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Probertite

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Boron Pit, U.S. Borax Mine, Boron, Kramer District, Kern Co., California, USA
© Peter Haas

Show Probertite Photos (9)
Formula:
NaCaB
 
5
O
 
7
(OH)
 
4
·3H
 
2
O
System:MonoclinicColour:Colourless; colourless ...
Hardness:3½
Name:After Fran H. Probert, Dean of the Mining College, University of California.
This page provides mineralogical data about Probertite.

Classification of Probertite

IMA status:Valid - first described prior to 1959 (pre-IMA) - "Grandfathered"
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/J.05-30
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:6.EB.15

6 : BORATES
E : Pentaborates
B : Ino-pentaborates
Dana 8th edition ID:26.5.12.1

26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : Pentaborates
Hey's CIM Ref.:9.3.20

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

Type Locality:Baker mine, U.S. Borax Mine, Boron, Kramer District, Kern Co., California, USA
Year of Discovery:1929

Physical Properties of Probertite

Lustre:Vitreous
Diaphaneity (Transparency):Transparent
Colour:Colourless; colourless in transmitted light
Streak:White
Hardness (Mohs):3½
Tenacity:Brittle
Cleavage:Perfect
On {110}.
Density (measured):2.14 g/cm3
Density (calculated):2.13 g/cm3

Crystallography of Probertite

Crystal System:Monoclinic
Class (H-M):2/m - Prismatic
Cell Parameters:a = 13.43Å, b = 12.57Å, c = 6.58Å
β = 100.25°
Ratio:a:b:c = 1.068 : 1 : 0.523
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,093.08 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)
Morphology:Crystals aggregated into rosettes or radal groups of needles or laths. Spherulitic; as tough, compactly reticulated aggregates. Single crystals rare. Crystals acicular [001], commonly flattened {100} (slightly to considerably); also flattened {110}, rare. Faces "b," "a," and "m" usually striated [001] and rounded.
Twinning:Doubtful under the microscope.
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 Probertite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.514 nβ = 1.524 nγ = 1.543
2V:Measured: 73° , Calculated: 74°
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.029

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

Chemical Properties of Probertite

Formula:
NaCaB
 
5
O
 
7
(OH)
 
4
·3H
 
2
O
Essential elements:B, Ca, H, Na, O
All elements listed in formula:B, Ca, H, Na, O

Relationship of Probertite 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.20Tertschite
Ca
 
4
B
 
10
O
 
19
·20H
 
2
O
6.EB.25Priceite
Ca
 
2
B
 
5
O
 
7
(OH)
 
5
·H
 
2
O
Related Minerals - Hey's Index Grouping:

- +
9.3.1Calciborite
Ca[B
 
2
O
 
4
]
9.3.2Sibirskite
Ca
 
2
[B
 
2
O
 
5
] · H
 
2
O
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
[OH|{B(OH)
 
4
}
 
2
]
 
2
9.3.7Frolovite
Ca[B(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
9.3.8Korzhinskite
CaB
 
2
O
 
4
·H
 
2
O
9.3.9Tyretskite
Ca
 
2
B
 
5
O
 
9
OH·H
 
2
O
9.3.10Nifontovite
CaB
 
2
O
 
4
·2.3H
 
2
O
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
9.3.18Priceite
Ca
 
2
B
 
5
O
 
7
(OH)
 
5
·H
 
2
O
9.3.19Ginorite
Ca
 
2
B
 
14
O
 
23
·8H
 
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[(OH)
 
2
|B(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
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 Probertite

Synonyms:
Kramerite
Other Languages:
German:Kramerit
Probertit
Russian:Пробертит
Spanish:Kramerita
Probertita

Other Information

Other Information:Readily soluble in dilute acids. Partially decomposed in hot or cold water, with Na being leached relative to Ca.
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 Probertite

Reference List:Eakle, A.S. (1929), Probertite, a new borate, American Mineralogist: 14: 427-430.

Schaller (1929) USGS Professional Paper 158: 137.

Foshag (1931) American Mineralogist: 16: 338.

Barnes (1949) American Mineralogist: 34: 19, 611.

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: 343-345.

Clark, J.R. & C.L. Christ (1959), Studies of borate minerals, V: Reinvestigation of the X-ray crystallography of ulexite and probertite: American Mineralogist: 44: 712-719.

Rumanova, I.M., Kurbanova, K.M., and Belov, N.V. (1966) Determination of the crystal structure of probertite CaNa[B5O7(OH)4]. Soviet Physics-Crystallography: 10: 513-522.

Acta Crystallographica (1982): B38: 3072-3075.

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

Articles/Blogs about Probertite

Internet Links for Probertite

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    Localities for Probertite

    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.
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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
    		Bull. Soc. Franç. Minéralo. Cristallo. , 1974, 97, p. 497.
    Canada
     
    • Nova Scotia
      • Hants Co.
    		CanRockhound v.6, n.1 (2001)
    Germany
     
    • Thuringia
      • Harz Mts
        • Nordhausen
    		Wittern: "Mineralfundorte in Deutschland", 2001
    Turkey
     
    • Marmara Region
      • Balikesir Province
        • 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
      • Bursa Province
        • Mustafa Kemalpafla
    		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
      • Inyo Co.
        • Death Valley
          • Furnace Creek District
    		Mineralogical Record: 27: 35-40.
      • Kern Co.
        • Kramer District
    		www.mineralsocal.org
            • U.S. Borax Mine
    		Amer.Min.(1928) 13, 452-453; Nickel & Nichols (1991) Mineral Reference Maual
    P Haas collection
    Cal Div of Mines & Geology "Mineral Information Service" V. 22 N. 10 Oct 1969
      • Los Angeles Co.
        • Lang
          • Tick Canyon
    		www.mineralsocal.org
    Rui Nunes 28th March, 2007
    • Oklahoma
      • Blaine Co.
        • Southard
        • Watonga
    		Rocks & Min. vol. 72 (1997)
      • Custer Co.
    		Rocks & Minerals: 72(4): 252-264.
    Mineral and/or Locality
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