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Santite

Formula:
K[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
System:OrthorhombicColour:Colourless
Name:Named after Georgi Santi (1746-1823), Director of the Museum of Natural History, Italy.

Classification of Santite

IMA status:Approved
Strunz 8th edition ID:5/H.15-20
Nickel-Strunz 10th (pending) edition ID:6.EA.10

6 : BORATES
E : Pentaborates
A : Neso-pentaborates
Dana 8th edition ID:26.5.2.1

26 : HYDRATED BORATES CONTAINING HYDROXYL OR HALOGEN
5 : Pentaborates
Hey's CIM Ref.:9.1.13

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

Type Locality:Larderello, Pomarance, Pisa Province, Tuscany, Italy
Year of Discovery:1970

Physical Properties of Santite

Lustre:Vitreous
Colour:Colourless

Crystallography of Santite

Crystal System:Orthorhombic
Cell Parameters:a = 11.1Å, b = 11.18Å, c = 9.08Å
Ratio:a:b:c = 0.993 : 1 : 0.812
Unit Cell Volume:V 1,126.81 ų (Calculated from Unit Cell)

Optical Data of Santite

Type:Biaxial (+)
RI values: nα = 1.422 nβ = 1.435 nγ = 1.480
Maximum Birefringence:δ = 0.058

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 Santite

Formula:
K[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
] · 2H
 
2
O
Essential elements:B, H, K, O
All elements listed in formula:B, H, K, O

Relationship of Santite to other Species

Member of Group:
Sborgite Group:
Related Minerals - Nickel-Strunz Grouping):

- +
6.EA.05Sborgite
Na[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
] · 3H
 
2
O
6.EA.05IMA2007-047
Pb
 
2
[B
 
5
O
 
9
]Cl·0.5H
 
2
O
6.EA.10Ramanite-(Rb)
Rb[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
]·2H
 
2
O
6.EA.10Ramanite-(Cs)
Cs[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
]·2H
 
2
O
6.EA.15Ammonioborite
(NH
 
4
)
 
2
[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
4
]
 
2
· H
 
2
O
6.EA.25Ulexite
NaCa[B
 
5
O
 
6
(OH)
 
6
] · 5H
 
2
O
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
 
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
9.1.14Larderellite
(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 Santite

Synonyms:
IMA1969-044
Other Languages:
German:Santit
Russian:Сантит
Spanish:Santita

Other Information

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 Santite

Reference List:Merlino, S., and Sartori, F. (1970): Santite, a New Mineral Phase from Larderello, Tuscany. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 27, 159-165.

American Mineralogist (1971): 56: 636.

Zeitschrift für Kristallographie: 98: 266-274.

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

Internet Links for Santite

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  • Raman and XRD data at RRUFF project
  • American Mineralogist Crystal Structure Database
  • Search for Santite in the Natural History Museum (London) online catalogue
  • Santite details from Handbook of Mineralogy (PDF)
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    Localities for Santite

    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.
    Italy
     
    • Tuscany
      • Pisa Province
        • Pomarance
    Merlino, S., and Sartori, F. (1970): Santite, a New Mineral Phase from Larderello, Tuscany. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology 27, 159-165.
    USA
     
    • California
      • Inyo Co.
        • Death Valley
    Econ Geol (1996) 91:622-635
    Mineral and/or Locality
    Google
     
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