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Priceite

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Big Photo

Lone Ranch Priceite Prospect, Curry Co., Oregon, USA
© John Sobolewski

Show Priceite Photos (14)



Formula:
Ca
 
2
B
 
5
O
 
7
(OH)
 
5
 · H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:White; colourless in ...
Hardness:3 - 3½
Name:Named for Thomas Price (b.1837), a San Francisco metallurgist who first analyzed the mineral.


Occurs as nodules or irregular masses; soft and chalky, to hard, compact and tough with porcellanous texture and sub-conchoidal fracture. Rarely also as small colourless crystals.

Classification of Priceite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/H.16-10
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:6.EB.25

6 : BORATES
E : Pentaborates
B : Ino-pentaborates
Dana 8th edition ID:25.5.1.1

25 : ANHYDROUS BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : Pentaborates
Hey's CIM Ref.:9.3.18

9 : Borates
3 : Borates of Ca and Sr
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Type Occurrence of Priceite

Type Locality:Lone Ranch Priceite Prospect, Curry Co., Oregon, USA
General Appearance of Type Material:Compact and as roundish masses to several hundred pounds (100 kg ?)
Year of Discovery:1873
Geological Setting of type material:Hot spring (?)
Associated Minerals at type locality:
Aragonite

Occurrences of Priceite

Geological Setting:Evaporite deposits.

Physical Properties of Priceite

Lustre:Earthy
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:White; colourless in transmitted light
Hardness (Mohs):3 - 3½
Fracture:Irregular/Uneven, Conchoidal
Density (measured):2.42 g/cm3

Crystallography of Priceite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Space Group:P21/b {P1 1 21/b} {P21/c} {P1 21/c 1} {P21/a}
Cell Parameters:a = 11.623Å, b = 6.976Å, c = 12.35Å
β = 110.7°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.666 : 1 : 1.77
Unit Cell Volume:V 936.72 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Z:4
Morphology:Nodules and irregular masses. Compact and tough, chalky to hard.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
Image Loading

Radiation - Copper Kα
Data Set:
Horizontal Axis: ° to ° Vertical Axis: % Source Data: Filtered Data:
Data courtesy of RRUFF project at University of Arizona, used with permission.
X-Ray Powder Diffraction:
d-spacingIntensity
10.92 (100)
3.63 (100)
5.46 (80)
3.49 (70)
2.72 (60)
2.18 (50)
4.29 (40)
5.99 (20)
2.88 (20)
2.33 (20)
2.16 (20)
1.94 (20)
1.82 (20)
(
Comments:Data from Kramer & Allen Am. Min. vol.41 (1956) [JCPDS card 9-147]

Optical Data of Priceite

Type:Biaxial (-)
RI values: nα = 1.571 - 1.573 nβ = 1.590 - 1.591 nγ = 1.593 - 1.594
2V:Measured: 32° to 44°, Calculated: 42° to 44°
Birefringence:0.022
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.022

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

Chemical Properties of Priceite

Formula:
Ca
 
2
B
 
5
O
 
7
(OH)
 
5
 · H
 
2
O
Essential elements:B, Ca, H, O
All elements listed in formula:B, Ca, H, O

Relationship of Priceite to other Species

Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
6.EB.05Larderellite
(NH
 
4
)B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
6.EB.10Ezcurrite
Na
 
4
B
 
10
O
 
17
 · 7H
 
2
O
6.EB.15Probertite
NaCaB
 
5
O
 
7
(OH)
 
4
 · 3H
 
2
O
6.EB.20Tertschite
Ca
 
4
B
 
10
O
 
19
 · 20H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
9.3.1Calciborite
Ca(B
 
2
O
 
4
)
9.3.2Sibirskite
Ca
 
2
(HB
 
2
O
 
5
)(OH)
9.3.3Fabianite
CaB
 
3
O
 
5
OH
9.3.4Uralborite
Ca
 
2
[B
 
3
O
 
3
(OH)
 
5
 · OB(OH)
 
3
]
9.3.5Vimsite
CaB
 
2
O
 
2
(OH)
 
