
          • Black Mts
            • Furnace Creek District
    		www.mineralsocal.org; Am Min 64:3-4 pp 369-375; American Mineralogist: 55: 349-357
    American Mineralogist (1979): 64(3-4): 369-375.
    Am Min 64:3-4 pp 369-375
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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