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Kernite

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U.S. Borax Open Pit, U.S. Borax Mine (Pacific West Coast Borax Mine; Pacific Coast Borax Co. Mine; Boron Mine; U.S. Borax and Chemical Corp. Mine; Kramer Mine; Baker Mine), Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kramer District, Kern Co., California, USA
© Peter Haas

Show Kernite Photos (7)
Formula:
Na
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
6
(OH)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless to white.
Hardness:2½
Name:After Kern County, California, USA, where it was first discovered.
This page provides mineralogical data about Kernite.

Classification of Kernite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/J.04-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:6.DB.05

6 : BORATES
D : Tetraborates
B : Ino-tetraborates
Dana 8th edition ID:26.4.5.1

26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
4 : Tetraborates
Hey's CIM Ref.:9.1.6

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

Type Locality:Rich Station, Kramer Borate deposit, Boron, Kramer District, Kern Co., California, USA
Year of Discovery:1927
Geological Setting of type material:Metamorphosed bedded borate deposit in clay-shales.
Associated Minerals at type locality:
UlexiteTincalconiteProbertiteBorax

Occurrences of Kernite

Geological Setting:Sedimentary borate deposits.

Physical Properties of Kernite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Comment:Satinly on fibrous cleavages
Colour:Colourless to white.
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):2½
Tenacity:Flexible
Cleavage:Perfect
On {100} perfect; {001} less perfect; on {201} fair. NOTE: The cleavable masses exhibit a simulated fibrous structure due to development of excellent cleavages. Cleavage fragments usually bent or warped around [001].
Fracture:Splintery
Density (measured):1.906(3) g/cm3
Density (calculated):1.905 g/cm3

Crystallography of Kernite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P2/b {P1 1 2/b} {P2/c} {P1 2/c 1}{P2/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 7.0172(2) Å, b = 9.1582(2) Å, c = 15.6774(5) Å
β = 108.861(2)°
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.766 : 1 : 1.712
Unit Cell Volume:V 953.41 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Crystals nearly equant, commonly slightly elongated [100] and deeply striated [010], with irregular form development. Wedge-shaped at times or rounded due to repetition of faces. Cleavable masses. Massive.
Twinning:On {011}.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data: Peaks:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.

Optical Data of Kernite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.454 nβ = 1.472 nγ = 1.488
2V:Measured: 80° , Calculated: 84°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.034

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

Chemical Properties of Kernite

Formula:
Na
 
2
[B
 
4
O
 
6
(OH)
 
2
] · 3H
 
2
O
Essential elements:B, H, Na, O
All elements listed in formula:B, H, Na, O

Relationship of Kernite to other Species

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
9.1.7Ezcurrite
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
 
7
] · 10H
 
2
O
9.1.10Ameghinite
Na(H
 
4
B
 
3
O
 
7
)
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 Kernite

Synonyms:
Rasorite
Other Languages:
German:Kernit
Russian:Кернит
Spanish:Kernita

Other Information

Thermal Behaviour:Alters to metakernite (Na2B4O7·5H2O) upon heating to 100° - 120° C, as a non-reversible change.
Other Information:Slowly soluble in cold water, readily so in hot water.

Alters to tincalconite upon dehydration.
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 Kernite

Reference List:Palmer (1927) Engineering and Mining Journal: 123: 494 (as rasorite).

Schaller, Waldemar Theodore (1927), Kernite, a new sodium borate: American Mineralogist: 12: 24-25.

Schaller (1930) USGS Professional Paper 158: 137.

Garrido, J. (1932), Symmetrie und Raumgruppe des Kernite: Zeitschr. Kristallographie, band 82: 468-470.

Minder (1935) Zeitschrift für Kristallographie, Mineralogie und Petrographie, Leipzig: 92: 301.

Minder, Schulz and Deckert (1935) Die Naturwissenschaften, Berlin: 23: 832.

Schaller, Waldemar Theodore (1936), The origin of kernite and borax in the Kramer borate field, California (abstract) American Mineralogist: 21: 192.

Menzel and Schulz (1940) Zeitschrift für anorganische und allgemeine Chemie, Hamburg, Leipzig: 245: 157.

Amorós (1947) Inst. Invest. Geol. Barcelona, no. 7.

Palache, C., Berman, H., & Frondel, C. (1951), The System of Mineralogy of James Dwight Dana and Edward Salisbury Dana, Yale University 1837-1892, Volume II. John Wiley and Sons, Inc., New York, 7th edition, revised and enlarged: 335-337.

Muessig, S. & R.D. Allen (1957), The hydration of kernite (Na3B4O7·4H2O), American Mineralogist: 42: 699-701.

American Mineralogist (1973): 58: 21-31.

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

Anthony, J.W., Bideaux, R.A., Bladh, K.W., and Nichols, M.C. (2003) Handbook of Mineralogy, Volume V. Borates, Carbonates, Sulfates. Mineral Data Publishing, Tucson, AZ, 813pp.: 352.

Internet Links for Kernite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
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    Localities for Kernite

    Hide Locality List
    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.
    (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
    		Am Min 58:308-313
    Spain
     
    No reference listed
    Turkey
     
    • Central Anatolia Region
      • Eskisehir Province
    		CAHIT HELVACI & RICARDO N. ALONSO (2000) Borate Deposits of Turkey and Argentina; A Summary and Geological Comparison. Turkish Journal of Earth Sciences, Vol. 9, 2000, pp. 1-27
    USA
     
    • California
      • Kern Co.
        • Kramer District
    		Rock Currier collection
    U.S. Geological Survey, 2005, Mineral Resources Data System: U.S. Geological Survey, Reston, Virginia.
    American Mineralogist (1927): 12: 24-25.
    Am Min 49:543-555
      • San Bernardino Co.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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