4
9.3.6Olshanskyite
Ca
 
3
[B(OH)
 
4
]
 
4
(OH)
 
2
9.3.7Frolovite
Ca[B(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
9.3.8Korzhinskite
Ca(B
 
2
O
 
4
) · H
 
2
O
9.3.9Tyretskite
Ca
 
2
B
 
5
O
 
9
OH · H
 
2
O
9.3.10Nifontovite
Ca
 
3
B
 
6
O
 
6
(OH)
 
12
(H
 
2
O)
 
2
9.3.12Inyoite
Ca(H
 
4
B
 
3
O
 
7
)(OH) · 4H
 
2
O
9.3.13Gowerite
Ca[B
 
5
O
 
8
(OH)][B(OH)
 
3
] · 3H
 
2
O
9.3.14Colemanite
Ca[B
 
3
O
 
4
(OH)
 
3
] · H
 
2
O
9.3.15Pentahydroborite
CaB
 
2
O(OH)
 
6
 · 2H
 
2
O
9.3.16Hexahydroborite
Ca[B(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
 · 6H
 
2
O
9.3.17Meyerhofferite
Ca
 
2
(H
 
3
B
 
3
O
 
7
)
 
2
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.3.19Ginorite
Ca
 
2
B
 
14
O
 
23
 · 8H
 
2
O
9.3.20Probertite
NaCaB
 
5
O
 
7
(OH)
 
4
 · 3H
 
2
O
9.3.21Ulexite
NaCa[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
6
] · 5H
 
2
O
9.3.22Hydroboracite
CaMg[B
 
3
O
 
4
(OH)
 
3
]
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
9.3.23Inderborite
CaMg(H
 
3
B
 
3
O
 
7
)
 
2
 · 8H
 
2
O
9.3.24Wardsmithite
Ca
 
5
Mg[B
 
4
O
 
7
]
 
6
 · 30H
 
2
O
9.3.25Henmilite
Ca
 
2
Cu[B(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
(OH)
 
4
9.3.26Strontioborite
SrB
 
8
O
 
11
(OH)
 
4
9.3.27Veatchite
Sr
 
2
B
 
11
O
 
16
(OH)
 
5
 · H
 
2
O
9.3.28Veatchite-A
Sr
 
2
B
 
11
O
 
16
(OH)
 
5
 · H
 
2
O
9.3.29 P-Veatchite
9.3.30 Balavinskite
Sr
 
2
B
 
6
O
 
11
 · 4H
 
2
O
9.3.31Tunellite
SrB
 
6
O
 
9
(OH)
 
2
 · 3H
 
2
O
9.3.32Strontioginorite
(Sr,Ca)
 
2
B
 
14
O
 
23
 · 8H
 
2
O

Other Names for Priceite

Synonyms:
Pandermite
Other Languages:
German:Priceit
Russian:Прайсеит
Spanish:Priceita

Other Information

Other Information:Insoluble in water. Readily soluble in acids.

Alters to colemanite and calcite.
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 Priceite

Reference List:

- +
Chase (1873) American Journal of Science: 5: 287 (as Cryptomorphite).

Silliman, Benjamin, Jr. (1873), Mineralogical notes on Utah, California, and Nevada, with a description of priceite a new borate of lime: American Journal of Science, 3rd. series: 6: 126-133; …Engineering and Mining Journal: 16: 82, 98-99.

von Rath (1877) Ber. Niederhein. Ges.: 193 (as Pandermite).

Whitfield (1887) American Journal of Science: 34: 283.

Schultze analysis in: Kraut (1897) Zs. Anal. Chem.: 36: 165.

van't Hoff (1906) Akademie der Wissenschaften, Berlin (Sitzungsberichte der): 572.

Larsen, E.S. (1917), Proof that priceite is a distinct mineral species, American Mineralogist: 2: 1.

Linck (1923) Centralblatt für Mineralogie, Geologie und Paleontologie, Stuttgart: 193.

Foshag, W.F. (1924) American Mineralogist: 9: 11.

Foshag, W.F. (1939), New mineral names – priceite, American Mineralogist: 24: 728.

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: 341-343.

Kramer, H.C. & R.D. Allen (1956), A restudy of bakerite, priceite, and veatchite, American Mineralogist: 41: 689-700.

Canadian Mineralogist (1981): 19: 291.

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

Wallwork, K.S., A. Pring, M.R. Taylor, and B.A. Hunter (2002): The structure of priceite, a basic hydrated calcium borate, by ab initio powder-diffraction methods. Canadian Mineralogist 40, 1199-1206.

Sun W, Huang Y-X, Li Z, Pan Y, Mi J-X (2011): Hydrothermal synthesis and single-crystal X-ray structure refinement of three borates: sibirskite, parasibirskite and priceite. Canadian Mineralogist 49, 823-834.

Internet Links for Priceite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Priceite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    • Localities for Priceite

    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.
    Hide Locality List
    (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.
    Canada
     
    • New Brunswick
      • Kings Co.
        • Cardwell Parish
          • Penobsquis
    		Canadian Mineralogist (1981): 19: 291-301.
        • Hammond Parish
          • Salt Springs evaporite deposit
    		BURNS, P.C., HAWTHORNE, F.C. & STIRLING, J.A.R. (1992): Trembathite, (Mg,Fe)3B7O13Cl, a new borate mineral from the Salt Springs potash deposit, Sussex, New Brunswick. Canadian Mineralogist 30, 445-448.
    Germany
     
    • Saxony
      • Erzgebirge
        • Schwarzenberg District
          • Pöhla
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    • Thuringia
      • Harz
        • Nordhausen
          • Niedersachswerfen
    		Siemroth, J. (2008): Das Vorkommen von Boratmineralien im Werra-Anhydrit des Steinbruchs Kohnstein bei Niedersachswerfen am Südharz, Der Aufschluss, Vol. 59, 353-366
    Kazakhstan
     
    • Atyrau Province (Atyrau Oblysy; Atyrau Oblast')
      • Atyrau (Gur'yev)
    		World of Stones #1; Evseev, A. A. (1995) Kazaknstan and Middle Asia. A brief Mineralogical Guide. World of Stone 8:24-30
    Mexico
     
    • Sonora
      • Mun. de Magdalena
        • Aguja
    		Garrett, D.E. (1998): Borates - Handbook of Deposits, Processing, Properties and Use. Academic Press (San Diego, London), 475 pp.
    Russia
     
    • Eastern-Siberian Region
      • Prebaikalia (Pribaikal'e)
        • Irkutskaya Oblast'
          • Zheleznogorsk
    		Mazurov, M.P., Grishina, S.N., Istomin, V.E., and Titov, A.T. (2007): Geology of Ore Deposits 49(4), 271-284.; Mazurov et al (2007) Geology of Ore Deposits, 49, 271–284.
      • Transbaikalia (Zabaykalye)
        • Buriatia (Buryatia) Republic
          • Vitim Plateau
    		Lapis 29(1), 47 (2004)
    Turkey
     
    • Central Anatolia Region
      • Eskişehir 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
    • Marmara Region
      • Balikesir Province
        • Bandırma (Panderma)
    		Schortmann's Minerals specimen, 1950.
        • Bigadiç
    		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
          • Faraşköy (Faraş)
    		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
        • Susurluk
          • Sultançayırı (Sultan Tschair)
    		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: 342.
    UK
     
    • England
      • Devon
        • Okehampton area (Northern Dartmoor)
    USA
     
    • California
      • Inyo Co.
        • Death Valley National Park
          • Death Valley
            • Ryan area
    		Nevada Bureau of Mines and Geology Report 26, "Guidebook: Las Vegas to Death Valley and Return," Mackay School of Mines, University of Nevada - Reno, 1976.
          • Furnace Creek District (Furnace Creek Borate District)
            • Black Mts
              • Corkscrew Canyon
                • Mouth of Corkscrew Canyon area
    		Foshag, William Frederick (1939), New Mineral names – priceite: American Mineralogist: 24: 728; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 295; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 252.
              • Mount Blanco
                • Mount Blanco area
    		Foshag, William Frederick (1924a), Famous mineral localities: Furnace Creek, Death Valley, California: American Mineralogist: 9: 8-10; Foshag, William Frederick (1924b), Priceite from Furnace Creek, Inyo County, California: American Mineralogist: 9: 11-13; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 295.
    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: 359.
              • Ryan
    		Erd, R.C., J.F. McAllister & H. Almond (1959), Gowerite, a new hydrous calcium borate from Death Valley, California: American Mineralogist: 44: 911-919; Erd, R.C., J.F. McAllister, and G.D. Eberlein (1979) New data on hungchaoite, the second world occurrence, Death Valley region, California. American Mineralogist: 64: 369-375; www.mineralsocal.org.
    Erd, R.C., J.F. McAllister, and A.C. Vlisidis (1970) Wardsmithite 5CaO • MgO •12B2O3 •30H2O, a new borate mineral from the Death Valley region, California. American Mineralogist: 55: 349-357.
              • Twenty Mule Team Canyon
                • Monte Blanco
    		American Mineralogist (1979): 64(3-4): 369-375.; Erd, R.C., J.F. McAllister, and G.D. Eberlein (1979) New data on hungchaoite, the second world occurrence, Death Valley region, California. American Mineralogist: 64: 369-375.
    McAllister, James Franklin (1961), Sborgite in the Furnace Creek area, California: USGS PP 424-B, Article 129: 300-301; Pemberton, H. Earl (1983), Minerals of California; Van Nostrand Reinholt Press: 259.
            • Twenty Mule Team Canyon
    		Schaller, Waldemar Theodore, et al (1965), American Mineralogist: 65: 629-640.
    Foshag, William Frederick (1924a), Famous mineral localities: Furnace Creek, Death Valley, California: American Mineralogist: 9: 8-10; Foshag, William Frederick (1924b), Priceite from Furnace Creek, Inyo County, California: American Mineralogist: 9: 11-13; Foshag, William Frederick (1939), New Mineral names – priceite: American Mineralogist: 24: 728; Funk, B.G. (1942) Borates and associated minerals from Mount Blanco, Death Valley, California. Mineralogist: 10: 267-268, 285-289; Kramer, Henry C. & Robert D. Allen (1956), A restudy of bakerite, priceite, and veatchite: American Mineralogist: 41: 690; Allen, Robert D. & Henry C. Kramer (1957), Ginorite and sassolite from Death Valley, California, American Mineralogist: 42: 200; McAllister, James Franklin (1958) Borate minerals from weathering of late Tertiary borates in the Furnace Creek district, Death Valley, California. (abstract) Geological Society of America Bulletin: 69: 1695.
          • Black Mts
            • Ryan
    		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: 342.
      • Los Angeles Co.
        • Lang
          • Tick Canyon
            • Tick Canyon Borate deposit
    		www.mineralsocal.org
      • San Bernardino Co.
        • Calico Mts (Calico Hills)
    		Hanks, Henry Garber (1884), Fourth report of the State Mineralogist: California Mining Bureau. Report 4, 410 pp.: 313; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 295.
        • Death Valley National Park
          • Death Valley
            • Owlshead Mts
              • Owl Hole Springs
    		Bailey, Gilbert E. (1902), The saline deposits of California: California Mining Bureau Bulletin 24: 62; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 154.
        • Owlshead Mts
    		Bailey, Gilbert E. (1902), The saline deposits of California: California Mining Bureau Bulletin 24: 62, 102; Cloudman, H.C., F.J.H. Merrill & E. Huguenin (1919), San Bernardino County: California Mining Bureau. Report 15: 855; Murdoch, Joseph & Robert W. Webb (1966), Minerals of California, Centennial Volume (1866-1966): California Division Mines & Geology Bulletin 189: 295.
    • Oklahoma
      • Blaine Co.
        • Southard
    		Rocks & Minerals 72:4 pp 252-264
    • Oregon
      • Curry Co.
    		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: 342.
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